The Art of Bespoke Tailoring
At Suzanne’s Original Designs, we believe that every garment tells a story. Our approach blends decades of artisanal expertise with a modern, personalized vision to create pieces that are as unique as the individual who wears them. From handcrafted silks to bespoke alterations, we are dedicated to the art of the perfect fit.
Meet the Staff
Hello! I’m Suzanne (Sue) Venkataraman—wife, mother of three grown children, and passionate textile artist.
I recently retired from a public high school in Massachusetts, where I worked as a Library Media Specialist for nearly 14 years. Before that, I spent four years as a children’s librarian in a Rhode Island public library. Working with young adults and children was deeply rewarding, and education has always been an important part of my life.
My journey with textiles and design began long before my library career. I hold a B.S. in Home Economics with a concentration in Apparel Design from Framingham State University and a Master’s degree in Clothing & Apparel Design from Virginia Tech, where I also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for courses including Historic Costume, Basic & Advanced Draping, and Pattern Drafting for Apparel. I later earned a Master’s in Library & Information Science from the University of Rhode Island while raising my family and attending school part-time.
After completing my master’s degree in design, I worked in New York City in the apparel industry as a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) specialist. My experience included demonstrating CAD systems for Microdynamics, freelance design rendering for presentation boards, working as a CAD operator at CMT, and spending several years with Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation creating textile renderings, colorways, and design sketches for presentation teams.
I began quilting 27 years ago and immediately fell in love with the way color, pattern, and fabric come together to create something beautiful and lasting. Quilting, sewing, and garment construction allow me to combine my formal training, professional experience, and creative passion into work that is both practical and artistic.
Today, I offer custom sewing, alterations, quilting, and design services with the same care, precision, and creativity that have shaped my entire career. My future goal is to take additional apparel design and art classes at RISD to continue growing as an artist.
I’ve also had the magical joy of meeting friends from the North Pole—Santa and Mrs. Claus! Designing for them is a special creative delight, because I truly believe.
I look forward to creating something beautiful for you.
Hello! I’m Carol Racicot—also known as the Head Elf and proud quilter.
I live in Massachusetts and, at 78 years young, I happily spend my days doing what I love most: quilting. But my journey into sewing began later in life and under unexpected circumstances.
When I was 52, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. During a year away from work for treatment and recovery, I found myself searching for something meaningful to do with my time. I didn’t know how to sew, but I picked up a quilting book and decided to teach myself. That decision changed my life.
Over the years, quilting became both a passion and a way to give back. For seven consecutive years, I created and donated a quilt to my church’s annual fundraiser raffle. One of those quilts helped raise over $6,000 for their missionaries overseas. Knowing that my work could help others made quilting even more rewarding.
Many of my quilts have also earned ribbons at local county fairs, which has been a true joy and honor.
These days, I focus on smaller quilts and beautiful wall hangings, with a special love for appliqué work. I now work alongside Sue, who insists she’s going to teach me how to sew clothing.
Alright, Sue—I’m ready!