Hi, I’m Alice…the Fabric Ninja. I’m not very “Ninja” like except when it comes to fabric and craft items, I sneak right up on them and…
This post is mostly my backstory. If you’d rather check out My Gallery look here.
When I say I’m not “Ninja” like, let me explain. First off, I hate black, a Ninja staple. It’s hard to go sneaking around in purple or raspberry. I do own black yoga pants, and I think one black shirt, but I prefer colors. Bright or jewel toned ones specifically. On a standard day you can find me wearing leggings, a burnt orange tank top and a purple sweater.
Secondly, I’m a plus-size gal and not very stealthy. My mom used to joke, that if I hadn’t had so many years of dance lessons as a kid, she questioned if I could walk. A baby giraffe and I have a lot in common when it comes to lack of balance. Although, I do teach/call English Country Dance once a month at a community center. So all those dance lessons did pay off.
Perhaps the most Ninja part about me (other than my way with the fabric) is that I am a mother of twins. You need to have some Ninja skills to keep up with twins, because they learn teamwork too quickly.
So now let’s talk fabric. I always seem to be sewing something. On long car trips my husband drives so I can sew, knit, or work on digital patterns. I have made numerous corsets, honing my skills on my own hard-to-fit body. Plus-sizes are my specialty! I understanding the different plus-size proportions and fitting challenges especially in the area of boobs. Some of those fitting challenges I learned as a nursing mother.
I grew up on a pumpkin and sheep farm in the small town of Mason, just outside of Lansing, Michigan. My mother taught me how to sew when I was very young. She didn’t consider my age a barrier for me learning to do whatever I wanted to. I was making my own Halloween costumes, quilts, and jumper dresses from about 4th or 5th grade on, and before then, with help from my mom. She herself was a talented seamstress, quilter, and entrepreneur having her own craft business under the name Heartwarming Acres.
We (Husband Dan, Me and the 2 kids) live in the small town of Brownsburg, Indiana. It is just outside of Indianapolis. Fabric Ninja products are made by me in my smoke-free, pet-free home. We love animals, but I am allergic to pretty much all of them. I occasionally get help from other local people, but 99% of the sewing and cutting is done by myself. I also draft all the original patterns myself and then digitize them and create the tutorials.
I came to where I am now in a roundabout way, like most people. I have a Masters Degree in Museum Studies from IUPUI and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Michigan State University. I also have a minor in Apparel and Textile Design, including pattern making from Michigan State University. My interest in these areas was partially driven by my love of historical clothing – both researching it and reconstructing it.
When it comes to sewing, I believe that anyone can learn. You just need to take your time and practice. The right instruction helps too. 🙂 One summer, I worked at Muhlenberg College Theater and made 20 skirts, for “Carousel” the musical. After that, I feel that I perfected the skirt placket.
I am active in the Society for Creative Anachronism. I teach dance and sewing at many SCA events. One of my popular classes is called “Supporting the Masses: How to select and make a bust supportive garment”
Check out My Gallery look here.