About Me:

I am very blessed to have been married to my sweet husband for  16 now.  We have two wonderful children ages 9 and 12.

As long as I can remember, I have loved smocking.   My mom is from England, so she always dressed me in smocked dresses when I was a child.   It was quite a big event every Easter when we would go to Polly Flinders and pick out a new smocked dress for church!

Even as a child, I always loved to sew and create.  I didn't begin to sew clothing though until I was a teenager in college.   I was working at a bank, going to school  and needed to dress like I had money......even though I certainly wasn't making much of it!  So I started sewing dresses for work.   Then as my friends had children, I started sewing for them.  When I got married and had children of my own, my love of smocking was rekindled.

I didn't know anyone who could smock so I searched the internet for any information I could find.  I ended up teaching myself through trial and error.

Then as my children got older and my love of the art increased, I realized my kids could never wear all of the creations I was envisioning.  So  I created Dandelion Avenue.

Why Dandelion Avenue?

Well, I was driving down the road, letting my mind wander, (as it often does) and I was trying to think of what I could call my "business."   I saw a patch of dandelions on the side of the road.  I always LOVED dandelions!!!  As a child, I loved blowing them to determine whether someone loved me, or loved me not!     Then for some reason, I thought, "Why not Dandelion Avenue?"   

 It reminds me that as a child, we tend to see the beauty in things, and people.   Then sadly, as we grow up and get more cynical, the beautiful dandelion somehow turns into just an old, unwanted weed.  This difference in our perspective is a reminder of the Biblical passage in Matthew 18:1-4, where the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him,  "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling a child to Himself as an example of the simplicity of faith and humbleness of spirit, He said, "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  I pray I never lose the child in me to recognize the beauty in all God has created.

If you would like to contact me, please write me at Angela@dandelionavenue.com.