Meet Rebecca Szabo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Szabo.

Hi Rebecca, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have always had a connection with needle & thread! Generations before me sewed and shared their skills with me. I have worked professionally as a seamstress, pieceworker, sewing machine ambassador, and pattern tester & even owned a quilt shop for a few years!

I have now found my creative niche creating custom memory pillows and quilts, repurposing lamps and furniture, and making handmade fabulous accessories (tea wallets!). I love using unique prints and re-purposing clothing to create my own fabulous designs! You can find me year-round on Etsy or at Handmade Art Studios in Hightstown, NJ & at seasonal events in NJ, NY & PA!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am fortunate to have built a following online through annual live events so I was able to continue to create custom pieces throughout the pandemic years of 2020 & 2021, although it was difficult to get the supplies I needed at times.

In early 2022, I decided to take early retirement from an administrative job and focus on my art and custom work full-time. My biggest hurdle currently is rebuilding my annual live event schedule to generate a steady income throughout the year. Economic conditions have been challenging throughout 2022 and I hope that 2023 is a better year!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I spent a lot of time with my maternal Grandparents growing up and they were both amazingly talented and resourceful people. My Grampie taught me how to remake furniture to look brand new again. My Gram would take my aunt’s outgrown clothing and repurpose it for me and my dolls.

I have always tried to reuse and repurpose items to create something beautiful and unique for as long as I can remember. In 1990, my mother-in-law was terminally ill and asked me to repurpose her wedding gown into christening outfits and wedding bags for future grandchildren. This request has led to hundreds of others and kept my business thriving for over 30 years!

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
As my business is largely based on creating keepsakes from items of loved ones who are no longer with us, it was a reinforcement of the idea to treasure each moment that we have with someone! I also used my resourcefulness to create over 1000 masks and scrub caps for my family & friends who are healthcare workers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/thatssewfabuloustoo
• Instagram: @thatssewfabulous
• Facebook: Thats SEW Fabulous