About Me

Marie-Elaine Labrèche

under all my seams!!

My passion for sewing started a decade ago after receiving my little dog. Indeed a small dog is the origin of my passion.

In the winter of 2002, I picked up my three-pound dog from my mother-in-law’s home. My mother-in-law, a skilled seamstress, had made the puppy name ‘’Candy’’, two blankets for her cage, a little bed and a coat to protect her from the winter cold. As Candy grew out of her original coat, I decided, despite having no sewing experience, to take on the challenge of making a larger one.

It was a huge learning curve for me, I had to get my husband to set up the sewing machine, thread the needle and give me a small course on how to use a sewing machine. I was ready to take on my first project, some winter coat for my little dog. I must admit I was a quick learner, within a few months, she had several coats and ‘’I discovered a new passion.“

I quickly graduated from dog coats to bigger things and I embarked on projects outside my??

home. At first, I used all the leftovers material from the making of Candy’s coats and later I used the fabric that my mother-in-law had received throughout her career as a seamstress. With all the fabric I was able to sew scarves and blanket for a Quebec City non-profit organization. I made 13 children’s and 12 adult’s fleece scarves and fifty fleece blankets. From then on I really thrive on my passion.

“The mutual support, generosity and dedication of each volunteer made this project incredibly memorable!”

In 2007, through my??? mother-in-law, I joined a volunteer group “`the fingers of the heart’’ a volunteer group of the Saint-Vallier de Bellechase “Le Cercle des Fermières“. The purpose of this group was to offer different handcrafts articles to people in need. It allowed me to pursue my passion by sewing “doudous” (cover) for children as well as aprons for the organization ” Tire-d’Aile” and L’Arche l’Étoile. In that same summer, as part of a larger project, I helped make more than 250 hats for women with cancer.

Sewing for Those in Need 2008 — Educational Cushions

En 2008, I expanded my scope and made educational cushions for people with low mobility as well as people with Alzheimer’s disease. My first cushions were handed over to the CLSC in St-Michel-de-Bellechasse. Since then, I have made more than fifty cushions that have been given to people in need in homes and CLSC.
2009 — Supporting Mothers and Babies In 2009, the perinatal team of the CSSS – “Centre of Health and Social Services Cleophas-Claveau” the La Baie received several baskets of my handcrafted clothes. I made baby bathing towel, bibs, slippers and blankets. Donations were given to mothers in difficulties in La Baie Area.

“This was the perfect opportunity for me to get involved in my community, to share my passion for sewing and my love for children!”

Many volunteer activities continue over the years and then in 2013, when I had just moved to Ottawa, I discovered a sewing volunteer program in partnership with the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre (OCTC – www.cteo.ca/index-f.php). “This was the perfect opportunity for me to get involved in my community, to share my passion for sewing and my love for children!” In May 2014, I officially volunteered with the OCTC team and made my first blanket for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. These blankets, designed to soothe autistic children, must meet stringent requirements to prevent children from getting hurt. From the second cover, I made modifications to improve the quality, safety and non-allergenic appearance. The concept and model of my cover quickly became the norm and were enthusiastically adopted by the therapeutic team. Since then, I have made more than 30 blankets.