Meet Susan Ramsey | Designer/sewist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susan Ramsey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susan, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
There are severals factors behind my success. First, I love the product I’m creating. I love combining fabrics and trims for a one-of-a-kind creation. Secondly, I know my demographic in the marketplace which mainly happens to be baby boomer women, like me. Third, I make sure I am paying myself an hourly rate that I’m comfortable with. Fourth, I know what my customer will pay for my product. I’m very practical in that way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I learned to sew from my mother and by age nine I was making my own clothes. My first sales came from selling troll doll clothes on the playground at recess. Soon I was making clothes for friends and family.

I took a class in pattern drafting at Emily Griffith Opportunity School which gave me the skills needed to sew my own designs and to alter existing patterns. I designed and produced a line of coordinating jumpsuits, vests and jackets which was picked up by a store in Topeka, KS, my hometown. I hired a sewist to make them but she became ill and I had to finish all the pieces. But I made a profit!

I realized that I preferred to make custom or one-of-a-kind pieces rather than a whole line. And most of the time, I make a piece for myself that gets noticed by others who wanted one for themselves. One of those designs was a quilted bomber jacket made with bold, bright prints.

My Perfect Little Purses developed when I wanted to replace a favorite bag that was worn out. With a few improvements, I started making more of them to sell at holiday markets and craft shows. The more your product sells, the more confidence you gain in trying new things. I designed a smaller bag as a phone pouch.

Sourcing my fabrics used to be challenging when I purchased them at fabric stores. But I got connected with an interior design firm looking for someone to take their discontinued fabric samples so they didn’t have to throw them away. Now most of my fabrics are free and upcycled.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Red Rocks Park, for music and hiking Golden, downtown and hiking along Clear Creek
Que Buena Suerte, Mexican restaurant on S. Pearl
Capital Tea, S. Broadway, tea cafe
Recreative Denver, Santa Fe Arts District, shopping for low priced upcycled arts and crafts supplies
Edgewater Public Market, food court and Zero Market

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my mother who always supported my myriad creative projects, from building my own plywood playhouse built with scavenged materials from nearby building sites of new homes in our neighborhood to knitting a Scandanavian ski sweater in middle school.

Instagram: soandsewcreations

Facebook: So and Sew Creations

Image Credits
Susan Ramsey