My grandmother, who raised me, was a well known dressmaker in St. Louis. Ladies would bring pictures of the dress or suit they liked and grandmother would make it to match the picture. She insisted that I learn to embroider, knit and crochet from about 4 years old on. Every afternoon, we had our stitching hour. I loved working with beads and was very good at it and grandmother had me do designs which she would put on elegant jackets and suit coats as was the style in the late 40's. She made my clothes clear up into my married years while I made my children's clothes. I have always sewed for my home.