Creative Chics

I just read an Etsy Interview - Featured Seller: Creative Chics. And I must say I felt so inspired by them I had to share it with you. 

From left to right: Carol Shea, Yuriko Kettler, Debbie Mitchell, Freda Mayer and Debbie Pearson

Tell us a bit about yourself.

The Creative Chics all call Kansas City home. Creative Chics was “born” when my mom, Freda Mayer, and I (Debbie Pearson), dusted off our sewing machines after a 30-year hiatus. Mom taught me how to sew when I was in high school, and as a result, I made many of my own clothes. Then life got rather busy for us, and our sewing machines took up residence in the back of our closets.

Jump forward 30 years when both of us officially retired from our “paying jobs” and started sewing again, enjoying a pastime we had long set aside but never forgotten. It quickly became obvious we both had an insatiable appetite for collecting beautiful fabrics, and it wasn’t long before we decided the only way to support our hobby was to turn it into a business.

We were having so much fun but struggled to keep up with demand, and in less than a year we had invited the three other Creative Chics to join us. There is Carol Shea, who is my aunt and my mom’s youngest sister; Yuriko Kettler, my gorgeous and talented daughter-in-law; and my closest girlfriend, Debbie Mitchell.

The five of us work out of our individual home studios and meet every other week for a “show and tell” of our newest creations, photo shoots of the latest aprons, a shared lunch where we dish about family and life, and sometimes we even make time for an afternoon matinee.

Womens Sweetheart Hostess Apron $37.00

Where does your inspiration come from?

We find inspiration everywhere! We find it in fabric and clothing stores, on T.V. (Bree onDesperate Housewives always wears an apron!), the internet and from each other. Ironically, the five of us have very different taste in fabrics and colors, so it is always inspirational to see what each one of us creates.

Womens Flirty PinUp Sweetheart Apron $38.00

What does handmade mean to you?

Handmade means that someone put a lot of thought, love, and attention to detail in their creation. We sew each apron one at a time to ensure it is made of the highest quality workmanship. We want each customer to open their Creative Chics package and feel they have received a very special gift made just for them.

 When did you know you were an artist/maker?

Spend 10 minutes with any of us and it would become obvious we are all inherently creative souls. But like many people, work and family took precedence when we were younger and really didn’t allow time for us to explore our creativity. Now it is “our turn,” and we intend to make the best of it. The irony is that our apron business wouldn’t be this successful without all those years of experience we gained by working in the public sector. It really laid the foundation for us to realize our creative dreams.

Retro Womens Bib Apron $36.00

How would you describe your creative process?

We usually start with an inspiration piece, such as a dress that we think would be super cute as an apron. With a bolt of muslin fabric in hand, we lay it on the mannequin and start snipping away at the fabric until we have the pieces needed to create an actual working pattern. Many apron mock-ups are made before we finalize the pattern, working out the kinks as we go. Once we have a pattern that we all approve, the real fun begins by picking through our large fabric collections to find the perfect color combinations to bring the new design to life.

Retro Womens Bib Apron $36.00

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Have a great day, 

M.