Hi I’m Julie

I began sewing when I was only eight years old using my mum’s sewing machine. I started by making dresses for my dollies. My passion for creating and making clothes continued over the years and I received my first Frister and Rossman sewing machine at the age of 16. Leaving school I went to dressmaking classes.

I am a mum to four children, three are grown up and my youngest is nearly sixteen, and I am lucky to have six grandchildren. While my children were growing up I always made for my girls and boys, myself and friends. I then went on to do City and Guilds level 1 and did other classes like for boned bodices to enhance my skills.

Ten years ago I started my own business Overly Gorgeous, making and designing clothes for the larger lady. I moved from a shed in my garden, to a small shop and then into half the premises we are in now. In 2015 I decided to diversify into more craft and patchwork and quilting fabrics as well as dressmaking fabrics and to increase the haberdashery.

We took over both halves of the shop and rebranded the shop as Sidmouth Fabrics and Haberdashery, we had 7 great years in the shop running workshops and classes and meeting amazing people along the way and as a person growing.  

 Now 7 years later it’s time for a change, the shop has now closed, and I am going to run my dressmaking and patchwork and other classes in and around Sidmouth Seaton and Exeter.  I have also diversified into sewing retreats across Devon of which I want to grow.