When I was a teen, my mom would give me unlimited funds to buy fabric, yet hardly any funds for buying ready-to-wear. Like many teens, I was passionate about the current fashion, so I sewed like mad, thinking I was being ever so clever to beat her system. At the time, I thought my mom was just plain mean; but she really steered me to acquire lifetime skills that ultimately lead to my career. She gave me a wonderful gift: a reason to learn to sew. Thanks, Mom!