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.

Then, in November of 1997, on a whirlwind tour of every shop looking for the perfect sewing machine, Russell Scott found himself walking through the doors of Bay Cities Sewing. Working his way through the machine inventory, he made the dive into a top of the line Husqvarna Viking sewing and embroidery machine. Nirvana! Finally, the perfect buttonhole every time! (He continues to be smitten!) After 3 wonderful years of shopping, teaching and working, Russell purchased the business on April 1st, 2000. The shop immediately took on a new look (and a new look every few weeks thereafter…), a new name, and a new style. Formerly sewing machine sales and repairs only, Sewing Arts Center began modestly with 12 bolts of fabric (now over 1500), 4 types of thread (now over 20), a few classes (now over 150 sessions per trimester), and a few notions to walls of buttons and notions (I have no notion how many!)

And yes, Barbara and Fred are still around, but spend the majority of their time cruising the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Alaska – just about anywhere a ship will take them. But you’ll find Russell and Becky, Yolanda and Ted, Elizabeth and Peggy, and dozens of amazingly passionate and wonderful friends each day at Sewing Arts Center.

Come on in! You could be sewing!