ROBERTA “BOBBI” SMITH

3008 Larkin Road

Boothwyn, PA 19061-2463

Telephone: (610) 494-7742  Fax: (610) 494-7743

E-mail: BobbiS@aol.com

EDUCATION

 

Post Baccalaureate, North  Carolina State University. Commenced graduate studies toward Certificate in Apparel Technology January, 1990. 

Philadelphia University.  Completed course of Study in Industry Fashion Methods, 2000 to 2004.

B.S., Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. Textiles and Clothing Major with specialization in Fashion Merchandising.  June 1990.  Honors graduate.

A.S., Community College of Allegheny County, Retailing.  June 1986.  Honors graduate.

 

Teaching Experience:

 

o       September 2009- Organized and implemented a school wide sewing community service project for Wilmington Christian School making pillows for cancer patients at the Helen Graham Cancer Center in DE. Program was used for Middle States accreditation.

o       June 2008- Fascination in Fabrics features “Get Creative and Sew” Summer Day Camps for kids 6 years old to 17 years old

o       April 2008 – Taught Sewing Badge to Girl Scouts and Try It Sewing activities to Brownies at Council in Newark DE. Continues to travel to other troops to teach sewing and related topics.

o       October 2007- Present Started teaching in the Extended Day Program of Wilmington Christian School in Hockessin, DE

o       September 2007- Present Started teaching in the Extended Day Program at Wilmington Friends School in Wilmington DE

o       September 2007- Organized several days during the coming year with the Chesapeake Girl Scout Council for Brownies and Girl Scouts to complete sewing related badges

o       June 2007- Fascination in Fabrics features “Get Creative and Sew” Summer Day Camps for kids 6 years old to 17 years old

o       March 2007 - One of featured teachers and exhibitor’s for “Piece of Mind” Quilt Day. Lecture/Demo on Thread Painting and Embellishment. Workshop on Crazy Quilting.

o       March 2007-Guest speaker for an EGA chapter in Wilmington Delaware. Lecture/Trunk Show on ways to embellish your projects to make them your own.

o       June 2006- Fascination in Fabrics features “Get Creative and Sew” Day Camps for kids 6 years old to 17 years old.

o       March 2006- One of featured teachers and exhibitor’s for “Piece of Mind” Quilt Day. Lecture/Demo in Heirloom Quilting and Thread Painting. Workshop in Introduction to Machine Quilting featuring heart sampler designed for workshop.

o       August 2005- Present Became a member of the faculty of The Darlington Arts Center. Teaching sewing classes for children ages 5 through 12. Spring 2006 quilting classes added for adults

o       June 2005- Present Purchased Viking sewing machines to start a traveling sewing school.Classes taught at home and in schools and private homes. Also able to do sewing birthday parties for clients.

o       January 2005- Present- Contracted to teach sewing to children from ages 5 to 13 in Tower Hill School’s Extended Day Program in Wilmington , DE. Program doubled in size from 2005 to 2006 school year.

o       October 2004- Assisted Carol Ahles at Houston Quilt Market in Houston, Texas

o       September 2003- Present Contracted with New Castle County to teach a variety of sewing techniques at several of their locations

o       June 2003- Organized a three day event in conjunction with Byrne Sewing Center featuring Lezette Thomason, designer  and owner of Children’s Corner patterns. Assistant for Lezette during her seminar.

o       March 2003- Hired by Stony Brook Sew and Vac to teach and consult in developing educational curriculum. Developed kid’s curriculum for store  and summer camps for the Lawrenceville, Hamilton, and Wilmington stores. Taught classes in educating the consumer about Viking sewing machines, sergers, notions, feet, and embroidery techniques. Taught serger classes, heirloom classes, home dec classes, kids classes, embroidery clubs, Martha Pullen Gift of the Month Club, Foot Club, and new technique classes

o       February 2002 to 2005- Teaching Assistant at Martha Pullen School of Art and Fashion.  Assisted at February 2003 Carol Ahles, July 2003 Kids School, and February 2004 Carol Ahles, Sue Pennington Stewart and Claudia Newton, July 2005 Kids School.

o       November 2002-  Featured Speaker Latisha Penn Doll Club on fabric restoration.

o       September 2002-  Taught Serger Nightgown class for New Jersey ASG Chapter.

o       June 2002- Martha Pullen 4 Day School Kent State University.  Assistant for Kathy McMakin in Heirloom Serger Techniques.

o       May 2002-  Featured speaker.  Topic was Exquisite Extras for Children’s Clothes  by Lezette Thomason with Children’s Corner trunk show for SAGA’s Conestoga Stitchers Chapter.

o       April 2002-  Commentator for ASG’s Philadelphia Chapter Annual Fashion Show.

o       April 2002- A Featured teacher at ASG’s Princeton Chapter Annual Luncheon.  Taught Lace Shaping, a licensed Husqvarna class.

o       March 2002-  Featured speaker at Newtown Square Newcomer’s Club on the topic of “Heirloom Sewing in Today’s World”.

o       February 2002-  Taught Heirloom Nightshirt, Philadelphia ASG Neighborhood Chapter.

o       October 2001- Taught a “Baby Bonnet” licensed  Martha Pullen Husqvarna class to Philadelphia ASG neighborhood chapter.

o       July 2000 to 2005- Developed and taught Heirloom sewing curriculum at Loder’s Viking Sewing Center in Wilmington, Delaware.  Taught Martha Pullen’s Gift of the Month, quilting and heirloom serging programs.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

 

 August 2007- Present Joined “Hot Mama Gowns” as a designer and pattern maker.

