Abby Bearman Chandanais is a traditionally trained, professional kiltmaker, and experienced seamstress. She founded Thistle Do Nicely Designs in March of 2015, after several years of sewing her own highland dance costumes along with costumes for many other dancers in the Midwest region.
Abby completed her kiltmaker's training in August of 2015, under the instruction of Steve Ashton, owner of Freedom Kilts in Victoria, British Columbia, and Barbara Tewksbury, author of The Art of Kiltmaking. Each kilt is a labor of love, with more than 20 hours of labor and thousands of tiny hand stitches holding it all together.
In addition to her extensive sewing background, Abby brings a unqiue perspective to her work as a longtime competitive Highland dancer and BATD certified Highland dance instructor. She began competing at the age of 4, reaching the premier level of competition by age 12. Abby has earned many placings in premier competitions and regional championships, along with several choreography awards. She is also the co-founder of Lochanna Mora Highland Dance Company, a professional highland dance group comprised of adult premier dancers in the Mid-Michigan area. Abby not only knows what the outfits and kilts should look like, but understands how they need to feel and fit in order to showcase the dancer to their best advantage.
Abby earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Ferris State University in 2005, followed by a Master of Education with a focus on Sports Marketing & Administration from Bowling Green State University in 2006. She has more than a decade of experience in the public relations industry, in the corporate and non-profit sectors.
When not weilding a needle and thread, Abby enjoys drinking copious amounts of coffee and spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their cat, Zoe.
Abby completed her kiltmaker's training in August of 2015, under the instruction of Steve Ashton, owner of Freedom Kilts in Victoria, British Columbia, and Barbara Tewksbury, author of The Art of Kiltmaking. Each kilt is a labor of love, with more than 20 hours of labor and thousands of tiny hand stitches holding it all together.
In addition to her extensive sewing background, Abby brings a unqiue perspective to her work as a longtime competitive Highland dancer and BATD certified Highland dance instructor. She began competing at the age of 4, reaching the premier level of competition by age 12. Abby has earned many placings in premier competitions and regional championships, along with several choreography awards. She is also the co-founder of Lochanna Mora Highland Dance Company, a professional highland dance group comprised of adult premier dancers in the Mid-Michigan area. Abby not only knows what the outfits and kilts should look like, but understands how they need to feel and fit in order to showcase the dancer to their best advantage.
Abby earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Ferris State University in 2005, followed by a Master of Education with a focus on Sports Marketing & Administration from Bowling Green State University in 2006. She has more than a decade of experience in the public relations industry, in the corporate and non-profit sectors.
When not weilding a needle and thread, Abby enjoys drinking copious amounts of coffee and spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their cat, Zoe.