By Lisa Carolin
Anyone who has spent time visiting resale shops looking for “reasonably priced” fabric for sewing projects now has a destination: Sew Loved Fabric, located at 121 South Main St. above Smokehouse 52 restaurant in downtown Chelsea.
The store opened in June because owner Cynthia Siveri had no more room in her house or garage to store all the fabric and patterns that she had collected. Since then, she hasn’t had regular business hours and operates mostly by appointment.
However, now that her daughters are back in school, Silveri says, “I’m there most weekdays from about 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and will be open a number of Saturdays this fall from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.”
She sells vintage and unused fabric, primarily pieces and occasionally bolts, quilting cotton, vintage wool, linen, rayon and other garment fabric as well as costume fabric, all sorts of patterns, craft and quilting books, vintage ribbon and lace, sewing and quilting tools and more.
“I am in the process of ordering new thread in basic colors and sewing needles, (both machine and hand) to have available so people don’t have to run to Joann’s in Jackson or Ann Arbor,” said Silveri. “My inventory changes a lot because the items I carry come from estate sales and from consigners-people who are downsizing or moving, and people who have inherited their mother’s or grandmother’s sewing stashes-so I never know what treasures I’ll come across next!”
Silveri says that she loves having her store in downtown Chelsea because of all the activity. She lives in Lyndon Township, just five minutes from the store. She grew up in Chelsea and moved back to the area to raise her family in 2002.
Her husband, Marco Silveri and she own the architectural firm Silveri Architects.
“My real, full-time job is designing parks, playgrounds and gardens in Detroit, while Marco’s focus is on waterfront vacation home design and historic building renovation design in Detroit,” said Silveri. “I’ve always loved making things and sewing is just one means to create. I also watercolor paint, crochet, garden and practice yoga, and am a board member of the Friends of the Chelsea District Library.”
Silveri advises calling her before coming to the store at 248-808-7855 and checking out her online store on Etsy.
