I’m Natalie Pangaro; Rose Thornwood Handmade is my textile studio.

The studio name is a reference to my childhood---specifically to my mother and aunts who tutored me in the craft of hand-stitching and instilled in me a deep appreciation for textiles. When I was six years old, they placed a fabric remnant, needle, and thread in my hands, and I’ve been stitching ever since. My current focus is on the visible repair of textiles and how it relates to sustainability, reuse, and fashion. In addition to commissioned projects, I lead workshops on visible mending, darning, and Japanese sashiko.

In the early 1980’s, I started my professional career path in New York City’s garment district working with clients such as Calvin Klein, Anne Klein, Donna Karan, and Louis Dell’Olio. Six years later, I enrolled in art school which led to a design position at WGBH Educational Foundation. In 1999, I co-founded a Boston-based design agency, Pangaro Beer Design. During my 18-year tenure as creative director, the studio won over 50 awards from more than 20 organizations. I’ve been adjunct professor at the Art Institute of Boston, Rhode Island School of Design, and also served on the board of Boston’s American Institute of Graphic Arts. I hold degrees in textile science and graphic design.

My varied background has provided me with a unique blend of aesthetics, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.

I live and work in Tiverton, RI.