This is my very first post, so let me introduce myself!

My journey into costume making began during my first trip to the Venice Carnival in 2007. Inspired by the magnificent costumes, I dreamed of creating my own. But since I didn’t know how to sew—and had been told it would be far too difficult—I didn’t pursue the idea at the time.

Life moved on. I studied Chinese at university, then lived and worked for a couple of years in New Zealand and Canada before settling in the Czech Republic, where my IT career began. It wasn’t until 2017, during a second trip to the Venice Carnival, that I finally decided to learn how to sew.

At that point, I could barely sew a button. I didn’t know how to read a pattern, let alone draft one. Aside from making bobbin lace and doing a bit of cross-stitch as a child, I wasn’t particularly crafty—but that didn’t scare me. I believed the biggest challenge would be learning to be patient and take my time to do things properly.

When I set my mind on something, I don’t give up. I wanted to make a costume for the Carnival, so I asked my mother to teach me the basics—how to read a pattern, how to sew simple garments—and I taught myself the rest.

I started with a simple dress, then pants, then more complex designs. Two years later, I created my own costume for the Venice Carnival. It wasn’t as extravagant as the ones you see in photos, but for me, it was more about the process than the result. I never made it to Venice that year—Covid got in the way—but the seed had been planted, and it kept growing.

Over the years, sewing became a vital creative outlet for me. I’ve since expanded my skills to include pattern making, draping, prop construction, and embroidery. Each project brings new joy and discovery. Eventually, I made a life-changing decision: to leave the IT world behind and fully embrace the path of becoming an artist.