Stitching Together a New Path with Virginia Wygal
Ready for another inspiring story of transformation? I’m delighted to introduce you to Virginia Wygal, another member of the thriving community of creative women inside #annesuniverse. Virginia's journey is a testament to the power of reinvention at any age. Her story is instructive for anyone looking to reignite their creative spark after years slogging it out in the corporate world.
Virginia's Early Love for Fabric and Design
Childhood Inspiration:
- Virginia grew up in a military family, where her mother made much of what they wore. This early exposure to fabric and design sparked a passion that led her to start sewing in the 5th grade.
- Throughout middle and high school, she spent countless hours drawing and designing, creating everything from paper doll clothes to wedding gowns, and even wardrobes for Barbie dolls.
Shifting from STEM to Art:
- Originally on a path towards medical school, Virginia realized that her creative side wasn't being fulfilled. In her last semester of high school, she changed direction and went to art school, where she became a clothing designer.
- She supported herself through college by working at a fabric store, further cementing her love for textiles.
A Career in the Garment Industry
30 Years of Experience:
- Virginia’s career spans over three decades, where she worked as a designer and later as a Director of Product Development. In these roles, she led creative teams in developing clothing designs, patterns, and fabric prints.
- Her industry experience not only deepened her love for fabric, color, and pattern but also ignited a passion for mentoring other creatives.
Teaching and Mentoring:
- Virginia also shared her expertise as an adjunct professor at local colleges and universities, teaching subjects like fashion history, product development, and business math. She brought real-world experience to her students, helping them connect academic learning with industry practices.
Reinventing Herself Creatively
Facing a Crossroads:
- After being downsized - isn’t that the worst expression! - Virginia found herself needing to reinvent herself creatively. Despite several failed attempts to find another job she loved, she rediscovered her passion for color, texture, and design.
- She returned to her fabric stash, dress forms, and explored mixed media art. It was during this time that she took my "Doodles to Dollars" and "Pattern Design Academy" classes, where she learned how to design fabric prints—a skill she had long admired but never mastered until now.
The Birth of Virginia Leigh Studio.
Creating a New Path:
- Virginia's journey led her to start her own entrepreneurial venture, Virginia Leigh Studio. Her website not only showcases mixed media collage art but also serves as a platform where she helps other creatives reignite their spark and teaches sewing enthusiasts how to develop their own designs and patterns.
Artistic Expression and Teaching:
- Virginia's art is deeply influenced by her background in garment design, combining elements from her past with new creative explorations. Her work is sculptural, often incorporating textures and materials from her garment industry days.
- She also created “The Creative Space” and “The Pattern Studio,” where she offers transformative creativity classes, workshops, and online courses in clothing design and patternmaking.
Expanding Her Offerings
- Virginia shares her extensive expertise in her Patreon membership called Sewing Studio Secrets, a place where creativity meets needle and thread. Here, members can find tips, tricks, and inspiration to enhance their sewing skills.
Mastering Her Creative Business:
- Virginia joined my Creative Business Mastermind to focus on merging her various creative interests into a thriving online business. She has successfully launched "The ART of Patternmaking" course and several mini-courses, with more exciting offerings planned for the future. Her biggest take-away so far from being in the mastermind is: “It’s mind-blowing to have Anne’s leadership along with the support of the mastermind group. I feel so much more confident that I can do this by implementing proven best practices, learning from what other members of the mastermind are doing and having access to the support I need.”
Looking Ahead
Future Plans:
- Virginia has exciting plans to add her own line of fabrics and other products featuring her designs to her website. She continues to grow her community and offerings, and I encourage you to stay connected with her journey.
Connect with Virginia:
- If you’re interested in following Virginia’s work or joining her creative journey, you can sign up for her Weekly Creative Buzz newsletter, join her Patreon channel, or participate in her private Facebook group, Virginia’s Studio Cats.
Virginia's story is a powerful example of how embracing your creative passions, even later in life, can lead to new and fulfilling paths. I’m so proud to have her in our community and to share her journey with you.
xo,
Anne
P.S. I’m LIVE on Wednesdays on my Facebook business page and on my YouTube channel. Join me at noon U.S. pacific time which is 3pm U.S. eastern time. See you then!
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
