Meet the Maker ... StitchedByMe

Today we chat with Denise from StitchedByMe.

Welcome Denise!

Where do you live?
"I come from Hobart but live in Kingston"

How did you come up with the name for your business?
"I wanted something that reflected what I do, and apart from ready to wear garments I also make up garments that the customer can smock themselves (Ready to Smock). The name Stitched by Me therefore reflects my total creative input but if I have made up a dress for someone else to smock, they can proudly say it was Stitched by Me (them!)"

Denise what are your passions and interests?
Gardening and cooking mainly with what little time I have after stitching! I also love travel. My career for the last 47 years has been Nursing, mostly midwifery."
 
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your art 
"I (like most creative people) have been doing what I do from an early age. Always some kind of sewing project and I have tried every thing from cross stitch, patchwork, making leavers dresses etc, but my main passions are Smocking and Heirloom Sewing. I also teach smocking at my home studio. Most people associate smocking with girls dresses (think princess Charlotte!) or baby suits which I do a lot of but I am also trying to introduce some contemporary garments with wider appeal.
I am also a terrible hoarder of fabrics and laces, which I will organise one day!!!"

How long have you been an Etsy seller?
" 2 years now"
 
What inspired you to begin creating?
 "I just love sewing and creating beautiful garments. I did a course at TAFE many years ago which introduced me to Smocking and I was hooked. Friends and family would ask me to make something and it grew from there."
 
Can you give us a brief idea of your creative or curating process?
"If I am working on an order, the customer provides the guidelines which I work within; garment type, colour etc. Sometimes I see a fabric which lends itself to a particular style of garment and the creative juices flow. I used to design garments for Australian Smocking and Embroidery magazine (no longer published) that was always exciting to come up with unique smocking patterns for them to publish."

Where do you want to see your business in the future?
"I am hoping to have more time to increase my listing and to develop other ranges for my Etsy shop. eg a range of Christening wear."

What do you like about being an Etsy seller?
"It is always a thrill  to receive an order, and create a garment specifically for them. I also appreciate the opportunity  to list items without s having the overheads of a physical shop."
 
Where do you work on your pieces?
" I am fortunate to have a large, dedicated studio to hold all my sewing paraphernalia. Also a piece of smocking is very portable and can be taken on holidays, and any place I may have a few minutes spare."

Thank you for talking with us today Denise. Where can we find you? 
"You can find me on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram etc and also local markets.
my Etsy store is   StitchedbyMeTas
Facebook    stitchedbyme
Each year I exhibit at the Tasmanian Craft fair in Deloraine, at the Taste of the Huon, and have been at the Kingston Beach handmade Market."