Rebecca The Seamstress's Story--How it all began?
THE DRESS THAT STARTED IT ALL!
I'm standing in my backyard, holding my oldest brother's hand in the early 60's. I was proud of my brother and proud of the first real dress I sewed, Mom, a home economics teacher, helped me with each seam I stitched on my great-aunt's treadle sewing machine. I learned how to insert a concealed zipper (in the back) and practiced my skills by double topstitching around each edge. While not a popular fabric, that red felt dress was a classic, especially as I wore a white turtleneck underneath. I polished up my black and white saddle shoes and wore my first creation with a great sense if accomplishment. I still have that dress as a reminder of my early experiences of sewing.
But it actually began BEFORE the Red Dress ...
I have always enjoyed working with fabrics, from her earliest of days. My earliest of memories "sewing" began a couple of years before the red felt dress. When I was in kindergarten, I remember wanting to sew a dress. I remember laying out a flat sheet on my bedroom floor and taking a marker and tracing around my body. I cut out the shape and stapled it together and was so disappointed when I couldn’t put it on and wear my creation!
Through my childhood, I continued sewing dresses, jackets, one-piece shorts/jumper, and my junior prom dress. Knits and stretch sewing was gaining in popularity, so that's mainly what I used along with polyester gabardine, and woven. When I turned 16, Mom gave me her used Elna Supermatic sewing machine with changeable cams, my preferred machine to this day. As a senior in high school, I participated in a sewing competition in Los Angeles, but bit off more than I could chew by trying to cut out, mark, and sew a dress and lined jacket out of tourquise gabardine in the 7 hour time frame--but I sure enjoyed myself. In junior college, I was the teacher's assistant to the Home Ec's Department Textile Professor and I learned a lot about different fabrics, and construction methods.. Hancock's Fabrics and Cloth World were may favorite fabric suppliers. I sure enjoyed the employee discount when I worked at Cloth World in the early 70s!
As a young mom, I sewed window treatments for our home and dresses for our daughters. When mending was needed, I set up my Elsa on the kitchen table and completed the job. But, then I'd pack it back up in its case. There it remained for years.
My interest in designing and creating fabric art resurfaced in 2019 at an artisan's shop close to Lake Erie where fabric art was featured in kitchen attire. I thought, "I can improve on these features" and use my creations to serve as conversation starters in addition to practical applications. My mind began spinning of the possibilities. And so I began gathering supplies....
I am having a great time in retirement designing and creating whimsical and elegant kitchen attire and accessories for home and life.
All items are created with the hope of bringing a smile to your face. Lady of The Cloth LLC uses the highest quality of materials available and takes pride in the construction. Irregularities in the fiber, sewing, etc., indicate the item has been individually made. No mass production here!
It is my home that my creations will help spark a connection with someone else which will yield to conversations..... all in the hope that these items may serve as a catalyst to help you develop relationships, community. Maybe they will bring a smile to your face. Or a giggle. Or help you rediscover a little joy from days gone by.... whatever you need to help you live life with joy and hope.
Our Approach
We believe in a collaborative approach to consulting, where we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and develop solutions together. Our goal is to build long-lasting relationships with our clients.