Field Trip! Custom Tarp Shop

Getting his start in the classic car restoration industry, Shawn has been perfecting his craft for over 30 years – as evident here in the custom Harley seat and cover he created – a real envy of fellow bike enthusiasts. But what did we drool over? The custom printer cover of course, complete with tray output and vented netting!

The Suburban Tent & Awning fabricating studio is an expansive 2,500 square feet - which is roomy enough to host custom fitting sessions, massive bolts of materials, worktables, countless sewing machines, and a section of equipment filed under “things I have never seen before.”

During our tour they were working on an order of 500 custom sandbags – cutting and hand-stitching each bag. Shawn’s mother, Sharon, does most of the shops’ seam work. Having sewn her whole life – working at Munsingware and as a custom drape maker – she has amazing talents in working with the wide variety of material in the studio.

Joe, Shawn’s apprentice, is a master pattern maker. "This is very unique trade," he said "To get in it and get involved; you have to have a mentor. It is really the only ways to learn these skills."

Clearly this blogger knows where she’s going to get her custom red carpet made!