The Third Sister
A Traditional Line
If you’re looking for ultra modern or shabby chic, try another shop. I lean towards traditional, classic patterns and fabrics. I learned to sew by watching my mother as she made our dresses, and she bought me my own treadle sewing machine when I was nine. Sometimes I’ll use my great-grandmother Sarah Jane’s thimble for a special project. I like to think a little bit of history goes into everything I do.
Personal Service
Custom order or not, each item gets my personal attention from start to finish. This isn't a big business. I don't have any employees. This is just me, my sewing, calligraphy, cards and more, by hand and machine, in my home, with my mother carefully pressing tissue paper and helping to wrap boxes. I don't drive, so often your packages will be walked to our post office, going through beautiful downtown Lawrence, Kansas.
These aren't items you can find on sale at the store by the dozens. They are made individually, with care. Some smocking patterns take as many as 11 hours to complete. The baptism gown, slip and bonnet for my goddaughter took about 22 hours from start to finish! This included making rows and rows of pintucks and stitching sprays of cast-on roses by hand. Calligraphy projects get mapped out several times before I begin. And, yes, sometimes I do make a mistake on the very last line! I take a deep breath and start over from scratch. (That’s why I have lots of scrap paper!)
Labor of Love
Each item is unique—a piece of myself. Maybe that’s why I can’t do anything halfway. I won’t settle for “good enough.” Chances are I designed that birthday card especially for my cousin. Or I made that same dress for my own niece. I calligraph envelopes like these for letters to family and friends. When you get your package from me, I want you to feel like I did years ago, when I’d get a surprise box from Mammy, my grandma.
Besides being a talented musician, my oldest brother, Leo, builds the most beautiful guitars and mandolins. While nothing that I do is on a par with his creations, I hope that at least the love and care and attention to detail that I give to my work measures up to his.
