FIRST HAND/STITCHING
Vanessa is currently an MFA student at Penn State University, specializing in costume construction under her advisor Laura Robinson. She has worked as a stitcher/sewer at Period Corsets, the alteration department at Nordstrom, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival, as well as throughout her undergraduate degree. Below are some of the examples of Vanessa's work over the years.
STITCHER: OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS 2024
Vanessa was a stitcher for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for their 2024 season under Draper Rick Tuckett and First Hand Lisa Drewel.
She helped make mock-ups, costumes, alterations, and was the main stitcher for one of the tailor's pants in Barber of Seville, Fiorello's pants in Barber of Seville, Musetta's main skirt for La Boheme, and Achilla's main pants for Julius Caesar.
STITCHER - PERIOD CORSETS SEPT. 2021 - JULY 2023
Vanessa began as an intern and worked as a sewer at Period Corsets for almost two years. She learned to make corsets, petticoats, false silhouette understructures, chemises and several custom garments for personal clients, Broadway shows such as Sweeney Todd and & Juliet, and television shows during her time there. She also had the opportunity to assist in the development process with increasing Period Corsets' line as well as modeling some new or existing items for social media and their website. Here are some examples of items Vanessa made or worked on while working at Period Corsets.
FIRST HAND/STITCHER: UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL'S ROMEO AND JULIET-WINTER TOUR 2020
Vanessa was the first hand/ stitcher for Utah Shakespeare winter tour of Romeo and Juliet under her draper Caitlin Leyden and designer Steven Schmid. She helped made mock-ups for custom costumes, alter and add embellishment, especially to Romeo's army inspired jacket and helped screen print symbols onto a custom made piece as well.
STITCHER: UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2018- HENRY VI PARTS II & III
Under the Supervisor of draper Martha Clarke, tailor Shelby Luke and firsthand Juli Bounds. Vanessa was a stitcher for the Henry VI parts II and III at Utah Shakespeare, designed by costume designer Lauren Roark. She worked a lot on Margaret's red dress, the final product of the Duke of Clarence and a custom leather tunic for one of the assemble characters.
FIRST HAND/STITCHING XANADU-FALL 2018
During undergrad, Vanessa was a stitcher for the musical Xanadu while at USU. Under the supervision of draper Jordan draper and costume designer Ally Thieme, Vanessa was in charge of making the muse Melpomene's main blue dress.
STITCHER: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING-FALL 2017
While in undergrad, USU did a 18th century historical adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, designed by one of Vanessa's main academic advisors Nancy Hill. Vanessa was in charge of constructing two caraco jackets that Nancy Hill took from historic garments.
STITCHER: AWAKE AND SING-FALL 2017
In Undergrad, Vanessa was a stitcher for USU's production of Awake and Sing designed by Ally Thieme. She was in charge of constructing one of Hennie Berger's dresses. The pattern was one that was taken off a historic garment that Vanessa's academic advisor Nancy Hills took.
STITCHER/FIRST HAND: BIG FISH-SPRING 2017
One of the productions Vanessa did while she was in undergrad was the show Big Fish, costume designed by Lydia Semler and co-designer Cortney Slater. Vanessa was in charge of constructing Jenny Hill's main costume and was the First hand/one of the stitchers for the Alabama Lambs costumes. Patterns were given through vintage and contemporary commercial patterns.
Our Collection
STITCHER: MATCHMAKER- FALL 2016
In Undergrad, as part of coursework and production work, Vanessa worked on the undergarments for Gertrude and Ms. Malloy's main outfit for Ms. Malloy, designed by Nancy Hill. She patterned and draped Gertrude's bloomers and camisole and used a the Laughing Moon's pattern for the corset. And alongside fellow undergrad student Darian June, constructed Jacket and bustle for Ms. Malloy from given commercial pattern.