Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Ikeler.
Erika, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I opened my school for sewing in the midwest in 2002. There I taught thousands of people and eventually moved my business to Los Angeles in 2010 to continue offering my classes.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a small business in America is not easy, but the journey, lessons, and people I’ve met along the way have made every struggle worth it.
8 Limbs Sewing School – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business specializes in teaching people how to build and make. It’s my specialty to show people how to make patterns, and from patterns create a first sample. It’s really satisfying to build things and I get to share this with my students each week. Every day, I’m grateful for the opportunity that my small business is to me. I personally work with each student. I don’t have employees. I love what I do. My students come to know me as their sewing mentor. My job is to inspire and educate them.
My background is in fashion design. I share my designs/patterns, I’ve made with my students. Students often build my dress designs. My skills as a fashion designer are used to build and create new design work for my school on a regular basis. All my students are encouraged to trace patterns while studying at 8 Limbs. Students also make their own patterns or buy patterns to use. I’ve created an encouraging, inspiring studio that nurtures learning.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Every day that I walk through the door to teach a class, I feel this huge sense of accomplishment. Walking into the space I’ve created, hosting a sewing class that I’ve developed, educating the community. It’s the daily practice of teaching that gives me a sense of pride and happiness.
It’s the daily practice for me that feels rewarding.
Pricing:
- Sewing Machine Operation $120 3 hour class
Contact Info:
- Address: 2529 Berkeley Ave ECHO PARK, CA 90026
- Website: www.8-limbs.com
- Phone: 213-353-0149
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Erika Ikeler
