Em Bender Designs

Happy National T🫔A🫔M🫔A🫔L🫔E Day, AKA Pud’s assigned birthday!! He’s 🤷‍♀️ years old (probably 10 but hopefully less than 15). We plucked him from a shelter in 2017 when he was a trim 18lbs, likely having lived prior to this in a Portillo’s dumpster in the suburbs of Chicago. Luckily, Brock and I agree that he’s immortal and will never die and someday devastate us, so this is just one day of forever where we can celebrate our very orange boy. 🧡🐱🐈

Yesterday marked four years since filing my little LLC, on international women’s day. 🥹 Being my own boss has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. I know my younger self is beaming back at me and all the art I brought into the world! 💗

My first class with GHIA is up for registering! 🧵I will be teaching hand sewing skills and visible mending in this three part class. The goal is to get students into sewing as a life skill and an art form! We will be learning simple stitches, beginner tailoring and fun ways to fix up garments to make them cute again!

Revive & Restyle: The Art of Visible Mending — GHIA 3 Thursdays 6-8pm. Transform clothing & fabric items in need of repair through visible mending. Instructor Emily Bender, 2026 Westobou Artist-in-Residence