Mackinley Motzer ~ Oregon Chapter

Formal Member

Welcome Mackinley! Tell us about your sewing business.

Specializing in custom sewing, alterations, and lessons, my mission as the Fibrarian is to take my clients’ dreams and make them “sew”. It is my intent to be the magician behind the machine; to take every detail into consideration and bring the idea to fruition.

In the world of sewing, my primary niche lies in the realm of interior design/home decor.

My other preferred sewing avenues include cosplay, product creation, alterations (both client and contractual work), and wholesale orders for local businesses.

What professional title do you use?

I refer to myself as the Fibrarian in an effort to encompass all aspects of my practice. I am a fiber artist, seamstress, teacher, and alterations specialist. The only title I do not enjoy would be "crafter".

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

As it's been said many times before, "we don't know what we don't know". I am always excited at the opportunity to learn from those in my sewing community.

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

I love to take my clients' dreams and make them "sew". It is my pleasure to bring their dream to physical fruition and share the creative journey with them.

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

It is my goal to move my home studio into a brick-and-mortar location in order to expand my offerings, especially in the realm of teaching.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I recently celebrated one year as an LLC in June! While I've been sewing for 15 years and a few of those years professionally, this last year was my first as a full-time Fibrarian.

Website woobiesewing.com

Instagram @Woobie_the_Fibrarian

Facebook Mackenzie Motzer

Bianca Raimo

Student Member

Bianca Raimo is a student at FIT in NYC working on opening a shop within the next year.

Where can people find you?

I have not set up my shop or social media yet, it is in the works.

How long have you been sewing professionally?

Less than 5 years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Fashion illustration

Rachel Myers ~ Concord, California

Formal Member

President of the Home Décor Learning Center (HDLC), opened her business in June of 2012. For more than thirty years, Rachel has been doing custom dressmaking, alterations, and many unusual projects including costumes and other specialty items as well as home décor.

Rachel learned upholstery under the instruction of Master Journeyman and Teacher, Siegfried Wroebel through the Mt. Diablo Adult Education program. In 2007 she was asked to teach the upholstery class at Mt. Diablo Adult Education and Acalanes Adult Education. When these programs were discontinued, the concept of the HDLC was developed in response to the community's need for upholstery classes. There is no other business quite like the HDLC, making it a unique place for students to learn upholstery, home décor sewing and have space to work on their projects.

Rachel is a long-time member of the American Sewing Guild (ASG), having served as Chapter President, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and Fundraising Chair over the years. She is also a previous member of ASDP.

Rachel, through HDLC, aspires to teach people to become self-sufficient in creating interior design projects to decorate their homes, customize autos, boats, and RV’s and prepare those students who wish to pursue a career in the industry. She enjoys teaching and watching the accomplishments and satisfaction of students realizing they have produced a quality project.

With the advent of COVID, HDLC was forced to close its doors in 2020. Rachel is now in a period of redefining what she wants to do going forward.

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Pricing, Better Marketing, improve social media skills, tambour beading (just for fun), any new techniques in sewing and fitting, approaches to writing.

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Sewing, seeing students "get it", seeing an idea actually materialize.

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

Gain more brand recognition, be more profitable, define which I like to do best, find/train someone to replace me, write a book on Upholstery.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I started teaching upholstery in 2008, and I am now sewing home decor in addition to garments.

Website homedecorlc.com

Email rachelm@homedecorlc.com  ramyers@ix.netcom.com

Jennifer Wiese ~ Brooklyn, New York

Formal Member

Jennifer Wiese is founder of Workroom Social, a Brooklyn, NY-based sewing studio. At Workroom Social, we teach adults how to sew clothes that fit their unique styles and individual body shapes + sizes. Through sewing we build communities, stimulate creativity, & help improve women’s self-esteem & confidence by empowering them to sew the clothes they want to wear. Together we learn from each #sewingfail & celebrate every #sewingwin, no matter how small. We use our shared passion for sewing to connect with those we might not meet otherwise, & we create opportunities for our students to develop relationships that go far beyond sewing itself.

Jennifer believes that every woman can lead a joyful, creative, & confident life. She knows that sewing your own clothes (& wearing these you-made clothes) is a surefire way to cultivate these things every day.

Do you work alone?

I work alone most of the time, but I do hire contractors sometimes for events and other needs.

What professional title do you use?

I never know what title to use. Founder, owner, CEO, educator...I wear all the hats, but never quite know how to refer to my job position.

How long have you been sewing professionally?

10-15 years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

I love learning new things always! And I actively work to learn new things constantly. Not sure if there's something specific that I can point to at this time.

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Running my large-scale retreats. I love logistics!

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

In 5 years time I hope to have a library of digital sewing patterns for sale, a popular YouTube channel, and 4 large-scale retreats running annually (currently I have 1 retreat that runs annually).

What else should we know about you or your business?

Right now I am focused on building my company's YouTube channel.

Website workroomsocial.com

Youtube @workroomsocial

Instagram @workroomsocial

Twitter @workroomsocial

LinkedIn Jennifer Wiese

Amy Henson ~ Ligonier, Pennsylvania

Formal Member

I have been sewing professionally for over 20 years. I specialize in alterations - especially bridal and formalwear and love the challenge of making a garment fit perfectly.

