Meet Your Teachers!

CARISA

Founder, Queen of Shenanigans, Instructional Guru, Resident Cat Lover.

Superpower: Seam Ripping.

Specialty: Everything Garments but has been kicked out of crafting by both Beth and Mary. It's fair.

A bit about me:

I have been sewing since I was 5. My mother and grandmother taught me as a last resort to occupy my curiously annoying habit of taking everything apart. Currently moonlighting as the costume designer at Seattle Academy I have a Bachelor of Art in Arts Management from Columbia College, a Graduate Degree in Costume Design from the London College of Fashion, and a Master of Education from Seattle University. And what does all that education mean, you ask? It means my debt-to-educational-achievement-ratio is askew, and I am quite possibly over-educated to the point of never being able to obtain a job that will pay off my student loan debt. Dear Gov, I probably won't pay those off. Love, Carisa. So, instead, I started my own little slice of heaven to work at using all my degrees and creating sewing monsters of my own. And yes, I still take things apart. Sorry mom. #winning.

MARY

Director of Crafting Shenanigans, Instructional Guru, Resident Bagpiper.

Superpower: Hot Glue Guns.

Specialty: Crafting, bring it one, she knows everything.

A bit about me:

I have always been in love with crafting-- I have done all sorts ever since I was young! I began sewing by helping my mom make my dancing outfits when I was doing Scottish Highland dancing as a young girl. I did a lot of hand sewing and embroidery after that, even making special custom outfits for a teddy bear. I also enjoy crochet, knitting, and all things with yarn. Small projects like weaving, pom pom animals, and finger-knitting are my specialty! I love teaching crafty arts to others and getting to create new and exciting projects for my students.

BETH

Instructional Guru, Boat Captain,

Superpower: Serger Whisperer,

Specialty: Captaining everything outdoorsy and knitting mastery.

A bit about me:

I started sewing around age 7 or 8. My Mom was in a strip quilting phase and let me "help." Prior to working for Made, I mainly made big, flat things--quilts, pillows, curtains, etc. I did make a short foray into clothes making in college--voluminous, hippy skirts--they are not that far from big, flat things in terms of construction. I worked on tall ships for 15 yrs and so have done some canvas work, basic sail repair, and vinyl cushion construction. I also knit and spin. I love seeing the look of wonder and accomplishment on a student's face when they say, "I made that!"

ALLIE

Instructional Guru, Cat Lover

Superpower: Vintage Thriftier and Connoisseur

Specialty: Taking something and making it better. Thrift Shop, Baby.

A bit about me:

I have been sewing since a very young age, and I inherited the skill through four generations of sewists on my mom’s side of my family. Since I don’t have kids of my own (and my cat doesn’t seem to have any interest in learning) I enjoy teaching sewing and crafts to other people’s kids. In college I majored in Apparel Design, and these days I love to design and sew costumes and accessories for my Etsy shop. If I go missing, I can be found in the following places: Digging through attics and basements at estate sales looking for forgotten vintage fabric stashes, or at the junk store in the craft section picking out the oldest patterns I can find for inspiration. Speaking of vintage sewing patterns, Carissa recently put her collection way up high to “make more space in the studio” but I know she really just wanted them out of my reach. No, that's not what she looks like, but she wouldn't give Carisa a real picture. And this one was too funny to pass up.

ALISON

Instructional Guru, Real Live Disney Princess

Superpower: Woodland Creature Whisperer

Specialty: Garment Sewing and bewitching small animals to do her sewing bidding. Thankfully we have motion detectors in the studio, so we know what she's doing.

A bit about me:

So, I asked Alison to write her bio and warned her that if she didn't, I would write it for her. She clearly did not believe me. So here we go. Hailing from the great state Cali she recently moved here because she desperately sought rain, and cold, and nature. Formally she worked as a costume maven at Disney and is skilled in the art of all that is sewing. We are very suspicious that she sneaks into the studio at night and convinces small woodland creatures and birds to sew her ball gowns. Waiting for proof. Will update picture once suspicions have been confirmed.

CHRISTINA

Instructional Guru, Costume Maven, Theater Kid Survivor

Superpower: Pattern Matching Wizardry

Specialty: Garment sewing, historical fashion, and humorous-yet-helpful analogies

A bit about me: I also began my sewing journey as a young child but properly fell down the rabbit hole as a high schooler, making my own costumes and formalwear. I love theatrical and historical costuming, but I also make my own jeans and t-shirts because I got tired of clothing that doesn’t fit right and falls apart after only a few months. I’ve been active in the cosplay community for about 13 years, and I volunteer as an Officer with the PNW Guild of Cosplayers. I will happily yap your ear off about anything fiber-arts related, although sometimes I have to stop myself and finish teaching the class that Carisa hired me for first!