 

 June-August 2007- Contracted with several clients of Taylor’s Bridal Boutique to build bodices on their strapless wedding dresses for religious reasons.

 

October 2006 Stitcher and Wardrober for “Carmen” Opera Delaware

 

August 2006 Cutter and Stitcher for  “Billie Lee’s WashingtonWilmington Historical Society

 

March 2006 Wardrobe for Delaware Theatre Company “The Syringa Tree”

 


March 2006 Wardrobe and stitcher for Opera Delaware “Pirates of Penzence”

 

1993-Present  Owner, Fascination in Fabrics. Started up and grew a home-based business involving sales of fabrics, laces, patterns, notions, and books for heirloom, children, doll and smocking sewers.  Speciality sewing of traditional christening gowns made from family heirlooms such as wedding dresses. Currently building a clientele of private clients that understand quality of workmanship and want beautiful heirlooms that will be passed from generation to generation. Teaching a wide variety of sewing topics to students ranging in age from 4 to 75+

 

January 2005 – Decided to diversify and add the sewing of soft home furnishings to Fascination in Fabrics as needed due to increased requests of clientele that demand high quality and need a workroom to sew pillows, cushions, window treatment and other decorator projects.

 

1970-1993      Professional Seamstress.  Created and developed a successful home business for alterations.

1999-2006      Part-time Stock Associate, Lane Bryant, Wilmington, DE.  Responsible for organization of backroom and stock for store. 

1998-2000      Office Assistant, 1838 Investment Advisors, Radnor, PA.  Organized and maintained client files and light switchboard duties.

1994                Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh, PA.  Designed costumes for topiary bunnies for the Peter Rabbit Exhibit.

1993                Textile Restoration Volunteer, Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa.  Engaged to restore a Neapolitan Presepio, a Nativity scene from the 1750's.  Remade angels’ costumes.

1993                Seamstress and Wardrober, Breathing Lessons, Signboard Post Productions.

1991                Seamstress and Wardrobe Prep & Maintenance, Lorenzo's Oil, Kennedy Miller Productions. 

1991                Set Design Assistant, Children's Museum, Pittsburgh, Pa. Helped to build Halloween sets.

1990-2009       Dresser and/or Seamstress for major Broadway shows touring Pittsburgh, PA and Wilmington, DE.


Cats

Les Miserables            

Show Boat

Peter Pan

King and I

Ms. Saigon

Phantom of the Opera

1776

Oklahoma

Dr. Dolittle

Titanic

Swing

Music Man

Chess

Civil War

Blast

Scrooge

Stars on Ice


                        Big River                                                                              The Syringa Tree

                        Thoroughly Modern Millie                                                   Chicago

                        Hairspray                                                                              Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat

                        Rent                                                                                      Mama Mia

                        Producers                                                                             Movin’ Out

                        Fiddler on the Roof                                                             Pajama Game                                                   

                        1990-1991       Full-time Stock Associate, The Limited.  Monroeville, Pa.  Responsible for organization of backroom and stock for store.  Supervision of part-time employees.

1990                Costumer, Saltworks production of Narnia.

1998-1999       Stitcher, Pittsburgh Public Theatre and Pittsburgh Opera.

1988-1990       Wardrober, Avner (1990); Debbie Gibson, DeCisare/Engler (1989); Pirates of Penzance, Pittsburgh Savoyards (1988).

1989                Assistant to the Designer, Pittsburgh Public Theatre.  Pittsburgh, Pa.

Researched period requirements of costumes.  Helped design and create each character's costume.

1987-1989       Regional Assistant, Waldenkids, Monroeville Mall.  Monroeville, Pa.  Disseminated information to twenty-eight Store Managers, four District Managers and Home Office Personnel.  Transferred merchandise, planned regional meetings, ordered supplies, made reservations and handled customer complaints. Opened the store as one of the original employees functioning as a Sales Associate.  Responsible for designing all major window displays and in-store promotions.

1985-1986       Display Designer, World of Values. North Huntingdon, Pa.  Design, coordination and construction of all major displays.

1984-1985       Librarian, American International School of Capetown, Capetown, South Africa.  Founded the library, secured funds, acquired and organized books and managed daily operations.

 

1970-1979       Retail and Retail Management, in a variety of retail establishments

 

 

 

HONORS

                                                                     

Merit Scholarship award, Boyce Campus, 1983, Dean's List.

Member Phi Theta Kappa - National Junior College Fraternity        

1986 Membership in "Who's Who in American Junior Colleges"

Kappa Omicron Nu - Honor Fraternity, Home Economics

 

 

 

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

Board Member-Smocking Arts Guild of America- Vice President (2009)

Past Board Member- Teacher Liason- Darlington Art Center Boothwyn, PA

Board Member-Smocking Arts Guild of America -Regional I Representative(2006-2009)

Former Pittsburgh Ballet Guild Board Member- Pittsburgh, PA

Civic Light Opera Guild- Pittsburgh, PA

Phipps Conservatory- Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Public Theatre

Pittsburgh Children's Museum

Carnegie Museum of Art- Pittsburgh, PA

Philadelphia Chapter of American Sewing Guild Board Member and Chapter Librarian

Girl Scouts of Southwestern PA – Leader Brownies through Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts of Eastern PA

Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay- DE and MD

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

Licensed Martha Pullen Husqvarna Teacher, August 2000.  Second certification October 2002.

Certified Sewing Instructor, Home Sewing Association and America Sewing Guild, July 2001.

Industry Fashion Methods, Philadelphia University, June 2004

 

 

 

 

3/29/2009