I use filming as an excuse to take classes. I got my certification in sailing for 'Wedding Crashers ' and now I can handle a 26-foot boat. I played a seamstress once so I took sewing classes. I love dipping into these other lives.

When I moved out of my mom's house at 18 I was almost as sad to leave her sewing machine behind as anything else.

I stand before you as the governor of Texas but also stand before you the son of two tenant farmers. Ray Perry who came home after 35 bombing missions over Europe to work his little corner of land out there and Amelia who made sure that my sister Milla and I had everything that we needed included hand sewing my clothes until I went off to college.

If we didn't want to upset anyone we would make films about sewing but even that could be dangerous. But I think finally in a film it is how the balance is and the feelings are. But I think there has to be those contrasts and strong things within a film for the total experience.

From about eight years old I was always making things on the sewing machine. Friends would see me making dresses and costumes and I'd use difficult fabrics such as Lycra and elastic. But you know my dad was creative and my brother is inventive too.