MONROE - As the holidays and seasons change each year, JoAnne Leuenberger, owner of JoAnne's Dress Shop on the downtown Square can be sure of one thing; the display windows of her store will be filled with a presentation sure to draw comments from passersby.
"People come in specifically just to say how beautiful the windows are," Leuenberger said.
The reason for these inspiring displays is Lois Gordon of Darlington, who has worked for Leuenberger for nearly 35 years as a seamstress, first at House of Vails and Gowns and since 1999 at the dress shop downtown.
Set up every few weeks, Leuenberger said Gordon's displays are perfect. Mostly because her employee plans extensively each time before executing the decorations.
"She's very creative and would have sleepless nights thinking about the windows," Leuenberger said.
Initially, Gordon began creating the displays simply because Leuenberger did not particularly enjoy that type of work. Since then, they have become a staple of each season for shoppers along the Square. Gordon said she tries to change the displays every two weeks but makes exceptions for holidays, weaving themes into the dresses for shoppers to take in while walking along the Square's southern sidewalk.
Gordon spends time meticulously outlining dresses in the shop window, using particular items such as feathers, satin or even newspapers to construct a stunning gown. Since Thanksgiving, a shimmering blue gown of peacock feathers and evergreen, held up by chicken wire, has stood in the left window. The top, a brilliant turquoise, was sewn by Gordon. The ground glows with a golden color while large snowflakes dangle in strategically placed areas.
The windows have been done since Gordon began as a seamstress over three decades ago. She only started working outside of the family farm, where she raised her four children - Diane, Cinda, Donna and Roger - and helped her husband Norman with chores, after the children had grown and married. Then in her mid-40s, Gordon found herself restless.
"I thought, 'well I need something to do,'" Gordon said.
Gordon learned how to sew at age 9. When she had her own children, she passed the skill down to her three daughters, continuing knowledge of an ability that made her career. The window displays have even incorporated a familial touch; Gordon said her oldest daughter, Diane, a florist, created the meticulous gold-and-red ribbon creation featured at the waist of a red dress in one of the windows.
The crimson dress has layers of material shaped by newspapers and Gordon's creativity, and the comments have been steady since she put up the latest display.
"It's kind of rewarding," Gordon said. "The one man said, 'they look like they should be in New York City, those windows.'"
Gordon has drawn inspiration for the window scenes from a variety of sources. This year, Leuenberger showed her a design from the website Pinterest, which allows users to share ideas by posting through "boards" on almost anything, such as recipes or craft projects.
When not ruminating over the displays, Gordon works altering clothing. Since 1983, she has adjusted wedding dresses and can work on
anything from gowns to uniforms, sometimes hemming pants for local officers. When she worked for House of Vails and Gowns, Gordon would create flower-girl dresses.
"I'm going to be sorry when she decides to retire," Leuenberger said. "I'm so lucky to have someone with so much talent. She just does a fantastic job."
As for retirement, the grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of three said she has slowed down a bit, only working three days a week, but does not have plans to stop anytime soon.
"I just enjoy working with people and sewing," Gordon said. "So, I don't know how much longer I will work, but who knows? To have peace of mind, I always seem like I've got to be creating something."
"People come in specifically just to say how beautiful the windows are," Leuenberger said.
The reason for these inspiring displays is Lois Gordon of Darlington, who has worked for Leuenberger for nearly 35 years as a seamstress, first at House of Vails and Gowns and since 1999 at the dress shop downtown.
Set up every few weeks, Leuenberger said Gordon's displays are perfect. Mostly because her employee plans extensively each time before executing the decorations.
"She's very creative and would have sleepless nights thinking about the windows," Leuenberger said.
Initially, Gordon began creating the displays simply because Leuenberger did not particularly enjoy that type of work. Since then, they have become a staple of each season for shoppers along the Square. Gordon said she tries to change the displays every two weeks but makes exceptions for holidays, weaving themes into the dresses for shoppers to take in while walking along the Square's southern sidewalk.
Gordon spends time meticulously outlining dresses in the shop window, using particular items such as feathers, satin or even newspapers to construct a stunning gown. Since Thanksgiving, a shimmering blue gown of peacock feathers and evergreen, held up by chicken wire, has stood in the left window. The top, a brilliant turquoise, was sewn by Gordon. The ground glows with a golden color while large snowflakes dangle in strategically placed areas.
The windows have been done since Gordon began as a seamstress over three decades ago. She only started working outside of the family farm, where she raised her four children - Diane, Cinda, Donna and Roger - and helped her husband Norman with chores, after the children had grown and married. Then in her mid-40s, Gordon found herself restless.
"I thought, 'well I need something to do,'" Gordon said.
Gordon learned how to sew at age 9. When she had her own children, she passed the skill down to her three daughters, continuing knowledge of an ability that made her career. The window displays have even incorporated a familial touch; Gordon said her oldest daughter, Diane, a florist, created the meticulous gold-and-red ribbon creation featured at the waist of a red dress in one of the windows.
The crimson dress has layers of material shaped by newspapers and Gordon's creativity, and the comments have been steady since she put up the latest display.
"It's kind of rewarding," Gordon said. "The one man said, 'they look like they should be in New York City, those windows.'"
Gordon has drawn inspiration for the window scenes from a variety of sources. This year, Leuenberger showed her a design from the website Pinterest, which allows users to share ideas by posting through "boards" on almost anything, such as recipes or craft projects.
When not ruminating over the displays, Gordon works altering clothing. Since 1983, she has adjusted wedding dresses and can work on
anything from gowns to uniforms, sometimes hemming pants for local officers. When she worked for House of Vails and Gowns, Gordon would create flower-girl dresses.
"I'm going to be sorry when she decides to retire," Leuenberger said. "I'm so lucky to have someone with so much talent. She just does a fantastic job."
As for retirement, the grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of three said she has slowed down a bit, only working three days a week, but does not have plans to stop anytime soon.
"I just enjoy working with people and sewing," Gordon said. "So, I don't know how much longer I will work, but who knows? To have peace of mind, I always seem like I've got to be creating something."