Follow your Dreams

I first had the idea for The Lily Pad Shop in college. I was attending BYU at the time and had little money for gifts for the weddings of my friends. I began making my own cards and gifts to help reduce the expense.

Several years later I was married with a small one at home and struggling to find a creative outlet. My husband wanted to buy me a sewing machine. It had been a while since I sewed. My "Lily Pad Shop" was brought back to life. I began making gifts again. I felt the joy again that comes from creating.

This new adventure of business ownership is exciting and sometimes exhausting. But following your dreams often is. Never give up on those dreams that you hold dear. It may take some time before you see them come to fruition, but if it is worth it to you, it is worth it keep pursuing it.

My Sewing Machine

I have been sewing since I was eight. My first project was a quilt. My mom helped me pencil in the design and I sat on the living room floor and hand stitched an umbrella with rain drops on a small pink quilt. I was so excited to finish that quilt. Then we moved onto machine sewing. Within a year I was making "Barbie" clothes along with the finger pillows and finger bags I mentioned in a previous post. When I went away to college I wanted a sewing machine. It was difficult to find just the right clothes and making them seemed like the way to go.

I worked extra hours during the summer, saved and bought my sewing machine. It was a cheap sewing machine but for the most part it did what I asked of it...for about a year. I am a firm believer in the philosophy "You get what you pay for". Now I use my sewing machine A LOT! After all I have a business now that revolves around sewing. I was nervous about purchasing the machine I currently have. I have never spent that much money on such an item. After thinking about it for an entire year, I bought it.

I have not regretted it since. I don't have the headaches with this machine that I did with all the other sewing machines that I had in the past. I am here to tell you that whatever you purchase, go for the "good stuff". You are using your hard earned money, purchase things that are going to last. It's better to spend a bit more (if you have it of course) and buy something that is going to give you years of use than something that is only going to last a year or less.

Thinking of other things besides sewing machines? For the first 4 years of our marriage, my husband and I bought a new vacuum almost every year because ours broke down. They were all broken down so much that the repairs would cost more than a new vacuum. We finally got a high end vacuum that many of our friends and family had recommended. We love it! It's been two years and it performs like the day we bought it!

Just my opinion of course!