Years ago, more than I want to count, living in New York I had a professional sewing career. My very first job in New York City was at the Julliard School making costumes. That led to a job at Brooks Van Horn Costume Company sewing costumes for Broadway shows, movies and the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus. I worked under a wonderful yet exacting tailor. Around that time, I thought about becoming a fashion designer. I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) night school lasting only about a year. Working full time at the costume company and part-time in a Lebanese restaurant left little time and desire to do the necessary homework. It was, and still is, a wonderful school with loads of talented instructors and alumni. Fast foward a number of years to Japan, and again the desire to design struck again. I wanted to attend fashion school. There is one right here in Maebashi, Gunma that offered a “free” class a few days a week. Free meant that we could design and make anything we wanted, there was tuition but no curriculum. I took a 3 and a half hour class on Tuesday mornings. I learned how to use an old fashioned treadle machine, to draft patterns (this involves a lot of math which I HATE) and to take my time marking and basting, all the things that make a garment look wonderful. The class had anywhere from 2 to 4 students and one instructor. After attending for about 3 or 4 years, I began to get more and more work as a university instructor and had to give up fashion school. Here is an example of one of the garments I made. I not only made this jacket for my friend, Deborah, but one for my mom, one for my mother-in-law and one for myself. They are all a little different as the collar and cuffs are a patchwork of antique kimono and kasuri (ikat). I really enjoyed making this and many other things for my friends, my family and myself. I am getting that old feeling again, of wanting to go back to fashion school. Maybe soon my schedule will again allow it. That fashion school is right where I left it.