Ruby (She/Her) has been sewing since 2015, it is one of her favorite hobbies as a tool for wellness as she believes making art is vital to our well being. She founded Sew Susty in the Spring of 2024 as a way to find employment that filled her cup. She has a bachelors in Sociology/Community Studiies from UC Santa Cruz and lives with her Husband (Rudy, yes Rudy) and two cats.

Favorite thing you’ve sewn? My RenFaire outfit! I was a Halloween themed jester. I made an outfit that was split orange and black, it brings memories of summer sillyness.

Favorite Portland meal/restaurant: “Easy-the California burrito from Mis Tacones”.

Sustainable sewing tip: “Find your sewing tools at estate sales, you get great quality tools at a great price.”

Lori (she/her).  is an avid maker, sewer, writer, and lover of all things creative. In 2014, She founded my own handbag company, Minnie + George, based here in Portland, OR. For five years she was on an incredible roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship--learning how to sustain a small handmade business. During the pandemic, she shifted my focus to designing and creating her own clothes, primarily using second-hand and "deadstock" fabric. She also wrote about her journey as a contributing writer for Seamwork Magazine. Now, she share’s what she learned along the way to others by teaching others how to create their own custom wardrobe by drafting their own sewing patterns using their own unique measurements. She shares that “Teaching has definitely been the best part of my creative journey. I can't wait to share with all of you!”.

Favorite thing you’ve sewn: Definitely a boiler suit that I drafted myself! I love a jumper--it's a one and done outfit that makes me look pulled together in under a minute. The boiler suit was definitely challenging (soo many pockets and buttons!), but I feel so proud every time I wear it.

Favorite Portland meal/restaurant: Oof! So many good choices. I'm honestly torn. I can tell you where I've had my memorable meals--Dolly Olive (the bread had me at hello), the first time I ate at EEM I felt like I was having an out of body experience, and the tamales from Tamale Boy bring me back to celebrating El Dia de Reyes when I lived in Mexico.

Meg has been helping people fall in love with sewing since 2014. After a decade creating content for a worldwide sewing community, she now focuses on custom chain stitching, alterations, and teaching sewists of all skill levels. Her goal is to help every student feel confident, creative, and empowered by this awesome craft.

Favorite thing you’ve sewn: “… my first pair of jeans. They don't fit anymore, but I felt so empowered whenever I wore them, and I've kept them as a reminder that I can sew anything!”

Favorite Portland meal/restaurant: “My favorite thing to eat in Portland is the Bun Bi from Van Hanh, my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Portland.”

Sustainable sewing tip: “… save your scraps for a scrap quilt, and store them in a bin sorted by color. I made a twin-sized quilt out of all the garment scraps I collected over a few years, and it's now a treasured blanket in my living room. Storing the scraps by color makes it easier to imagine how the colors will go together.”