ps.... please don't apolize for a lengthy post or I will have to always apologize because I have yet to learn the art of being concise.

I wanted also to add that it is another likeness between you and I with your interest in sewing. In a former life I had my own fashion design studio. I did mostly high end couture designs. Custom one of a kinds, limited addition collects for high end stores. It was very successful for 10 year before the mood swings and stress caused a total breakdown. It took a few years to find my footing again and I left on my own for Europe and came back to teaching fashion design and less and less designing professionally. I just don't have the same passion anymore but I still enjoy playing around with it now and then. And mentoring other emerging designers is something I still enjoy a lot.