My Why

I often get asked why I do what I do, How did I get started? Why do I keep doing it year after year? So I thought I'd share my why.

As a child, one of my favorite memories is of my mother at the dance studio I took classes from. There in that single room studio, sat a group of mothers (mine included) carefully hand stitching single sequins to our costumes. I think I actually hated that costume. It was black with lots of pink ruffles and each of those ruffles had a row of gold sequin hand stitched to it.  My mother wasn't a seamstress, and I'm sure would have rather been anywhere but there, but she did what she had to do to keep me doing what I loved.  Man do I wish I still had that costume now.  I didn't know it then ,we never do at that age, but she was my inspiration. 

As I got a little older, I remember her sewing machine sitting on her dresser. I don't think she ever used it, but she always "meant to". There just weren't enough hours in the day between working midnights and raising kids. I remember when I first moved out asking her what she planned on doing with that old machine. She told me she could never quite figure it out, but if I thought I could,  I could have it. So I packed it up and took it to my new home. And there it sat, and sat, and sat some more. 

Fast forward a few years, I had a daughter of my own. She was nine years old at the time and she loved to dance! Looking for a way to make all her dreams comes true & stretch those dollars, I turned to my mothers old singer sewing machine. I took it off the shelf, dusted it off, and began my journey. I would like to tell you, turning that machine on for the first time was love at first site, but I would be lying. I made mistakes (and god awful ugly costumes too), But I kept going, and learning, and growing. 

My daughter has gone on to teach dance now, and my mom has long passed away, but that 1 machine she gifted me and that 1 awful solo costume, has become a studio of machines (15 to be exact) and 100's of beautiful costumes every single year.

So, Why do I do you what I do?  I do for my mom, who sat in that studio and struggled with that sequins just to allow me to do what I loved, I do it for my daughter, because it allowed her to follow her dreams and do what she loves, and I do it for every other parents that want the same amazing experiences for their dancers!  And god help me, I really do love it!

 

~Etona