Vendor Spotlight- Altermyheart

Today we are so excited to feature a gown alterations business that is brand spanking new to Nashville. Altermyheart and it's precious owner, Rachel Swayne, are here to take care of one of the most important parts of your big day, your wedding dress. (ok, let's be honest, it's THE most important part) Rachel truly cares about her clients and how they look on their wedding day and she has years of experience and a ton of talent to back it up. Oh and we just LOVE that she is available for day of emergencies!! We recently asked Rachel to tell us all about her new venture and here is what she had to say:

Tell us about Altermyheart 

Altermyheart actually started as an Instagram name, a nod to my profession and my faith. When I decided to start my own alterations business, it was an obvious choice for the name. I do sewing of any kind, but my passion is working with gorgeous dresses and making brides feel beautiful.

What services do you provide for brides? 

As the name implies, alterations is the bulk of my business. From basic fit issues (hems, taking in or letting out sides) to complete redesigns (adding sleeves, moving the waist seam, changing the silhouette, etc), I will do whatever I can to make a bride's vision reality. In addition to bridal gowns, I alter mother of the bride/groom, flower girl, bridesmaid, rehearsal dinner, and any other type of dress you can imagine! I also make children's dresses from vintage linens, which are perfect for a unique flower girl look. 

Even brides who have a dress that fits perfectly can benefit from my services. I have excellent equipment for steaming or pressing gowns and veils, and any dress with a train could use a bustle for the reception!

I am also available for day-of emergencies--just call me the dress doctor! If a bride has a dress crisis (zipper breaks when she puts it on, she loses 10 pounds and doesn't realize it) I have a sewing machine that fits in my car and I can do some last minute fixes.

 

How did you get into alterations? 

Sewing has always been a part of my life. My mother made clothing for me when I was a kid, and she even helped me make my senior prom dress! Throughout middle and high school I kept sketchbooks full of designs, and dreamed of becoming a famous fashion designer. In college I discovered that I enjoyed making garments even more than I enjoyed designing them, but I didn't know how that translated into a profession I would love. When I graduated from Lipscomb University in 2007 with a degree in Textiles and Apparel, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do (except travel!!). I was actually working as a flight attendant in Colorado when a former teacher called me about an alterations job in Nashville. The same day I got this phone call, I found out that the airline I worked for was closing their Denver base and relocating me somewhere much less desirable. It seemed so serendipitous that I decided to give the alterations gig a shot! I was at David's for a year and a half before my manager left to run the alterations department at Bridal Warehouse. She asked me to come with her as her full time seamstress, and I have been there for almost 6 years now. I have dreamed of branching out on my own and 2015 is the year I'm making that happen! 

What is your favorite type of alteration?

I love working with lace! I love the detail, the patterns, the techniques, all of it. Give me a lace dress to work on and I am one happy girl.

What is the most challenging alteration you have done?

More than once I've had to make a dress that is at least 3 sizes too small, fit like a dream. At the stores where I got my training, we often had to make the "impossible" happen. I have worked with many girls who were told by another seamstress that their gown could not be altered to fit. Most of the time this is just not true. I love a good challenge, and I will not let a bride leave my studio unhappy.

Are there any alterations you do that set you apart?

I have actually done quite a few dresses for girls from the LDS (Mormon) church. These brides have very specific guidelines for what they can wear in the temple. It takes a lot of time and creativity to transform a mainstream wedding dress into something fashionable and modest. These have been some of the most challenging and most rewarding dresses I have worked on.

 

Personal Questions about Owner Rachel:

Mac or PC Mac

Tea or Coffee Very enthusiastically, TEA!!! I am a serious hot tea addict.

Favorite Social Media Outlet for Sharing Pictures Instagram

Favorite Movie Right Now I stream a lot of TV shows on Netflix, more than I watch movies. Most recently, I binged on "The Paradise" and "Bomb Girls" because I absolutely adore historical costuming!