Linda Rizzardi

I live in Apple Valley CA with my husband, Dave.  Our Clan of 4 kids, have grown and have families of their own and given us 2 grandsons and 6 granddaughters, that keep us busy.  When we not at a softball game, awards assemblies, or on Facebook with my Grandson, Zack, who is in the Air Force, I am in my Sewing Room either sewing, organizing classes, or modifying handbag patterns for classes.  

My sewing began in about 1960 when I wanted to embellish a sweatshirt to go to a party!  (I wanted it to look “girlie”).   I bought a beautiful powder blue pullover sweatshirt and what I thought as “miles of gathered eyelet lace”.  Well, I went about sewing the lace around the neckline and the cuffs, it looked beautiful!  I couldn’t wait until the party to wear it!  Then the disappointment, I couldn’t get the sleeves over my hands or the neck of the shirt over my head!  Who thought about stretch fabrics vs woven fabrics at 12 years old?  FIRST SEWING LESSON LEARNED!!!!

I sewed mostly for my kids while they were young, then grandkids. GARMENT construction was fun a few years ago then I found QUILTING and is one of my favorites to this day.  But my real passion is HANDBAGS.  This love has turned into teaching classes at Moore’s Sewing in Victorville, which I enjoy so much!  Moore’s has afforded me to have the room to teach up to 12 students at a time and get to know some terrific ladies!  I have been teaching at different facilities for about 4 years, since I have retired from Banking.  

Teaching and sharing my experiences, I must say, is one of the most rewarding experiences.  I love walking away from one of my classes knowing that my students have learned something, especially if they are repeat students and you see them really trying and learning from you.   

Beginning students are very fulfilling to me as they really want to learn sewing skills, which I believe they need to start at the very bottom, about their machines and maintaining them, as well as thread choice, fabric choice and needles are a very important combo.  My beginner classes are a series of four (4) classes which are geared to “ramp up” each week teaching new techniques and each student will walk away with a great project they made.  Its’ a great confidence builder for the student whether 10 years old or 80 years old!   

Thank you for this opportunity to share my story with you!