Football Pillow Inspires Early Threads of Avon Family Sewing Business

For The Sewing Loft of Avon owner Rachel Short, her love of sewing started in middle school. 

In sixth grade, her home economics teacher assigned her class a project of sewing a football pillow with six laces.

But Short thought it "would be would be more creative and fun for it to have eight rows of laces."

Even though her teacher didn't have enough materials, Short convinced her to purchase what she needed to make her eight-lace football possible. 

"Ever since then I have always loved the idea of taking a plain rectangle or square of fabric and transforming it into something with dimension and beauty," Short said. 

Now she and her husband, Bryan Short run a "custom sewing and design" business, The Sewing Loft of Avon, out of their Scoville Road home.

Patch asked the Shorts to tell us about her family business and here's what they had to say.   

Business Q&A 

Patch: When did your business open? Is it family-run? 

Rachel Short: "We started The Sewing Loft of Avon in July of 2010 and we are a home-based business operated by me, Rachel, and my husband, Bryan. I am the primary fabricator (although Bryan does help with a lot of the prep work) and Bryan handles most of the business matters and marketing."

Patch: What services do you offer at your company?

The Shorts: "We are a custom sewing and design business and the main service we provide to our clients is creative inspiration! We believe your home should reflect your personality and showcase your individual style.  We help our clients achieve this by fabricating custom window treatments (curtains, draperies, valances swags, etc.), custom-fit slipcovers, bedding, pillows and table linens.  

"In addition, we carry a full range of Hunter Douglas semi-custom products, which can be a great supplement to our fully custom products or can provide style and ambiance all on their own. We make the process EASY for our clients.  If you need slipcovers, we take all necessary measurements at the client's home so the client doesn't have to haul to furniture to us. We also provide in-home consultations and we carry several lines of indoor and outdoor fabrics so our clients do not have to travel the state looking for a fabric with that perfect pattern and style."

Patch: Why did you decide to open in Avon and what made you interested in your field?

Rachel Short: "I've been sewing regularly for friends and family for the past 18 years but my love for sewing began in my 6th grade home economics class where I sewed my first project....

"As for starting the business in Avon, my husband and I moved here in August 2008 and have loved living since the day we turned the key in the lock! Given the great people we've met and the sense of community we've experienced, it just seemed like the right time and place to start our business. The last three years have shown that we definitely made the right choice!"  

Patch:  Do you have a business mantra you live by?  

Rachel Short: "I approach all of our projects with the impassioned belief that every client is our most important client. Whether I'm doing thirteen Roman shades for a large game room or a small seat cushion for a chair in a home office, every client is entrusting me with something that is near and dear to their hearts and to which they have a huge emotional attachment.  I realize that the process of creating a comfortable home environment which reflects your personality is an emotional journey and should not be taken lightly or as 'just another job.'  I put my heart and soul into every project, because the final product is not merely a reflection of my work but is also a personal expression of the client's vision of their most important possession: their home."      

Patch: Can you tell us about your business background?

Rachel Short: "Prior to starting this business, I was a corporate paralegal for thirteen years in a large law firm handling international financial transactions. I was successful as a paralegal because it appealed to my meticulous and detailed nature. Some people laugh, but I love charts, lists and I can work magic with an Excel spreadsheet. I bring the same passion for details to my custom sewing business.  If a seamstress is not obsessed with straight seams or the proper way to cut fabric, then curtains will hang crooked, the fabric will fade, the patterns will not match and the end result will not be the professionally crafted product that the client should have."    

Patch: Finish the sentence. When I'm not working I'm...

Rachel Short: "I love reading! I am a huge Stephen King fan, especially his earlier books.  I can read 'The Shining' or 'Christine' a hundred times and never get tired of either.  I also enjoy crossword puzzles (my dream is to have several wall size crossword puzzles) and word games. However, many times I just like to get comfortable on our sectional, pour a nice glass of wine and watch a little mindless television."

BUSINESS INFORMATION
Business: The Sewing Loft of Avon
Address: 157 Scoville Road, Avon
Hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors are welcome, but appointments are preferred. 
Phone: (860) 404-2958 (main); (860) 778-7423 (cell)
Email: sewingloftofavon@gmail.com
Website: www.sewingloftofavon.com