About the Designer

Having over 53 years of designing and sewing experience, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of opening my “Bridal Salon” in 1994, and “Bridal Atelier” in 2023 

I was born in Birmingham, Michigan in 1967, the seventh of nine children. My mother was a brilliant seamstress and my older sisters are also proficient in the skill. It was natural that I should want to sew too. Together we watched glamorous movies in which Edith Head designed chiffon master pieces for Hollywood greats such as Grace Kelly, Liz Taylor, and many more. This stirred my imagination and dreams.  

      At the impressionable age of seven, our family moved to the Cote D’azur of France, where we eventually settled in Menton. I attended school, in Menton,Nice and Monaco. This was “living a fantasy” early in life! Shopping and living amidst this amazing culture while surrounded by fashion, inspired me to begin designing at an early age. 

     Upon our return to the United States, in 1978 we made Stuart, FL our home. I began designing homecoming and prom gowns in high school. After college, I sought professional dressmaking instruction at “Gazelle’s of Boston”. I gained hands-on experience in pattern-making, couture dressmaking and exhilarating fashion shows. I longed to branch out on my own and move back south. I chose the great fashion hub of Atlanta, GA.  I sewed for “Rene Rene” as a subcontractor. At 21 I began freelance sewing under the name of my patron saint, Thérèse“La Petite Fleur” de Jesus. 

     In 1990 I returned to beautiful Martin County! I married my best friend in 1992 and we reside in Jensen Beach. I continued to work as a seamstress for local boutiques. This included a collaboration with renowned artist, Aida Fry and her sister Gladys, on an original couture project of their own. All of these wonderful experiences urged me to fulfill my destiny of opening “La Petite Fleur Couture Bridal Salon” in 1994 to 2022. We were blessed with two daughters, Samantha in 1999 and Petricia in 2001.

In order to concentrate on my forte and begin designing a line of couture bridal gowns, I moved my business to a new location in 2023. I am very excited to have established “La Petite Fleur Couture Bridal Atelier” to fulfill more dreams!