After 37 years of serving the Milwaukee community through custom garment creation, educator and artist Becky Peelen joins Sew & So to reflect on a remarkable career and the relationships that made it meaningful.Becky traces her sewing roots back to rural Wisconsin, where she learned at her mother's side and made her first garments from flour-sack fabric. What began as a childhood skill quickly became a lifelong calling. From sewing her own clothes in junior high to creating bridal gowns in college, Becky never questioned that sewing would be part of her future.A graduate of Alverno College with degrees in art and education, Becky built parallel careers as a teacher and seamstress. She shares how her artistic training shaped her approach to garment design and why creativity remains essential to the human experience. Becky also recounts the transformative influence of master instructor Harriet Sherbach, whose insistence on precision and excellence elevated Becky's craftsmanship and helped define the quality standards that became the hallmark of her business.Throughout the conversation, Becky reflects on opening Becky's Custom Sewing & Design Shoppe in 1988 and the countless people she has served since. From creating wedding attire for multiple generations of the same family to sewing costumes for community performance groups like the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, Becky has woven herself into the fabric of her community. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: every person deserves clothing that fits beautifully and reflects who they are.As retirement approaches, Becky shares her hopes for spending more time painting, writing, traveling through memories of adventures in Tanzania and Nepal, and enjoying her growing family. Looking back, she expresses deep gratitude—not for what she gave others, but for what sewing gave her: a life filled with purpose, creativity, friendship, and joy.This touching episode celebrates a woman whose artistry, generosity, and dedication have impacted generations of sewists, students, and clients alike.