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Things to do
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CARLOS ORTIZ staff photographer
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Personal: 39; in a relationship.
Occupation: Owner, The Tailored Nest. The Tailored Nest is my sewing studio and I create items for the home — bedding, table linens, window treatments, pillows and more. I work with clients who want to use fabric to transform their personal spaces into a beautiful, warm and inviting place. Projects are custom-designed either from scratch using new materials, or from existing items which are then reinvented into something new. For example, a well-loved bedspread that is perhaps a bit threadbare in one area can be recycled into a Roman shade, or a throw blanket, or pillow cases, or place mats… so many possibilities! My goal is to create items that are lovely, useful and make my clients happy every time they look at them in their homes.
My favorite thing to do in Rochester: Impossible to narrow this down to one, but here’s a start: Catch a Red Wings game with my best friend (especially the home opener, and when the Zooperstars are there); go to festivals; browse through the wonderful shops, artist studios and galleries that you can only find here; sit on my porch on a summer evening, listen to cicadas and feel grateful.
Biggest challenge I’ve overcome and how I did it: Paralyzing self-doubt, which is really just fear; fear of following my passion for sewing and serving others through my work. I was afraid that it would be a huge risk. But what I finally paid close attention to was the intense joy I felt whenever I picked up a vibrant piece of fabric and imagined all its possibilities. Over and over again, that joy came alive when I shopped for fabric, sewed new drapes, or even just stood in my work space and looked at my tools. So after a long time, I finally trusted and surrendered to it. I took the leap, launched my business and discovered that the enthusiasm I put out was given back to me in droves through supportive friends, family and clients.
One thing I’ve always wanted to do but never have: Visit France – all of it. The streets of Paris, the lavender fields of Provence, and all the glorious places in between.
If I could change one thing about myself it would be: I would be a little more patient. Well, OK, a lot more.
The talent I would most like to have: The ability to sing. But despite my lack of talent, I do it anyway – at home, with the windows shut. My cat has heard me many times. He is a gracious and tolerant listener.
The one thing I can’t live without: The freedom to be exactly who I am and to live my life as I wish. Oh, and peanut butter cups.
The song that best describes my life: Hmm, pretty tough to narrow this down to one! But here’s a list of songs I go back to again and again: “Life is Highway” (Tom Cochrane); “I’m Yours” (Jason Mraz); “Three Little Birds” (Bob Marley); “Unwritten” (Natasha Bedingfield); “A New Day Has Come” (Celine Dion); “I’m Not Running Anymore” (John Mellencamp).
One of my favorite sayings is: Leap, and the net will appear.
Actress I’d like to portray me in a movie about my life: Tina Fey.
