Custom & Bespoke Creations

If you’re looking for fabulous creations made out of fabric, you’ve come to the right place. From fabric flowers to elaborate gowns, I can create both, and everything in between.  In my opinion, clothes are more than just something to protect skin and modesty. They are an opportunity to express personality, to accentuate beauty, and to flatter shape. Everyone should feel amazing when they step into their clothes.

It gives me immense satisfaction to see the look on a client’s face, the first time they try on an article of clothing with an exquisite fit. There is a sense of whimsy and fun to create something meant for a special occasion. To create something that a person can utilize in their everyday wardrobe is something special too. Too much cannot be said for feeling special on a daily basis.

I can replicate your favorite article of clothing, alter an existing pattern to get the look you want, or create something completely bespoke – a garment made just for you, from a pattern drafted from your measurements and guaranteed to fit you more perfectly than anything you could ever buy off-the-rack.  

FAQs

• Can you tailor/alter/mend my existing clothing?

  • The focus of my sewing is centered around making custom and bespoke creations. I do not take on clothing alterations or mending at all. 

• Since you don’t do alterations, can you refer me to someone in Paso Robles who does?

  • Absolutely! Head to the corner of 12th and Railroad. There you will find an excellent seamstress, by the name of Wanita, who specializes in alterations. Her shop is called Once Again & Alterations.   

• Why don’t you do clothing alterations?

  • There are a number of reasons, but the main one is that I do not find it enjoyable. There is a lot of last-minute, fast-paced stressfulness about it that I found to negatively affect my health in a serious way. I had to stop taking on sewing work entirely for a few years so I could focus on regaining my health. When I decided to resume my business, I had to take into account those things that simply weren’t going to work for me. Taking on clothing alterations falls into that category, and so I removed it from the list of services I provide. 

• I see that you don’t do clothing alterations. Are you willing to alter non-clothing items?

  • Sometimes I do. For instance, there is a business for whom I have added velcro to their pop-up canopies. Please do get in touch and ask me about your project.  

• How much would you charge to make (insert amazing custom or bespoke project here)?

  • Without knowing exactly what your project is, I can tell you that prices generally start around $300 or $400, and increases with complexity. 
  • In order to give you a quote, please do send me a message, and give me as much possible information about your project as you can. If you have a pattern in mind, send me a link or a photo. If you want me to copy an existing piece of clothing, photos of the inside and out will be useful. I need to see where all the seams are, and how it’s put together. If it’s something you dreamed up, please do share your drawings with me. 
  • The price I quote you will not include materials, such as fabric, velcro, boning, etc. unless I specifically state that it is included in the price. Those purchases will be in addition to my price. 
  • Expect to pay sales tax on top of the price that I quote you. No, it doesn’t make sense to me, either, but I am required by the state of California to collect sales tax on fabricated items. It doesn’t matter that you have purchased your own fabric or other materials, I’m still required to collect sales tax on transactions made within California that involve fabrication labor.  

• How long do you need from when I commission my project until it is ready to be picked up?

  • It varies, depending on my current workload. In general, get in touch with me a minimum of 3 months before you need your item in order to get on my waitlist.  If you need it sooner than that, do get in touch, but I may not be able to fit you in. I’ll do what I can. 

• I can’t find your phone number anywhere. Why don’t you have it posted, or am I just not seeing it?

  • You aren’t just missing it, my phone number is not posted. I do this for a couple of reasons. Mostly, I removed my number because I would get a huge number of calls from people asking me to do clothing alterations for them. Answering the calls and referring to another seamstress takes rather a lot of time away from my work. Another reason is that it works out better for me to communicate via email. Potential clients can send me photos of what they’re thinking about, or links to information online, without which I cannot create a quote on a project. A phone call is simply an inadequate means of communication for my needs.  Please do get in touch with me via the contact form on this website. 

• You mention a lot about making clothing, but I want you to make something that is not clothing. Do you do that? 

  • If it is made out of fabric, odds are I can make it for you. Most of my clients are interested in having clothing made, but I can absolutely make many other things out of fabric. Please do send me a message and tell me about what you have in mind. 

• Do you do upholstery?

  • I can re-cover cushions. If it involves stapling things to a wooden frame, it’s not really my area of expertise. I recommend finding someone with more than my minimal amount of experience with such a project.