Project Run and Play: Meet the Designers:Jess from If Only They Would Nap

Hi sewing friends! I'm Jess from If Only They Would Nap, and it feels a little bit like a dream to be introducing myself to you as a designer in Season 9!

I've been sewing since I was a girl. My incredibly talented mother bought me my first machine when I was about ten, and I would sew Barbie sleeping bags and teddy bears alongside her, as she prepared for craft shows and sewed garments for my siblings and me. I guess you could say it's in my blood! In my pre-kid days, I was an elementary teacher, and I love love loved it. But as much as I enjoyed it, when I got pregnant, I knew I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. After awhile, I unearthed my sewing machine and began sewing clothes for my littles. I didn't even know what patterns were, so I just made everything up as I went along. I've had a lot of sewing fails, but it always makes the successes feel really, really wonderful.

photo credit Brooke Collier Photography

Most days you can find me with a baby on my hip and coffee in my hand, homeschooling and sewing and getting out into nature whenever the fickle Wisconsin weather lets us. My four super amazing and wonderful boys (6, 4, 2, and 1) keep me blessed and busy. My house is rarely quiet, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Okay, maybe some days I'd like it a little bit quieter. But if I can escape to my sewing machine for awhile, I tend to be okay with the crazy. I have always been a maker - some years it was painting, some years it was writing. These days, my heart belongs to sewing. I love creating practical but unique clothing for my boys. If I can take something I've thrifted and upcycle it into clothing or something else for my home, that's pretty much the best kind of sewing day. I fill my blogging space with tutorials and pictures, mostly of things I've sewn (usually for my boys). I also believe that real life is the best life, so I keep it really real over on Instagram. Like, show you my messy living room real. ;) I've been super blessed to be part of the blogging community, and I think that's one of the best things about Project Run and Play - getting to know more of the sewing community and sharing a bit of my creative spirit. I'm super excited for this season! I hope you'll be sewing along with us!