USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family?  I am married and have two grown children and three wonderful grandsons. I love cats and nature. I just finished 8 sessions with a personal trainer at the YMCA and am trying to be good about working out using the exercises she taught me! I enjoy my church volunteer work.  I certainly stay busy while I’m enjoying retirement!

What are your hobbies? Of course, sewing is a favorite hobby. I also like to read mysteries and historical fiction, especially about WWII.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project?   I had heard about a similar project but did not hear back from them when I asked for the patterns. So when I saw about this project, I went after it quickly! I think it’s an important topic that many folks don’t like to talk about.

When did you first learn how to sew? My grandmother taught me to sew on her treadle machine when I was about eight years old. I’ve been making clothes and sewing other projects for many years now.

What have been your favorite sewing projects? I sewed memory quilts for my mother and my mother-in-law for their 80th birthdays. They were both born in 1920. Last Christmas I sewed t-shirt quilts for my two older grandsons using their soccer shirts. Now I typically make little outfits for new babies in the family.

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? I have been a seamstress for The Angel Gown Project since October 2017. My husband and I have been married for 43 years. Steve and I have two Daughters and 3 Grandchildren. I worked in Child Development for 25 years and loved working in Pre-K. My husband served over 22 years as a Officer and Pilot in The United States Army. After 29 moves we decided to make our dreams come true and move to South West Florida.  I am an animal lover, especially cats.

What are your hobbies? My hobbies are walking outside and seeing all the wildlife in Florida. I love to collect sea shells at the beach. I also enjoy reading and sewing.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project? I had my wedding gown made into Angel Gowns by another organization. The lady who did my gown is the person who inspired me. She gave me the courage and told me I could make these gowns. So I started looking around at some organizations. The Angel Gown Program seemed to fit what I was looking for. When I retired I knew that I wanted to do some type of volunteer work. I had never planned on sewing after retirement but
realized that making angel gowns was my calling.

When did you first learn how to sew? I learned how to sew from my Mom when I was in high school.

What have been your favorite sewing projects? Sewing for my daughters when they were young and making Angel Gowns.

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? I come from a North Dakota farm family of eight children, but sadly three have passed away. I’ve been married to my husband Henry for 37 years. We don’t have children of our own, but I love being “Auntie” to my nieces & nephews, blood ones as well as children of friends who grew up calling me Aunt Cheryl.

What are your hobbies? I enjoy reading & shopping, but most importantly love sewing. I’ve been retired for almost 4 years, but have stayed so busy that I don’t know when I had time to work!

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project?  Very good friends of mine lost a baby 25 years ago. Baby Katelyn had two surgeries for a hole in her heart, but she still died when she was five days old. I couldn’t fathom how they would be able to go to a store to buy an outfit to bury her in. So I met with them and together we decided I would make an outfit for her to be buried in. I still remember sitting up until 2:30 am, sewing her pink eyelet outfit that consisted of a dress, bloomers, booties & a bonnet. I knew I had to make it special because I’d never sew for her again. Then I read about Angel Gowns a couple years before I retired and knew that was what I was going to do when I retired.

When did you first learn how to sew? My grandmother taught me to sew when I was in junior high school. Unfortunately, after making my Prom dress when I was a Senior in high school, she passed away & was not able to see me dressed up in it for the Prom.

What have been your favorite sewing projects? I’d have to say one of my most favorite sewing projects was my youngest sister’s wedding dress over 40 years ago. While having seven yards of fabric on my lap, I sewed on the lace, pearls & bugle beads by hand! Years before that I took a tailoring class, so was able to tailor suits for my husband and coats for my family members. And of course the Angel Gowns Project is near and dear to my heart. It’s fun to be able to be creative and add special touches to the gowns. And it’s really special when I use wedding gowns from my family or friends.

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? I come from a North Dakota farm family of eight children, but sadly three have passed away. I’ve been married to my husband Henry for 37 years. We don’t have children of our own, but I love being “Auntie” to my nieces & nephews, blood ones as well as children of friends who grew up calling me Aunt Cheryl.

