For many, talk of crafters, knitting needles and sewing machines conjures up images of bedazzled sweaters and “mom jeans”. In the last several years, the crafter & sewing scene has grown in to a much hipper, Precious Moments-free movement. Sewist Bobbi Nesladek is part of the new breed of artists and of my local favorites. Her company, DownZipper (named after her beloved Chihuahua, Zipper) is home to sometimes humorous and always merry line of handmade goods. She’s got a great eye for coordinating pattern, texture and color and sets the bar high for quality.

Bobbi got her start with sewing as a youngster goofing around with her brother, “My mom had a 1929 Singer, he liked to play with it because the pedal reminded him of a car. After a while we figured out we could put fabric in there and actually make stuff.” The first big project was a monkey makeover for Bobbi’s collection of plushy friends. Plans for puppets were in the works, but never quite developed. As time went on other interests developed – photography, silk screening and paper crafts, but nothing quite captured her attention like her old friend the sewing machine.

Inspired by a beloved pair of pajama pants Bobbi started making and selling pajama pants to coworkers. Before too much longer Bobbi was crafting and cutting under her desk in an attempt to keep up with her orders. Armed with a speedy internet connection, an office door that closed and too much time on her hands during the day, Bobbi opened a shop on Etsy and started selling to the general public. Soon after, her boyfriend behaved badly and she consoled her broken heart with fabric purchases and spent her free time honing her craft. Because of her impeccable eye for detail and affordable prices her popularity grew quickly along with her fabric stash. She expanded her line to include decorative “dirty word pillows”. Witty by nature, her popular pillows artfully displayed her love for four-letter words like f*ck, sh*t and blow. Always evolving, Bobbi’s current line of products includes zippered pouches, baby onsies, flannel and ribbon baby blankets, tea towels and hair accessories.

With the help of prodding friends Bobbi eventually mustered the courage to deal with the public directly and participated in her first show in Chicago, Department, then later the DDB craft show. Successful in person and online she decided to take the plunge in to full-time sewing when her husband accepted a transfer to St. Louis from Chicago. In the two years that she’s been here she has made a name for herself in the crafter community. She’s joined Show Me Etsy and has participated in several shows including Artropy and Green with Indie. She’s a regular at Tower Grove Farmer’s Market and if you miss her there, you’ll have a chance to purchase her wares in person at the Strange Folk Festival in September.