About Us

Sewing Arts Center was originally crowned Bay Cities Sewing Machine Co. and first opened its doors in 1955 on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. In 1975 the shop passed from father to daughter, Barbara Kasprinski, and moved to ½ block from Sewing Arts Center’s current location. For 25 years Barbara and her husband, Fred, continued to serve the sewing community proudly, operating what was to become an even more successful sewing machine sales and repair shop.

In 1997, current owner, Russell Conte, found himself walking through the doors of Bay Cities Sewing, where he purchased a top of the line sewing and embroidery machine (Nirvana! Finally, the perfect buttonhole every time).  After 3 wonderful years of shopping, teaching, and working, Russell purchased Bay Cities Sewing Machine Co. on April Fool's Day, 2000, changing the shop's name, look, and feel.

Formerly sewing machine sales and repairs only, Sewing Arts Center began modestly with 12 bolts of fabric, 4 types of thread, a few classes, and a few notions. And yes, Barbara is still around, (alas, Fred passed away a few years ago) but spends the majority of her time cruising the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Alaska – just about anywhere a ship will take her. But you’ll find Russell and Susanne, Melissa and Yolanda, Ivy and Betty, Jemi and Barbara, Ted and Michael, Santiago, Wynn and Peggy, and dozens of amazingly passionate and wonderful friends each day at Sewing Arts Center.