What are your hobbies? I enjoy reading & shopping, but most importantly love sewing. I’ve been retired for almost 4 years, but have stayed so busy that I don’t know when I had time to

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? My husband and I have two grown children, and are thoroughly enjoying retirement.  We go for long walks and enjoy sharing everything each season has to offer.

What are your hobbies? I have always enjoyed knitting and sewing.  I am almost 6 feet tall and had to sew most of my clothes when I was in high school to get the sleeves and overall length correct I have made 3 wedding gowns so far and love working with bridal fabrics and all the bling that goes with them.  We converted one of our bedrooms into my sowing room.  I know, you think I spelled that wrong, but no, besides the sewing that goes on, I also have a Bible Study library and a music ministry and all of these activities flow out of my “sowing” room.

When did you first learn how to sew?  I’ve been sewing since I was ten years old making doll clothes.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project? The Angel Gown project was just a natural fit for me.  I use as much of the bling as I can to dress these little innocent Angels to meet Jesus.  I want them to look their very best as they go into His presence.  The inspiration of the Holy Spirit aids me in the designing of each gown so each one is unique!  Some times I get an idea and just run to my sewing room and whip it up.  It never ceases to amaze me, with each wedding gown I am given, I seem to make another of my all time favorite little Angel dresses.  Here is a photo of a couple from a dress I am currently working on.

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? I have been  married for 37 years and have three grown children and a grandson on the way!  I worked for 38 years in health care as a microbiology technologist in a hospital laboratory.  I live in beautiful Upstate New York

What are your hobbies?   I love to garden, sew, exercise doing yoga and swim, travel and enjoy the outdoors whether it be walking, hiking, or riding my bike. I volunteer at our community food bank, church soup kitchen, and sing in my church choir

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project? When I retired two years ago, I was looking for something that I could do with my love of sewing and came across the Angel Gowns Project website and thought that it would be a perfect fit for me! I love transforming the beautiful dresses that are donated to create  memorable clothing for a cherished Angel baby

When did you first learn how to sew?  I  began sewing at age twelve when I received a sewing machine for Christmas.  My mom enrolled me in classes at the local Singer sewing center and my love of creating began!

What have been your favorite sewing projects? Some of my favorite sewing projects have been making my own prom dresses, making the flower girl dresses for my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding, and making a baptismal gown for my friend’s grand baby out of her wedding gown.

USA Seamstress

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? I live in Chandler Arizona with my husband of 33 years.  We have 3 adult children living across the US and one living in England.  I grew up in Minnesota, and my husband and I moved several times with his job, and have finally landed in Arizona for the past 20 years.

What are your hobbies? I am a newly retired art teacher and love to do all sorts of crafts.  However, sewing (garment and quilting) and watercolor painting are my favourites.  I also raise chickens and garden in the winter.  I love to read and travel as well.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project? I stumbled across an article about the Angel Gown project from a fabric store newsletter.  I thought what a terrific way to spend some of my free time.  I also had a very dear friend lose a baby prematurely and we grieved together and felt this would be a great way to honor her baby boy.

When did you first learn how to sew?  I learned from my mother and later refined my knowledge in college at UW-Stouts Apparel Design and Manufacturing program.

What have been your favorite sewing projects? I love sewing quilts, but I have really enjoyed making clothing for my daughters. Children’s clothes and later prom dresses and coats.  I like to learn new techniques and am constantly challenging my self with different fabrics or couture techniques.

USA Seamstress

I am the single  mom of 4 grown kids – two boys, two girls and have 10 grandchildren.   My hobbies include remodeling houses and of course sewing and quilting. I enjoy problem solving  I heard of angel gowns and wanted to be a part of the healing and service they provide.  Some of my favorite sewing project are alterations to make formal wear more modest for the young girls I know that don’t want to go to the dance half naked. 

USA Seamstress

My journey has been a long one. My husband Keith and I have 3 lost pregnancies. We are blessed with 2 living children. Been married 43 years. Good years!  We have a granddaughter who we adore. I asked God in my darkest times why?  It wasn’t until my own daughter experienced miscarriages of her own that the answer was revealed. I was to help others with the experience of their lost. It all made sense in that moment. I want to love others in their deepest need. I want to show Gods love in a very tangible way. I choose to do that through the angel gowns project.   I actually learned to sew in home economics. I made my teacher cry I was so incredibly untalented. I’m sure she would be proud now!  

