About Us

Guelph Studio Space
77 Suffolk Street West

@tinycheerhandmade

Katherine Heyland

Hi! I'm Katherine 😊 I live and work in Guelph, and I'm glad to be able to do both. I've got one husband, three kids, no pets, and an embarrassing number of sewing machines.

My mom taught me to sew, and I really got into bag making after my third son was born during the pandemic.

There's always so much... baggage... when you're postpartum - physical, emotional, etc. - and I kind of thought, well, why not have a nice bag to put it in. I called my business "Tiny Cheer" because in those early days of no sleep (from a baby) and existential dread (from the pandemic and just... the actual state of the world), when something went right I would give a "tiny cheer!" And that's what my business was to me.

My business is small, my bags are beautiful, and I love making things with my hands in community. I'm so happy to be part of this place, and I hope you'll think about coming out to sew with me or with another amazing sewist who will be teaching out of our space.

@rescuedbears

Gail Kiyomi Burgin

It all started with a cat…..

Until 2018 I worked as a senior event producer and planner, managing productions - from cross Canada multiple day conferences to fashion shows in the U.S. to AGMs in every major Canadian city - with 50 to 1000+ attendees.

Upon retirement, I created Rescued Bears (@rescuedbears) to help raise funds to support initiatives helping adults with intellectual disabilities. By rescuing stuffed bears, creating clever bios and making them clothing, Rescued Bears sold a lot of bears until 2020 when covid shut everything down.

In 2021 our beloved cat needed expensive surgery so I dusted off my mother’s old sewing machine and offered to make my friends a jacket in return for cash. My wonderful friends responded and we raised over $800.

In 2022 Rescued Bears transitioned to creating clothing by rescuing deadstock fabric and used clothing. We make new things out of old and sell exclusively at a Toronto shop. Our work, like our Japanese Canadian background, is a hybrid of the pop and classic cultures we are part of.

Today I have 4 sewing machines, a husband of 25 years, identical twin daughters and work 4 full days a week making clothing and have sold 100’s of garments and accessories.

I am very happy to share what I've learned about sewing and designing with anyone who comes to Tiny Cheer Handmade. And cats still need rescuing, so I will be donating my teaching fee to the Guelph Humane Society.

@seweverything

Katelyn Evans

Meet Katelyn Evans (aka @seweverything), a garment sewist with a passion for creativity, comfort, and community. Katelyn (she/her) focuses on crafting comfortable, wearable clothing that celebrates individuality and body neutrality. Since starting her sewing journey in 2017, she’s become deeply committed to using natural fibres, embracing slow fashion, and mending with care. Beyond sewing, Katelyn loves reading, jewellery, and spending time with her cats. She also volunteers with the Stitch Together mending program.

Katelyn is always ready to share her knowledge and inspiration - from fit tips and pattern tweaks to the mindset of making clothes you’ll actually love to wear.

@sara.furnival4

Sara Furnival

Hello! I’m Sara. I also live in Guelph and love sewing, crafting and gathering together with others to make things. I began sewing when I had my second daughter and, oddly, found myself with a little extra time to sew simple pants, dresses and skirts for my girls. Inspired by the Tiny Cheer community, I have recently discovered a new found love for bag-making which fits very nicely with my fondness for beautiful fabrics. I dream often about someday having a mostly “me-made” wardrobe.

I am also the Founder and Lead Artist/Educator for “Soft Circuits in Schools” where we design and make super cool sewing projects with kids that, literally, light up. This work is a wonderful coming together of my background as an elementary educator, tech-integration enthusiast and my love for creating with others.

Reach out! Ask me about sewing, circuits and building community, wherever you are.

@stina.sews

Christina Kubik

Hi, I’m Christina (@stina.sews) and I love to sew! My mom, a now-retired Family Studies teacher, taught me when I was young and wanted to make my very own Jester costume for Halloween. Despite the complicated three point hat with jingle bells, I managed to sew the whole thing myself and was extremely proud of my accomplishment!

As an adult, I started testing independent pattern designers’ patterns after the birth of my second child. As she has grown, she has been featured in many pattern listings online, and she loves having so many handmade garments to choose from! Sometimes I do test clothing for my spouse, son, and myself, but we’re not as keen (or as camera-loving!) as she is.

I’m so excited to teach and share what I know in the classroom! While I love to sew woven, knit clothing has become my niche, and I can’t wait to help others learn different techniques and tricks for beautiful, custom-made clothing!

Alex Turgeon

Hey there! I'm Alex :)

I started to fall in love with textiles when I switched careers and stepped into the world of Bridal. While selling wedding gowns and veils, I became really enthralled with various types of fabrics and how they moved; what would happen if we blended them and layered them. From there, I started to develop a passion for fabric and shapes!

In 2023 I began exploring ways that I might be able to teach myself how to sew. I often had big dreams about what I wanted to make (suits, things made of silks, etc). So, when I finally got my hands on a machine and the courage to join a community sewing class (Friday Sewing Society), I was quickly humbled by how much I had to learn.

I am a completely self-taught/community taught sewist! I don't have any family who were sewers before me or from whom I learned, which I hope gives people the hope and confidence to see that sewing is accessible to many!

Every day I sew, I am reminded of how grateful I am to have had the mentors I've had and to be surrounded by the community I am surrounded by to have learned this incredible skill I'm so passionate about. It encourages me to keep learning despite challenging fabrics to work with or complex patterns. I am really excited and grateful that I now have the opportunity to teach classes that I hope will bring as much joy to you as I feel when I sew and teach in community ❤️

When I'm not sewing, you can find me outside on a trail bird watching, or animal watching for that matter, curled up on the couch with a book, or spending quality time with friends and family. While I'm not on social media, feel free to follow my journey via the Tiny Cheer social media page! I'm looking forward to supporting you in your sewing journey! 🪡

Lexi Marcaccio

I'm Lexi (she/they) a librarian by day and garment sewist by night. My Nonna technically taught me how to sew when I was only 12 years old, but if you know anything about Italian grandparents, you know this means that I watched her do all the work and only pinned a seam or two together. I picked the hobby back up in 2019, learning the basics from my mother and taking classes in my hometown of Hamilton. I fell in love with sewing as a creative outlet, especially during my time in grad school.

I love expressing myself through pattern and colour and texture, and I think a lot about the ways in which sewing intersects with sustainability, body neutrality, and gender expression. You can find me on Instagram and ThreadLoop (@lexi_makesthings) sewing with natural fibers, pattern hacking (if you think I look familiar, you may have seen me featured in a blog post on Helen's Closet about pattern hacking), and repurposing old clothes into new items. I also volunteer with Stitch Together alongside fellow instructor Katelyn! I'm excited to be teaching classes and can't wait to meet you!

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