About Uptown Atelier
Uptown Atelier is a woman-owned small business in the northern Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood in New York City, offering fashion sewing classes, fine art classes, and couture sewing services. Uptown Atelier seeks to express its deepest values through the art and practice of hands-on creativity: cherishing individuality, respecting the Earth, cultivating connection with others, and practicing joyful, mindful living. We cannot stay connected with ourselves if we rush through life. Though there may not seem to be time to make things by hand, in a way, there is no time not to, because we are most deeply alive when we are engaged in our daily lives and present in our bodies. Creative practice cultivates that, and is a curative for so many challenges. Lessons are taught to generate individual confidence in creativity and technique. Inclusivity is another form of respect. Nature has infinite forms of beauty in so many plants, landscapes, and animals. Human beings are no different, and therefore these classes are not about conformity or one way to do things. Rather, they are about revealing who an individual is, and providing the skills to do that. We strive to cherish all learning differences so that your experience is a safe one. You are welcome here.
About Rose
Welcome to my studio
It is my honor to share my love of sewing, art, and all things creative with you.
I learned to sew as a little girl in the 4-H club I was part of in Boulder, Colorado. My mother led the group and we learned on a terrible, cranky old monster of a machine. But we did learn. The day I wore a beautiful new dress for the first day of fourth grade, I felt so proud of my achievement. I remember these early years of sewing as being rewarding and confidence building for me, and I want to bring that joy to others as well.
Rose with Grandma Theone
I still have my grandmother’s sewing machine, and it is precious to me. Making things by hand is a value passed down from my family. My grandmother loved the dress I was wearing in this photo that I had made myself, and especially loved that cake that decorated for her, both of which I learned to do in 4-H.
The joy of creating is infectious, and I just couldn't stop making things. In high school, though my 4-H days were over, I continued to challenge myself by making more difficult garments, and it was an exciting day when I could wear one of them to school. This turned into Over the years I accumulated more skills through studying books on patternmaking and tailoring, trying out new experiments of my own, and practice, practice, practice. I have now been sewing for 35 years, and have made everything from napkins to wool coats to wedding dresses.
One of my pieces from high school art class with Mr. Davis
Mr. Davis taught me that color pencils could do so much more than I ever imagined, and it was empowering to learn creativity in a way that offered real skills and technique, but also freedom. He was a model to me for how to teach when I became a teacher years later.
I am also a mostly self-taught artist, but I did have the most wonderful art teacher named Mr. Davis when I was a high school student. Mr. Davis had infinite patience and kindness, and had knack of helping me get past those moments of feeling stuck that really unlocked doors for me as an artist. I learned things from him that I continue to pass on to my students now.
Most of all, I believe we learn from other people, and by trying new things - whether it be observation, taking a class, reading a book, watching a video, or simply getting out the sewing machine or the paint brushes and having a go. Try it! It's fun. The best thing about creativity is it's not meant to be taken too seriously. It's about expansion and opening up to new things. Even mistakes can be a beautiful part of the creative process.
Teaching Experience
I taught in NYC middle school classrooms for eight years full time, teaching everything from French to English to music. Even though I didn't teach art or sewing as a subject matter, I enjoyed bringing art into my classroom whenever possible. I have had experience teaching young children through college aged students, I have taught gifted and special needs students, and I hold a graduate degree in education and K-12 New York State teaching licenses.
My favorite moments as a teacher were always the ones when a student who didn't believe he or she could do something took a chance and discovered, “Yes! I can do this!” And so can you. Whether you believe you are creative or not, if you have aspirations to becoming more creative, I can help. I make learning to sew, paint, draw, and make jewelry fun and accessible.
My wish is for every student to leave my class with a big smile and pride in their achievement. So far . . . I have achieved my goal! I'd love to help you do the same.