USA Seamstress

My name is Michelle Kane.  My husband and I are empty nesters and have been living in Logan, Utah for 28 years.  We have 7 children and 21 grandchildren and have recently returned from doing volunteer service in Laie, Hawaii at the Polynesian Cultural Center for the last 2 years.  My husband was working as an architect and I was sewing for the shows and villages at the center.

I really enjoy sewing, but I also love playing the piano, playing board games and cooking.

My daughter, Claire, has been involved with The Angel Gown Project for several years and asked if I would be interested in sewing after I returned home from Hawaii.

I began sewing when I was about 6. My grandma embroidered a lot and taught me how to embroider dish towels. I have always really enjoyed working with my hands so from there I began to sew on my mother’s sewing machine when I was a little older.  I then took sewing in Junior High School and I would take summer sewing classes.  I loved it!!

I love making Easter dresses for my granddaughters and I really enjoyed making costumes for the dancers at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? My husband Mike and I have been married for 37 years.  We have one son, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren, 12,  7 and 4.  We spent the first 50 years of our lives in Iowa and relocated to Texas 10 years ago.  We are getting ready to move back to Iowa for retirement to be closer to our family.

What are your hobbies?  I like gardening, reading, walking, our dogs and watching our grandkid’s ballgames, and of course, sewing.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project?  I wanted to donate my dress, and when I saw how long the waiting list was, decided I could help most by being a seamstress.  I did my maiden voyage with my own dress to make sure I didn’t mess up anyone else’s dress.  It came out well and I have sewn over 100 gowns since then.  I also hope this will be something that will keep me active into my retirement years.

When did you first learn how to sew?  My mother has always sewn and taught us as soon as we were able to reach the sewing machine.

What have been your favorite sewing projects?  Angel gowns has been a favorite.  I also enjoyed sewing masks when COVID first hit and they were scarce.

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? Married (54 years) with 3 children and 5 grandchildren (4 in college). Retired after 33 years teaching history. My current job is on hold because of COVID. I travel the world teaching SAT prep in American International Schools – 6 continents and 54 countries to date. I am a docent volunteer at 2 local museums.

What are your hobbies? Travel, museums, Photography, drawing and gardening.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project? My cousin, Sybille Sullivan, shared what she was doing for the project. When I saw the gowns, I signed up immediately.

When did you first learn how to sew? When I was 9, my aunt gifted my sister and me with the first Barbie dolls. But I live in a cold climate and hated that she didn’t have any clothes except a bathing suit. I begged my mother for days to let me use the sewing machine. Finally – she gave in. There was one huge problem though – she didn’t know how to sew either. I studied the book and figured it out after lots of trial and error.

What have been your favorite sewing projects? My daughter’s wedding gown alterations and as well as making her bridesmaids gowns from beautiful green velvet. Also, I made a huge quilt for the producer/director of our high school plays. I made costumes for the theater group for too many years to count and saved all the scraps. When she retired, I gifted her with the quilt I had made from all those many years of scraps.

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family?
My name is Buffy Epperson. I live in Utah, and have all of my life. I have been married to my husband for 46 years. We have 5 kids, 4 girls and 1 son. We also are blessed to have 14 grandchildren, who have been the greatest joy of my life! We just moved this year from our ‘starter home’ after 43 years! I finally have a craft room worthy of my many, many projects!

What are your hobbies?
Hobbies include baking, gardening, sewing, cross-stitch, I’m very much a ‘home’ person.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project?
My friend from my old neighborhood is involved and I was at her home one day and saw these beautiful gowns and fell in love with the program and the service opportunity. I began making gowns before I was accepted into the program and have been able to find  homes for the first 30 I made! People were so generous to give me their gowns! I love that I can do my own thing at my own pace and there is not a time limit. I’ve had some health issues and lost my mom just a few weeks ago–sewing these little gowns has brought so much peace to my heart!

When did you first learn how to sew?I learned to sew, literally, at the knee of my grandmother! My mother was also a great seamstress and made most of my clothes and my older sister and I always had matching Easter & Christmas dresses. I sewed a LOT for my own  kids. Now I make things for the grands, in fact, as I write this, I am aware that I need to finish up 2 Halloween Costumes!