Do you work alone?

No, I have employees, contractors or coworkers

What professional title do you use?

Seamstress, Alterations Specialist

How long have you been sewing professionally?

20+ years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Networking, marketing

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Work with brides

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

Hire and teach to expand our business and have it continue after I retire.

What else should we know about you or your business?

We specialize in bridal alterations.

Website fittingroomligonier.com

Instagram @TheFittingRoomLigonier

Facebook @TheFittingRoomLigonier

LinkedIn Amy Henson

Heather Zager ~ Renton, WA

Formal Member

MADE is a Seattle based apparel design and development company created to help designers bring their sewn product ideas into production.

Do you work alone?

No, I have employees, contractors or coworkers

What professional title do you use?

Owner

How long have you been sewing professionally?

5-10 years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Become proficient at pattern grading and alterations.

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Oh, all of it!

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

To move to a retail location.

What else should we know about you or your business?

Nothing at this time, still in the early stages of growth.

Website MADEApparelServices.com

Instagram @MADEApparelServices

Facebook @MADEApparelServices

LinkedIn @MADEApparelServices

Tiana Weidert ~ Longmont, Colorado

Formal Member

Today we welcome Tiana Weidert! She is a Formal Member and is also a member of the ASDP Colorado Chapter. Tiana is Designer and seamstress for her company Mystia UNU Clothing.

Tiana, tells us about your business!

Mystia UNU Clothing is geared towards sustainable fashion that utilizes vintage and recycled fabrics to create modern styles.

How long have you been sewing professionally?

10-15 years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Digitization of patterns, and tech packs

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

I love making custom patterns from design drawings, and pockets, closures and hand sewing.

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

I would like my clothing brand to be featured in boutiques, and to be making online sales.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I also do short runs of manufacturing and design consulting.

Website MystiaUNUclothing.com

Instagram @mystia_clothing

Twitter @mystiaunu

Anna Timm ~ Boise, Idaho

Patron Member

I work at sewBoise for fellow ASDP member Erin Retelle

What professional title do you use?

I usually call myself a Sewist/sewing teacher, but am fine with whatever title makes sense to people

How long have you been sewing professionally?

Less than 5 years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Couture Tailoring.

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Altering tailored jackets.

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

To be a skilled pattern maker.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I recently learned about working with velveteen and a few new-to-me quick tailoring methods.

Instagram @annageorgina_makes

'Chelle Lanz ~ Columbia City, Oregon

Formal Member

Green Door Creations is a boutique custom sewing shop and my strongest talents are taking a client's idea from pictures and ideas to creating a unique piece to wear or to use for home decor.

I have been sewing professionally for over 40 years and have created wedding gowns, dance outfits, party dresses, formal vests and custom dress shirts for men and women. I started with making doll clothes and doing repairs on my friends clothes when I was in middle school. Since then I have expanded to making costumes for live theatre, ComiCon, and Halloween. I make props and set dressings for theatre as well as memory pillows, flags and curtains for interior decorating in the home and also giant puppets, banners and altar dressings for churches. I can repair some camping gear and am able to clean, oil, repair and set the timing on sewing machines.

Safety and comfort is my number one concern. I am a BLM and LGBTQI+ ally and my pronouns are she/her. Until Covid-19 is completely behind us, I will always wear a mask, practice social distancing as much as possible and use hand sanitizer all during the fitting. My process is to first meet with you at a public location and talk with you about all the aspects of your project. Once we have a plan for moving ahead with your project, I will work with you out of the comfort of your own home (or where ever you choose).

I look forward to projects of constructing a special occasion piece from scratch, altering a piece of clothing or home decor to give it new life or putting the finishing touches on a piece that has already been started. I am also happy to work through a pile of mending that you might have sitting around (for longer than you care to admit?) or to repurpose a piece that you just can't bear to part with yet.

What professional title do you use?

Custom Sewer

How long have you been sewing professionally?

20+ years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Couture pattern drafting and tailoring

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Taking a client's idea into a wearable garment.

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

To make enough money to bring in half of my family income.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I am now a certified sewing repairperson

Website greendoorsewing.squarespace.com

Facebook @greendoorcreationsLLC

Instagram @chelle.lanz

Twitter @sew_green_door

Suzie Gruber ~ Charlotte, North Carolina

Emerging Member

I am certified in Professional Alterations. I work at home doing alterations and other sewing projects for friends, neighbors, and word of mouth referrals. I also freelance as an on-set tailor for local TV/Commercial/Film. I would like to make my at home business more professional and also freelance on sets more often.

Do you work alone?

Sometimes, but I also freelance on commercial/tv/film sets

What professional title do you use?

Seamstress, on set tailor...those are the ones I use, but I'm not particular about what people call me.

How long have you been sewing professionally?

Less than 5 years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Professional Wedding Dress fitting

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Dress alterations

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

To work more consistently and to continue to grow my sewing skills.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I have had some opportunities to sew for wardrobe stylists and production designers on TV, film, and commercials. I love the exciting pace and the variety of sewing projects.

Instagram @sewzie12

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/suzie-gruber-b3b7751bb/