I create custom costumes, fashion, and large-scale art pieces. This jacket honors the tradition of sewing by women on both sides of my family, specifically my mother Betty, grandmothers Carolyn and Ruth, and Aunt Paula. All of us have sewn fashion and home decor, using fabrics, patterns, and techniques to reflect personal style.

Fabric and Technique: Keeping fabric on hand, both new lengths and leftovers, is also a shared experience. And I like unexpected fabric combinations. So I chose lace and plain cotton from my stash for this project.

The lace represents the many wedding dresses Carolyn has sewn. The 2x2 cotton squares are quilted, representing the quilt work done by Betty and Ruth. Quilting goes back several generations in Ruth’s family. With this piece, I pay tribute to my generational seamstress heritage.