Wow! Hard to believe that I have been a seamstress for over 30 years. My career has been in all kinds of different area in the sewing world from doing repairs of clothing to doing auto upholstery.
Started by working with my grandma and was paid with candy and ice cream. Learned to take apart clothing and wedding gowns for her, I was taught to sew on a push petal Model 66 Singer Treadle Sewing Machine. I still can hear her say " faster you petal the faster you will go". My career has been different from others, worked in Dry Cleaners and bridal shop as seamstress, then I wanted to try something different so upholstery and drapes.
Then, I went to work for this local auto upholstery repair shop, great family owned business. Enjoy the skill of making and fixing worn areas in the automobile seats.
Did that for about 2 years and found a great position in a custom bus company, it was a dream job, had the freedom to make new furniture and use all of my skills to make it come to life from pattern making to pushing the limits of fabrics and leathers. Then I got laid-off 😭
Worked for another bus company and really thought that this was my last move and my forever job. Was there for about 5 years and thought I was growing with the company. But not got Laid-off again😭.
So I took my 401K in 2007 and started a business called The Stitching Witch. So I started looking for location to open my business. Found a small retail shop in Grandview, Oh. The Stitching Witch would be a full alteration shop. Opened our doors May 2007, I was taking a huge risk. At this time, I was a single mom of 2 children with tons of debt and Jobs were hard to find in my area. Everyone was worried about money and just to make ends meet, I had to make it. I had kids and they needed me and I needed them.
Well, The Stitching Witch was growing and I had a lot of amazing Clients. We moved to a larger retail shop in the same building, which I needed bad. Growth of the company was great and loved it so much. In 2014, I lost my mother and my retail shop rent was going to go up, do to the growth in the area. I just could not see going backwards in business( profit to lose) So we closed the Retail Store and moved it all to my home in Blacklick. 😵😳😲😲😲
From 2000 sq retail store to a 300 sq loft room in my house (wish I had a basement), very hard to find a pair of scissors, boxes to the ceiling.
Took a break from sewing, opened a Diaper service and while working for a Law office and was a manager in a retail store. Then sold the Diaper business in June 2019.
Now 2019, The Stitching Witch is a online Embroidery Company. I love to design embroidery for everyday uses like repairing jeans and bowl cozy and so much more.
I want thank you for letting share a my long story with you!!
Robin aka Stitching Witch
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