Tony's Sewing Machine
West View Plaza
20 Edwards Avenue
Biddeford, Maine 04005

Phone: 207-283-3033

Meet Our Sewing Instructors

Don Bean

Don started sewing at age seven, a skill that has been shared in his family for four generations. Don grew up in Gorham, Maine, where he excelled in Home Economics all four years at Gorham High School. In the late 70's, Don was the only male certified instructor in the country for Stretch & Sew. He bought his first knitting machine in the mid 80's, turning that hobby into a successful 12 year business known as Pine Needle Knits in Gorham.

He also purchased his first embroidery machine in the mid 80's; Don is an avid hand knitter and quilter. He has made everything from his own tuxedo and dress shirts to fabulous quilts and window treatments. Don has extensive knowledge of machine sewing and embroidery. He appreciates the simplicity of antique sewing machines, yet embraces the cutting edge technology of computerized machines. Don is a gifted, patient instructor with a great eye for color and a wonderful sense of humor. He is Janome and Baby Lock (brother) trained.

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Kathy Angel Lee

Kathy grew up in Ohio where she was introduced to sewing through 4-H. She sewed clothing for many years for herself and her children. While her youngest daughter was a competitive gymnast, she made and sold work-out and competition leotards and costumes. In addition to being a wife and mom, she taught first grade, was a literacy instructor for adult new readers and a district curriculum coordinator prior to her retirement.

Kathy’s passion and avocation have been sewing since she was twelve years old. In the late 1980s, Kathy was introduced to quilting through an appliqué class. From that simple beginning, her work has evolved from a traditional form to a more artistic format. She is primarily self-taught, but has taken classes from many internationally known textile artists. In addition, she has participated in painting and drawing classes from local artists. Since her redirection (or retirement) from education in 2002, Kathy has enjoyed experimenting with a wide range of fabrics and techniques in both traditional and non-traditional ways. Currently her interests are landscapes, flowers, wearable art, fabric manipulation, creating her own painted and dyed fabric and working in mixed media with textiles, threads, paints and embellishments. She looks to nature for her inspiration, photographing the flowers in her garden or beautiful landscapes around her home or in her travels. Her work is more representational than abstract, although she is beginning to experiment with some abstract expression.

Kathy lives in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, with her husband and Labrador retriever, Hunter. They have two daughters, one in Florida and one in Maine, one foster daughter in California, and four grandchildren.