What have been your favorite sewing projects?
My favorite sewing project? Too many to count! My LEAST favorite? My daughter’s wedding dress. I broke probably 40 needles on the ‘jewels’. Never again, Also, helped make 138 choir dresses one year—and then came back the next year and made 50 more. 

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family? Hi, I’m a widow with 6 girls and 10 grandchildren. 

What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are sewing, beading, charity work, making dolls, and doll houses, and painting to name a few.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project?
I was blessed with 6 healthy girls and my heart goes out to anyone who has lost a child. I was brought up to give back, it’s my passion.

When did you first learn how to sew?I taught myself to sew when I was 10 years old. I do a lot of charity sewing.

What have been your favorite sewing projects?
Making Angel Gowns is my favorite. I also make little dresses for the little girls of Africa. I also started making chemo hats for cancer patients. My passion is giving back. If you have a little give a little!

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family?
We are a retired military family, currently living in the Houston area. My family is my husband, and two grown children.

What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are sewing, swimming, cooking, and driving my students bananas.

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project?
I was flipping through Facebook, bored, and I saw a story about Angel Gowns and felt a great interest, I signed up right then.

When did you first learn how to sew?
I first learned to sew when I was about 5 years old. I am number 8 of nine children, with six older brothers. If I wanted something of my own, or new clothes, I had to sew them.

What have been your favorite sewing projects?
My favorite sewing projects have been my own wedding gown, my children’s clothes, when they would let me sew for them, and some really neat costumes.

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family?
My husband Ruben & I live in Bethlehem Township PA with out two children Kyle & Kiara, and two Havachon dogs, Appa & Maverick.  I am a dental hygienist & have been practicing for over 23 years. 

What are your hobbies?
Aside from sewing, I love to bake & decorate cakes. I have been baking & decorating cakes since I was about 11,  even having my own business for a while. I enjoy watching my daughter play softball, and taking the pups out on walks, and enjoy vacations at the beach. 

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project?
I had saved my wedding gown, and heard about the Angel Gowns project a few years ago. I decided I would donate my gown, and then thought why not become a seamstress myself. We have been blessed with two beautiful children, & are fortunate to have never suffered the loss of a child.

When did you first learn how to sew?
I first learnt to sew in middle school, and then in high school. I still have a wrap skirt I made by hand, and a needle & pin holder that was one of my first projects at school on a machine. 

What have been your favorite sewing projects?
One of my favorite sewing projects was probably a small blue baby’s romper that I made for the little boy I used to babysit for. When he outgrew it, they used it on a baby doll. His mom still has the romper!  

USA Seamstress

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your family?
I am blessed to be the wife of a retired Coast Guard Captain and mom to 6 living and one angel children. My husband Eric and I have been married for 36 years and 13 moves. We have 3 sons and 3 daughters and have welcomed in 2 spouses so far. We have had numerous cats and now have 2 dogs. I am a registered nurse but throughout all of our moving I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at home to attempt to manage our chaos.

What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are crafting of all sorts- sewing, crochet, cross-stitch, card making, jewelry making and now I’m trying my hand at acrylic painting. About the only thing I’ve tried that I don’t like is knitting- I knit a sweater and it took me 7 years!

What motivated you to be a part of The Angel Gowns Project?
I was motivated to be part of the Angel Gowns Project because I’m always looking for a way to help others heal. I know that hospitals can be very depersonalizing and anything I can help do to make parents experience with their angels be better then I wanted to be part of it.

When did you first learn how to sew?
My mom taught me to sew when I was in first grade. She bought me a kiddie sewing machine, but as a sewer herself was very upset by the bad stitching that it did. So we went to the Sears and bought a full size machine! Then I had to sew my grandma an apron on it- at the time I thought it was maybe not the best gift. But I had that machine for 30 years and sewed my wedding gown on it.  

What have been your favorite sewing projects?
Some of my favorite sewing projects have been First Communion dresses for my girls, a family quilt made from scraps of all of our sewing projects, doll clothes and my first set of angel gowns.