Embracing Change
If you haven't already heard, we have some major changes happening around here.
On December 31st, 2020, we will officially be closing the doors to our Hoboken NJ Sewing Studio.
It's been a long wonderful run and I'm very sad about no longer being part of the Hoboken creative community anymore.
But I know in my heart it's time to move on.
Don't worry - We'll still be teaching people how to sew! Head on over to Hipstitch Academy to see the direction we'll be heading in.
I've been teaching sewing classes in the Monroe Center in Hoboken since 2003. At first, I taught all the classes myself.
And then as the studio grew, I've been blessed enough to have so many wonderful instructors share their sewing skills with our students over the years. (Future blog post coming soon honoring all the amazing teachers who've helped me throughout the years.)
So yeah - That's 17 years we've been helping people get creative and learn how to make groovy sewing projects with fabric and thread. It's mind blowing to me to think about what those classes must have been like. I seriously didn't have a clue what I was doing. I was a self taught sewer that was young, ignorant & believed in myself enough to feel I had what it took to create a business teaching other people how to sew.
And looking back, I am SEW glad I did.
When I first opened up shop in the Monroe Center in 2003 it was the most exciting opportunity for me. I was partnering with a talented Jewelry Maker and we'd both out grown our home studio and were looking for more space. We opened up a super creative space where we taught classes together, both hand bag making and jewelry making.
Here are some photos from one of the first handbag workshops I ever taught.
While this decision to close the physical location has been beyond difficult to make, I know it's the right thing to do.
I whole heartedly believe my calling in this life is to teach as many people as I possibly can how to sew! My quest in life has been to encourage people, young and old, to make beautiful things with their hands. The Hoboken studio has given me that outlet to do my life's works for the last 17 years. I can't even tell you how much gratitude I have for this colorful place, tucked away in the back of the Mile Square City.
But at this point, I feel holding on to my Hoboken Happy Place would actually be holding me back from growing, shifting and figuring out what the next thing is. I hope you can understand.
If you're reading this and you learned to sew at the M Avery Designs Sewing Studio in Hoboken, please reach out!
I would be ecstatic to hear from you and how sewing has touched your life.
Please know this is definitely NOT goodbye!
Be sure to consider taking a virtual Sewing class (we have them for both kids and adults) or coming to a Catskills Sewing Retreat in the Spring.
With much love & gratitude,
Megan Avery
