Estelle sitting on the patio of
her bayfront apartment
It seems like only yesterday when Estelle Feeland opened
her seamstress shop in the back of Cottenfield, a clothing store on Balboa Island in 1982.
Business was good for Estelle and when Cottenfield closed in 1992 she moved to a little
shop upstairs at 302 Marine where she has been serving all of her friends on Balboa Island
as well as Balboa Peninsula.
But alas, all good things must come to an end, and Estelle
closed her shop on April 28, 2000.
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Estelle
decision to retire came as she words it; "I made up my mind when I couldn't do a
certain job." Ever since Estelle’s accident when she fell while on an Alaska
vacation in Skaggway on July 9, 1999 and severely injured her hand, she has been unable to
do all the fine needlework that all of her friends and customers have come to expect.
Estelle says, "I spend two and a half hours a day on my hand therapy and go once or
twice a week to the doctor. Some weeks it’s really a lot of pain." 
Estelle kept the shingle from her Balboa Island business
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Although
Estelle’s retired, it doesn't mean she’s slowed down. When asked how she likes
retirement she says, "Well I don’t know yet. I haven’t had time to find
out, I’ve been pretty busy. I’m not the kind to sit around and eat Bon
Bon’s. I’m always awake at five or six but I don’t get up till seven. I get
up, have my shower and go. Get out of the house." Estelle still does some work for a
few of her old customers, as she says, "Just to keep busy." She also makes
Estelle’s Bag Bags, "For the man who has everything and needs somewhere to keep
it." Finally Estelle says she’s still, "Finishing up all my hanging around
things, going to the movies and visiting and hanging fun. The main thing I do is watch the
Laker’s games. I’m a serious fan." |
