Our Story

​​Having good "Jeans"

Remember When Studio’s owner and designer, Jean Gerdes, learned to use a needle at the knee of her grandmother Jean  and taught home economics/family consumer science for over 26 years. In 2018 she started Remember When Studio so she could share her talents with clients who wish to collaborate with her to convert memories into heirlooms that will grace their homes or the homes of people they love. Each piece is custom made using a variety of techniques to tell the story.

Jean Gerdes

Jean's Grandmother - Jean

How we got our start! 

My father was a great storyteller and “remember when. . .” is how his stories started. Often, his stories were sparked by special items in their home. For instance, grandma’s piano would lead into the story about her playing the score at silent movies. So I was excited when my friend Joanne asked me to sew heirloom teddy bears from the coats of four generations of women in her family. I knew that, like the piano, each of those coats had their own story to tell. The idea of transforming stored-away treasures into heirloom story-starters for my friend resonated with me. In that project, I found a way to combine my creativity, talent and heart for telling someone’s story in a personal and unique way. Now, years later, it is the inspiration for Remember When Studio. It is my hope that I can help you share your stories by creating a custom heirloom for you and people you love.  Jean B. Gerdes
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the first Bearloom