I started smocking when I had my first child in 1988 and it was love at first stitch! I have smocked for all 4 of my children (2 boys and 2 girls) and as they got older I transitioned into teaching. I have been fortunate to have traveled to the island of Madeira twice and taken lessons from the embroideresses at the Imperial Bordados embroidery factory. I am a contributing editor to Classic Sewing Magazine and Threads Magazine, as well as Creative Needle and Sew Beautiful magazines when they were being published. I have also been a guest on the PBS show Fit2Stitch. Classic Couture and Classic Couture for Children are my pattern lines, and my company, Vaune, carries fine fabrics, French laces, Swiss embroideries, floche and Coton a Broder #25, DOVO scissors, and smocking and sewing notions and accessories.

I have many classes that focus on both smocking and embroidery. I also concentrate on construction - after you spend your valuable time creating your treasures, the construction and finishes that are used are just as important as the needlework. I strive to teach not only 'how', but 'why' to make your garments handmade, not homemade.