Meet our 2022 Ash and Elm Team- Sylvia Coleman
I'm Sylvia Coleman - I'm a sewing obsessed, hereditarily creative, crafty queen, and stay at home mama to two girls.
With a carpenter dad and craft show veteran mom, I've always been craft inclined. My main focus was crochet for years until I had my oldest daughter and wanted to make her a bath robe for her first Christmas. I learned to sew as a kid for 4H and hadn't attempted much of anything in years but felt I remembered enough to follow a pattern. Once I saw how dang cute it was I was hooked. With the encouragement of a friend and a borrowed serger I began to purchase (collect 
) knit fabrics and dove right in. I think we all know how addictive this craft is so there's not much more of the story to tell.
) knit fabrics and dove right in. I think we all know how addictive this craft is so there's not much more of the story to tell.
It's been 3 years since that Christmas robe and I have sewn hundreds of items, tested dozens of patterns, strike sewn for 4 different fabric companies (2 currently), and am a brand rep for Rain City Pattern Company. I also have a very small shop on the side where I create custom items upon request and sell other kids and adult clothing pieces I make in my spare time. Sewing is my unicorn space. It's helped me to reclaim my own identity beyond wife and mama and the community that makes up this little sewing world is the most supportive and encouraging that I didn't know existed anywhere online anymore.
My sewing goals for the upcoming year include creating a capsule wardrobe for my soon to be 4 year old. The challenge in this will be focusing in on just a few pieces/styles and especially limiting my fabric choices. With my love of Ash and Elm comes the great desire to own every new design and I often neglect to pick up any solids or coordinates to mix in - wish me luck! This year I'd also like to try my hand at bag making. Every time I pack to go anywhere it becomes glaringly obvious that I need new makeup/toiletries bags as well as needing a new diaper bag. I can't wait to try out some new Ash and Elm bases in this project! Lastly, I want to branch out more and try new types of fabric. I know Ash and Elm has some new bases in the works and I am ecstatic to sew them all 
I am honored to be a part of the Ash and Elm team for this coming year - with all of the jaw dropping talent I see in this community I know the competition was insane 
I've always been blown away by the panel designs Ash and Elm offers and have had to reel myself in on more than one occasion from blowing my entire fabric budget on panels alone. Since becoming part of this team I've also had the opportunity to try many Ash and Elm bases and the quality is top notch 
and the colors are always so vibrant! I love helping to spread the word about such a phenomenal company 
I've always been blown away by the panel designs Ash and Elm offers and have had to reel myself in on more than one occasion from blowing my entire fabric budget on panels alone. Since becoming part of this team I've also had the opportunity to try many Ash and Elm bases and the quality is top notch and the colors are always so vibrant! I love helping to spread the word about such a phenomenal company
I'd love it if you'd join me on my sewing adventures! You can find pics of all my latest work over on Instagram @EstherWilhelminaHandmade 