Sewing has been my life-long passion. I remember watching my very talented grandmother sewing all sorts of amazing things when I was really young. At the age of 5, she would let me sit with her and sew a little bit while she helped press the foot pedal. I was instantly hooked!

Throughout the years, I have sewn everything from handbags to baby clothes on the very same machine my grandmother first taught me on. It has become part of my identity and I love designing, creating and gifting all manner of handmade goodies I have sewn.

In my thirties, I found myself widowed after losing my husband to a very aggressive cancer. A couple years afterwards I was still looking for a good way to preserve some of his shirts, jeans, hats and gloves I was carrying around in a tidy little box. It was then that I learned about memory bears. I was enthralled with the idea and immediately knew this was what I was saving his items for. Admittedly, I was very nervous to send off the only few clothing items I had left of his. I knew the seamstress did fantastic work and cared very deeply about the process which helped, but I still had apprehension. However, my desire to have a memory bear made was too strong to ignore.  It turned out to be the best decision I could have made. Now, over a decade later, I still have his bears in a special place in my studio and they still mean so much to me.

It wasn't until after my grandmother had passed away years later that I realized I could make memory bears of my own from her clothing. As the eldest grandchild, I wanted to honor her memory and give something to her grandchildren who couldn't be with her. Using a variety of her garments, I made over a dozen memory bears for cousins, aunts, and uncles. I felt like somehow my life had come full circle. The extraordinary woman who taught me to sew on her machine, was now being memorialized through memory bears constructed using that very same machine by her granddaughter, still five years old at heart. That was the beginning of a new journey for me, and I began working more closely with those who have experienced loss using my sewing skills.

I had a very special relationship with my grandmother and it is an honor for me to be able to continue her legacy of artistic and creative sewing. It is also a privilege to be able to share my skills and abilities with you whether you are walking through the grieving process, or are just looking for a special item that is uniquely yours. This is what makes my soul shine and that is how the  Sewlshine line of products was born.

I am thankful for your support and love hearing your stories behind these creations. Together, we can share a laugh, share a tear, and share in love the ones we hold dear. Always remember to let your light burn bright!

News & Announcements

Coming Soon! Our new podcast, Fabric of the Heart will be launching Summer 2024. Come join us as we chat about sewing, hear heartfelt stories from those who have walked through grief, and chill out with our favorite Sewlshine fam. We can't wait to meet with you there. More details will be announced after the first of the year, so sign up for our Newsletter to be the first to know when our space goes live.