The Owner and Teacher
Joey Erasmus (nee Van Rensburg) was born on 19 December 1962 in what was then known as the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital in Johannesburg.
She matriculates in 1981 at Bekker Hoërskool in Magaliesburg. Joey then starts her Draftsman’s apprenticeship in the dusty drawing office of Iscor’s Works Department. Over the next nine years, she works in a variety of drawing offices in Pretoria and Durban. In 1990, she decides to follow her own star and the firm “Professional Framers” sees the light where the next ten years are spent doing picture framing to her heart’s content. New pastures beckoned and for the following five years, Joey becomes intensely involved with direct selling of supplements for Sportron International.
Joey is married to Advocate Chris Erasmus SC. Their son, Schalk-Willem was born in 1993. (FACEBOOK Schalk Willem Erasmus).
Her initial love of needlework was inspired by her grandmother, Dollie (on the right in the photograph). As a little girl, she magically transformed off-cuts dropping to the floor at grandma’s feet into crude doll’s garments and that’s when Ouma Dollie started teaching her the ropes. For 30-someting years, Joey knocks the designer labels into a cocked hat and branches out into soft furnishings for the home. In 1984 she designs and makes her own wedding gown as well as those of the flower-girls.
She still refuses to label herself as a professional designer and manufacturer, yet in 1994 she creates a jaw-dropping wedding gown for her stepsister and those of her three flower girls. Then a few commissions followed but it still doesn’t become her all-embracing passion.
For the last 16 years, as a member of the Reformed Church, she teaches confirmation classes in two parishes. Here she fosters her love for the little people and enjoys stimulating and retaining their attention. Providing succour for young ones with problems lies close to her heart and Joey provides special sewing classes for those in need. For more on the specific Charity click on the Child Welfare link at the top of the homepage, > Centres > Bramley.)
Getting to know Joey over the last two years of creating and nurturing Sew Fábulous!, has provided me with a better understanding of the phrase, ‘burning the candle at both ends’. Often I have had e-mails from her sent after midnight to say: “I’ve only just extinguished the candle!”
Joey Erasmus is never satisfied with a job half done and although she sometimes makes unfair demands on herself, she never becomes a slave driver with her students. With her bottomless pit of enthusiasm and inexhaustible energy, she is an inspiration to everyone in all walks of life.
Translated from the words of Kitty Broos (July 2009)
by MARIA ETHERIDGE: Artist and Writer
www.creativeheritage.net
Vision and Ethics
It is the aim and purpose of Sew Fábulous! to:
- Provide a superior quality service at market and product related rates, stimulating interest and receptiveness in and for the field of dressmaking,
- contributing calculable, quantifiable and long term value in the form of useful skills to the student.
- Encourage the student to continue learning and to practice the newly acquired skills.
- Strive to do this with conscience and consequence in mind.
T h e F u t u r e
In order to bring outstanding service to as many girls as possible it will be imperative to grow and expand.
Franchise opportunities are being developed to coincide with the new economic growth which is just around the corner!
Watch this space. . .
