Introducing Leigh!

I am so excited to get to introduce my new virtual assistant, Leigh! I’ve known Leigh for years, and I think you’re going to love getting to know her, too. She’s not just an office assistant. Although, I love that she does that job for me incredibly well! She’s an amazing seamstress. She’s a homeschool mom. She raises chickens in her backyard. She’s even a wiz at woodworking! Wait until you see the bunkbed and chicken coop she built!

Leigh is going to be working alongside me, helping me to be the two people that I often wish I was. You’ll see her here on the blog, on Facebook, and pretty much anywhere else I need her! Here’s Leigh to tell you all about herself!

~Bonnie

It’s always a bit of a struggle when I am asked to introduce myself. I am never quite sure what kind of information is wanted, and what will be bore you to tears!

So let me start by saying: Hi, I’m Leigh! I’m Bonnie’s new Virtual Assistant.

I am a South African married to my sweetheart James, a US Marine. He’s the the most amazing man, and we can’t believe we’re about to hit our 11th wedding anniversary this June!

We’ve been through 2 deployments, multiple separations for training, a brief period of being out of the Marine Corps, living with his parents for 8 months (thanks again!), 5 different homes, 4 states (Texas twice), 3 children, becoming homeschoolers, 4 chickens, and two trips to South Africa (one with and one without James) since our elopement. Phew, time flies when you’re staying busy!

 

My father is one of the people that helped design and build the world’s biggest pineapple, The Big Pineapple. He is a recently retired agricultural researcher, and has traveled to many parts of the world for his job.

We are the parents of the 3 silliest monkeys alive:

 

JBug is 10 years old, and is utterly amazing at building Lego creations.
Missy is 4 years old, and she’s a little spitfire. But she has also the one that has perfected the puppy eyes look when she wants something, or as she calls it “The Cute-e-ness”.
Little Man will turn 2 years old in a month, and has recently started chatting up a storm and is starting to climb cabinets. We’re a little scared, lol!

I grew up in the main house, next door (literally about 4 feet away) from my Grandmother’s little “granny flat” on her pineapple farm! And down the hill, on the very same farm, lived my cousins. I’ve been in a farm school with about 12 students at it’s peak (yes my dears, 12 in total!), as well as spending many years attending an all girls boarding school in the nearby town.

 

My mom specialized in needlework in her last year of training college, and taught a year of high school needlework before my brother and I kept her busy. She taught me some basics as I grew up. I spent more time doing various types of embroidery/needlework than sewing clothing, but it’s my memories of her sewing for us that pushed me to learn more in my adult life.

 

I had sewn a few odd things since our oldest son was born, but we’re talking about the world’s most basic curtain here, not a garment! I really caught the bug once our daughter was born and I decided to try cloth diapering, and sewing them myself to save money.

 

I’d love to tell you exactly what my first clothing item was, or which pattern it was from…but I honestly can’t remember! I do know the second though: The Round Neck Dress by That Darn Kat! So it wasn’t too long until I learned about WAHM pattern designers, and that’s when the sewing addiction, along with the fabric stash really kicked off…with gusto!

I show off the majority of my creations on my little fledgeling blog: Rooibos Mom and my Facebook page. Come on by and take a peek at what I’ve been up to lately!

What’s that you say? You want confessions?

Okay!

• I hold pins by the heads in my lips as I sew – although I try not to do this in front of the kids, for fear of them copying me..
• I don’t repair things…almost ever. If it needs to be fixed, it will probably stay in the “to-do” pile until it’s outgrown.
• I find knits easier to sew than wovens.
• I’m still too scared to try a twin needle.
• Our kids are outgrowing the sizes in a good portion of my pattern stash, faster than I can sew.
• And I may or may not have chosen our son’s orthodontist by her proximity to the nearest Trader Joes, as well as her ability to fix his teeth of course.

 

 

 

 

I am a very impulsive crafter with a very patient husband. UFO (unfinished objects) piles abound, new projects are added based on the whim of the day, and I’ve even discovered a love for building things!

With some help from my husband, I built our chicken coop for our 4 lovely gals.  Sadly Izzy is no longer with us.

 

We’ve also built a set of bunk beds for JBug and Missy, from the Ana White Classic Bunk Beds plans.

 

I can’t fully express how excited I am to be working with my favorite designer, as well as all of her amazing readers! You’ll be seeing my join in and help with sewalongs, reply to posts on the Fishsticks Designs Facebook page, and even reply to some of the messages and emails that come Bonnie’s way.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little (actually a lot!) about me, and for allowing me into your homes and lives. I am honored to be here.
~Leigh