I was born to Russian-Polish immigrant parents in Alberta, Canada. My childhood was one of poverty. Even at a young age, I loved beautiful clothes, but often had to accept wearing the neighbors han...view moreI was born to Russian-Polish immigrant parents in Alberta, Canada. My childhood was one of poverty. Even at a young age, I loved beautiful clothes, but often had to accept wearing the neighbors hand-me-downs. When I began working and living on my own, I learned to choose my clothes wisely, embellish them, and make minor alterations to change completely the look of my clothes. This resulted in my learning to make my own fashion statements. Even Queen Elizabeths wardrobe staff uses these techniques to stretch her budget. When I decided to write about creating unique wardrobes, I realized that I have a natural talent to draw and design fashions. Hence began my book, So You Want To Be Your Own Haute Couture Fashionista?view less