MY Philosophy
At You’re Sew Creative! I don’t subscribe to the idea that some people are creative while others are not. I believe all are made in the image of a creator and, as such, are simply born to create.
Put another way, it’s as if we have creativity in our DNA! I truly believe it’s just a matter of finding that one thing (or several) that really gets your child excited.
It just might be that sewing and creating with textiles will be the thing that captures your child’s imagination!
MY Mission
At You’re Sew Creative! I strive to:
- Provide a colorful, inspiring atmosphere for learning to sew
- Keep projects relevant and interesting to youth
- Celebrate achievements and encourage individual creativity
- Provide a fun, nurturing atmosphere
- Provide quality working tools, supplies and materials
- Help students build on skills at a rate that matches their desire
- Provide varying levels of skill instruction, enabling students to continue their learning
- Provide annual opportunities for participation in service projects
ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER
My name is Terry Tillman and I’ve been teaching kids to sew for about 3 ½ years. I first learned to sew when I was 13 years old and took a home economics class in 8th grade. My first project was a blue jumper with red flocked apple cores (which were a thing at the time)! Since then, I’ve mostly taught myself, and have “perfected” my skill through lots and lots of practice, along with more than a few mistakes (which are sometimes the best teachers)!
I have many years of experience working with kids, including two years of teaching and substitute teaching at Umpqua Valley Christian School, as well as in numerous Sunday school classes. I also homeschooled my two daughters for ten years.
I first got the idea to start teaching about 4 years ago after selling fabric and handmade items online for several years. I was beginning to feel restless and knew I needed to spend more time with people. So I decided to start sharing my sewing skills with kids, since it seemed there was a growing interest among them to learn, and because I like their energy and enthusiasm. Also, like many people today, I sense the need to help young people learn to do creative things with their hands. Sewing can be one way to counteract the time kids are spending on electronic devices and social media.
For my part, I will consider myself a success if my students end up surpassing me in skill and creative ability. And they just might!