Well hello. 

I'm Janel and I've been part of the S&S forum community since 2004. (WOW! Really?? I can hardly believe it's been that long!) The awesome women around here answered all my questions and helped me take my sewing from grumbling about Big 4 patterns and fitting issues to drafting my own designs from scratch and teaching sewing and fashion design to folks in my local community. It's been a wonderful experience!

I'm currently in my second year of teaching high school fashion design. After a semester of theory and basic sewing, we started pattern drafting this week. It's a lot to take in because we're essentially cramming 3 years of full time design school into 2.5 hours a week, but the girls are like sponges. And they're adventurous, and we've been having a blast. Our fashion show is scheduled for May 31st! (You can find the video stills from last year's fashion show here.)

While I'm currently on blogging break because of the wildness of life offline, you can find my website and blog at http://www.janelmessenger.com I would love for you to visit.

I look forward to many more years of sewing with you all!

Thanks Geneece! It's good to be here. I think I've pulled my head up for a little air. The last few months have been something else.

I've been trying to get back to blogging and writing an update for two weeks now. I'm crossing my fingers for tomorrow… Unfortunately all isn't well, but I'm trusting God to make the best of it. One. day. at. a. time.

I'm so jealous you're getting to go to the Sewing Expo again! I should look into the one in Massachusetts and see if I can actually make it this year!