Craftswoman puts it all together with move to Goei Center in Grand Rapids

Pat Haring thought she'd be an elementary school teacher all of her career, but when she opted to be a stay-at-home-mom instead, she called on her years of sewing experience to launch a part-time business, Pat's Curios Creative Sewing and Alterations.

As her children grew, the business became a full-time endeavor and, in October, Haring moved it from her home near Standale to a new studio space in the Goei Center at 818 Butterworth SW, Grand Rapids.

Haring says it's customers' clothing alterations that pay the bills, but her real love is creating wearable art.

"A lot of my wearable art is inspired by nature. For instance, I might do a jacket in the golds and rusts of fall or the blues of the ocean," Haring says. "I create whatever people want, whether it's embellished jackets, tank tops, T-shirts or new construction clothes. They're all one-of-a-kind."

Haring also makes formal gowns, monogrammed Christmas stockings, bench seats, pillows, bags and purses and quilted wearable art. One customer brought in handmade lace from The Netherlands and asked Haring to make it into a bassinet skirt.

"I always toyed with the idea of having a store or working studio, but didn't know what I wanted," Haring says. "Potential customers (called) and then found out I lived in Standale and didn't want to make the jaunt out here. I thought if I had a more centrally located studio I could do more business."

Just days after moving, Haring says a new customer came to her studio. The customer had been to a banquet at the Goei Center and that made it easy for her to find Pat's Curios.

"I possibly wouldn't have had her as a customer if I wasn't here," Haring says.

Source: Pat Haring, Pat's Curios Creative Sewing and Alterations
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor

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