Welcome to Be Mandy Things! I'm Amanda - even though "Mandy" is in my business name, please, call me Amanda!
About 5 years ago, I was a stay at home Mom, raising 2 little boys with my Hubby. It's so rewarding and fun... but, let's face it. It can get B.O.R.I.N.G. My Mother-in-Law has been sewing since she was a girl, so I asked her for a few lessons. After my first lesson, where I put the pedal to the medal and sped through everything she gave me to sew, she gave me HOMEWORK! She made me practice sewing straight lines, and at a slow speed. No crazy, fast driving on her watch.
Well... it worked. I practiced any chance I could get, then moved onto slightly harder projects. Fast forward to a few years later, and I was sewing zippered pouches, tote bags and soaking up any you tube tutorial I could find. I started giving my items out as gifts, and always received a comment like, "Oh, wow! This is beautiful? Did you MAKE this?! Do you have an Etsy shop? You SHOULD have an Etsy shop!"
Then, the pandemic. The friggin'. Long. Pandemic. I became very good at sewing, then. And that's when I decided to open up an Etsy shop. It was either open up the shop, or move out of my own house because there was not room to live with all the bags around. I got my first sale the day after I opened my shop. Talk about a rush! But honestly, I don’t know if I would have my own Etsy shop and have the sewing skills I have today without the pandemic. If you told me 5 years ago I would making the bags I make today, I would have thought you were crazy. But along with being a creative outlet for me, it's also my therapy. My sanity keeper. My escape. My chance to keep my mind quiet.
I love looking at fabric and thinking up combos in my mind of what would look great on a bag. My Instagram (@bemanythings) will show you all the different projects I have made over the past couple years. I sew any chance I get, however, it's not as often as I would like.
Now, I'm a full time Asst. Special Ed Teacher, working with behaviorally and socially challenged children. See now why I need a stress reliever??!! My sewing time is now whittled down to when I'm not knocked out on the couch during the school week after my own kids have gone to bed, or when I can sneak a few hours into my sewing room on the weekend. I'm always creating in my mind, and have several drawers in my sewing room full of fabrics that are paired with patterns, waiting to be cut into.
I am deep in collaborations with various textile companies, along with being a Brand Ambassador for Benartex, Maywood Studio, Needle & Anchor and Sallie Tomato. Collabs include maker projects for Art Gallery Fabrics, Poppie Cotton, and Maureen Fiorellini with Studio E Fabrics.
I've also started writing sewing patterns, and have several to offer - head to my sewing pattern page to see!
I personally want to thank you for taking the time to learn a little about myself. Hopefully you have connected with my story in some way. If you would like to connect with me, stay updated on what I’m up to, or read about sewing, sign up for my newsletter!
Love, Amanda
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