Hi, I'm Jennifer Long
An early childhood educator turned Riley Blake Designs fabric designer. I'm a doll, quilt and craft pattern designer, a mother of four, and the founder of Sew A Story.
My creative journey began in a place you might not expect. I trained to be a professional ballet dancer, spending hours every day training in the studio. However, behind the stage, I found myself captivated by something else entirely: the costume wardrobe.
I was drawn to the artistry of the fabrics, the transformation we as dancers felt when we wore these handmade costumes, and the stories that were created when we danced in those costumes without ever speaking a single word. It was there, learning to sew ribbons on pointe shoes and mend bodices, that I discovered my love for sewing and storytelling through fabric!
Fast forward to my adult years, I used my Early Childhood Education degree to help open up, facilitate and manage a Family Resource Center in our local community for over 15 years. It was here that I saw just how powerful creativity could be in strengthening family connection and shaping positive behavior. I watched parents light up when given simple tools to connect with their children. Equally, children’s behavior changed when they had this short but focused time with their caregiver. That’s when it all clicked. I was facilitating a bridge between imagination and connection through creativity!
Today, my husband and I live with our four children on a quiet prairie farm acreage. It’s where we can breathe, dream, design, and build the foundation for Sew A Story.
At Sew A Story, we help families create meaningful, story-filled projects through sewing, quilting, crafting, and imaginative play. We offer hundreds of patterns for quilts, crafts, and machine embroidery dolls. Each one is designed to make it easy for families to bring creativity into their homes without overwhelm.
I am so honored to have the opportunity to design fabric for Riley Blake Designs, release themed paper with Photo Play Paper, and offer a curated collection of notions and supplies that support our patterns and community.
Everything we do at Sew A Story is guided by a simple philosophy: creativity connects us. Whether you're stitching a doll for your child, quilting with a friend, or crafting something just for you, we strongly believe every handmade project has the potential to become part of a story that lasts.
This mission is coming together in a new way through our upcoming course, Crafting Connections, launching at the end of August 2025. It's designed to help you create projects that spark imagination and connection and show you how to make those moments part of your family’s story.
Thanks for being here. We can’t wait to make something meaningful together.