West Chester Township resident Rebecca Reed has turned years of watercolor fashion illustrations into a small business she runs with her mother, Jenny Reed.
The venture, called Rebecca's ClothesLine, sells greeting cards, gift bags and bookmarks featuring Rebecca's original designs. The mother-daughter pair plan to host their first open house on Sept. 27.
Rebecca, who has Down syndrome, creates the watercolor artwork. She paints dresses and accessories using standard and pearlescent watercolor paints, drawing inspiration from fashion books at the library, clothing catalogs and style-focused movies and TV shows.
Jenny, who holds a degree in fashion merchandising, cuts out the illustrations and affixes them to card stock, gift bags and thick watercolor paper for bookmarks. She adds glitter outlines and ribbons to finish each piece.
The business grew from a visit by Jenny's former college roommate, now an art therapy instructor, who saw the volume of Rebecca's work and suggested turning the paintings into products, according to a West Chester & Liberty Lifestyle feature published Aug. 26.
"I feel happy and useful, and I love accomplishing something," Rebecca told the magazine. "I also like sharing the experience with my mom."
Jenny said the revenue is secondary. For Rebecca, meeting customers and hearing encouragement on her work matters most.
Rebecca is also an art student at Inside Out Studio in Hamilton, where about 60 artists with developmental disabilities create and sell work. The program, run by the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities, gives artists 50% of all sales. A curated selection of Rebecca's ClothesLine products is available at the studio, located at 140 High St.
Rebecca and Jenny recently expanded their product line to include bookmarks, which have become a popular item. Rebecca also sells occasionally at local craft events.
The Sept. 27 open house runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Reeds' West Chester Township home. The address is not listed publicly; shoppers can email [email protected] for directions and details. Rebecca and Jenny plan to hold the event twice a year.
"I really just want my work to be noticed," Rebecca told the magazine when asked about her goals as an artist.
Upcoming community events
- Sept. 27, 1–4 p.m. — Rebecca's ClothesLine first "Show and Sell" open house, West Chester Township. Email [email protected] for location details.
