Welcome to Fine & Splendid Things!
Fine & Splendid Things is my creative space. It’s a studio, where I sew and embroider. It's also my shop on Etsy and a brick-and-mortar location, where I offer up items I've made alongside vintage and re-loved treasures. Finally, it's a philosophy, one of embracing the little moments, slowing down and being fully present in the small but beautiful moments: Breathe deeply. Walk Slowly. Savor life.
I remember the first time I stopped and literally took a deep breath over fabric.
I was a kid, leafing through my sister's Vogue magazine when I came across a Missoni perfume ad. I had no interest in the fragrance - instead I was stunned by the photograph of the most beautiful, colorful fabric I had ever seen in my entire 10-year-old life. I couldn't stop looking at it. To this day, I have not forgotten what that moment felt like. I carry that feeling with me, and it blooms every time I find amazing textiles and sew.
I come from a family that loves to create.
My grandmother (my beloved Baba) was a highly-skilled sewist who learned to construct and sew garments when she was very young. She made custom clothing using haute couture tailoring techniques, draping and cutting the fabric to fit the individual, and then stitching the pieces together by hand. She also taught classes (tailoring and home decor) out of her home. Baba loved embroidery, too, and using pure silver thread, embroidered the lace overlay of my mother's wedding gown.
My mother was an excellent sewist and the finest embroiderer I have ever met. She made countless beautiful clothes and items for our homes over the years. As a child, I would sew alongside her making pillows, napkins and doll clothes from her leftover fabrics. Mom had a collection of beautiful hand-stitched linens, many of which she made. She often used them for casual family dinners, not just for special occasions. Her belief was that beautiful items should be enjoyed, treasured and used, and I follow that same philosophy.
My father wrote poetry and built exquisite miniature ships and planes. My siblings paint, make jewelry, sew, decorate homes, and have a knack for finding treasures where other people don't see anything valuable. My family is the creative foundation that encouraged me along my path.
The apprenticeship continued ...
Through high school and college I worked in fabric stores and learned about different fabric types, fibers and weaves; how to prepare them for sewing and then care for the finished item; and how to use a variety of sewing tools (hand and machine) for different projects. I practiced sewing, quilting and embroidery, and built a formidable fabric stash in the process. In time I started gravitating to flea markets, garage sales and thrift shops, looking for good-quality home textiles and clothing. I learned to take these apart and recycle them for a new purpose, consciously replacing "disposable" with "renewable."
Fine & Splendid Things is my sewing studio and my passion.
It's my answer to the question: What would you do if you only did one thing? There is great joy in making and sharing your creativity with the world.
Breathe deeply. Walk slowly. Savor life.
I remember the first time I stopped and literally took a deep breath over fabric.
I was a kid, leafing through my sister's Vogue magazine when I came across a Missoni perfume ad. I had no interest in the fragrance - instead I was stunned by the photograph of the most beautiful, colorful fabric I had ever seen in my entire 10-year-old life. I couldn't stop looking at it. To this day, I have not forgotten what that moment felt like. I carry that feeling with me, and it blooms every time I find amazing textiles and sew.
I come from a family that loves to create.
My grandmother (my beloved Baba) was a highly-skilled sewist who learned to construct and sew garments when she was very young. She made custom clothing using haute couture tailoring techniques, draping and cutting the fabric to fit the individual, and then stitching the pieces together by hand. She also taught classes (tailoring and home decor) out of her home. Baba loved embroidery, too, and using pure silver thread, embroidered the lace overlay of my mother's wedding gown.
My mother was an excellent sewist and the finest embroiderer I have ever met. She made countless beautiful clothes and items for our homes over the years. As a child, I would sew alongside her making pillows, napkins and doll clothes from her leftover fabrics. Mom had a collection of beautiful hand-stitched linens, many of which she made. She often used them for casual family dinners, not just for special occasions. Her belief was that beautiful items should be enjoyed, treasured and used, and I follow that same philosophy.
My father wrote poetry and built exquisite miniature ships and planes. My siblings paint, make jewelry, sew, decorate homes, and have a knack for finding treasures where other people don't see anything valuable. My family is the creative foundation that encouraged me along my path.
The apprenticeship continued ...
Through high school and college I worked in fabric stores and learned about different fabric types, fibers and weaves; how to prepare them for sewing and then care for the finished item; and how to use a variety of sewing tools (hand and machine) for different projects. I practiced sewing, quilting and embroidery, and built a formidable fabric stash in the process. In time I started gravitating to flea markets, garage sales and thrift shops, looking for good-quality home textiles and clothing. I learned to take these apart and recycle them for a new purpose, consciously replacing "disposable" with "renewable."
Fine & Splendid Things is my sewing studio and my passion.
It's my answer to the question: What would you do if you only did one thing? There is great joy in making and sharing your creativity with the world.
Breathe deeply. Walk slowly. Savor life.