Sewing has been a ubiquitous task for thousands of years. Many do it primarily for utilitarian reasons ("look, there's a hole in my pants, let's fix that"). For others, it's a source of livelihood and commercial profit—especially after the invention of the sewing machine in the 19th century.
But what of those who sew to express themselves creatively? Daniela Saulus wants to make a space for these people, which is why she's hosting a pair of sewing workshops on Nov. 17 and Dec. 8 at the Point Artist-Run Centre (PARC).
"It's supposed to be a social gathering with some friends and a nice drink, and we can be creative together," elaborates Saulus. "People can come and learn some stitches, or maybe they want to do a project and don't quite know how. Every month I'm actually offering a theme. In November, everybody can bring a sweater that they don't want to wear anymore, and we'll make a hat and mitten set out of it—maybe even a scarf."
The German expatriate offers a variety of services like garment re-design, alterations and general fixes by way of her business, Whistler Sewing Creations. Her focus is in the realm of formal, wedding and evening attire, but she is willing and able to deal with all kinds of clothing.
Many women who sew learn it from an older family member, and Saulus is no exception. She observed her grandmother alter clothes when she was young, but initially had no plans of becoming a seamstress and instead pursued graphic design. Then she moved to Whistler in 2012 and had her first of two children.
She couldn't work nights anymore as a young mom, and a proliferation of graphic designers at the time further limited her options. Then a friend asked her to take over the business formerly known as Whistler Alterations.
"I didn't know that it was going to be my jam, but it really was my jam," Saulus says. "I love to help people feel great in their clothes, and some clothes are really not made well. Everybody deserves to feel their best, and there's a certain look to the people in the mirror when they're [comfortable] in their outfit. It's really rewarding for me to help them find that."
After a decade at the helm of Whistler Alterations, some life changes forced Saulus to seek employment elsewhere. She spent time working for Lululemon before kicking off her own business.
The fun part
Saulus dabbles in art on the side and enjoys making things with her hands, be it a painting or a well-tailored dress. In her view, it's practical and fun in equal measure.
"There's so many things you can do yourself, if you just know a couple stitches," she says. "Like binding a book: if you have to put some pages together, you can quickly sew it and then you have a book. There's so many little things that you can hack, and it makes your life a lot easier.
"The fun part is. you can make projects with kids and you can craft, or [modify something] from the Re-Use It Centre. Some people would ask: 'why don't you have more customers?' but with these little things it's more fun to work with people and teach them how to do it."
Going forward, Saulus hopes to see more traffic at the PARC, and not just for the activities she leads. The Whistlerite loves what director Stephen Vogler and his team have done for artists of all inclinations.
"They're working so hard and they care so much. They make the place [feel] alive," she remarks. "In my opinion, [the PARC] is the ultimate local space. We would just love it if there could be a bus or something every day … because I think what we are all offering is really fun."
Learn more about Saulus' workshops, which run from 1 to 4 p.m., at thepointartists.com/events/sewing-workshops-with-dani-from-whistler-sewing-creations-2ccfh.
