Live Chainstitch Embroidery at Borromini's Grand Opening in Philadelphia

An Italian marketplace, fresh focaccia, custom embroidered tote bags, and Philly's finest made for an unforgettable debut.

In August, I had the incredible opportunity to bring live chainstitch embroidery to the grand opening of Borromini, Stephen Starr's beautiful new Italian restaurant in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square.

This was my very first restaurant opening!

I partnered with Starr Restaurants, Capital One Dining, and the event team to bring a little handmade magic to the festivities. And with more than 400 guests showing up to celebrate, there was certainly no shortage of excitement!

An Italian Marketplace in the Heart of Rittenhouse

If you've been to Rittenhouse Square, you might remember the old two-story Barnes & Noble that once occupied the space where Borromini now lives.

Well, let me tell you, you'd never know it was once a bookstore!

The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, and for the opening celebration, the team created an Italian marketplace-inspired experience for guests.

Attendees were invited to pick up a complimentary canvas tote bag, have it personalized with live chainstitch embroidery, and then fill it with all sorts of Borromini goodies: fresh focaccia, crispy biscotti, espresso mugs, hats, fresh basil, and other little Italian-inspired treats.

A custom embroidered tote filled with carbs and goodies? I'll take 35.

The tote bags were such a hit that we actually ran out. Event organizers had originally anticipated approximately 300 guests, but more than 400 came out to celebrate!

Two Chainstitch Artists Are Better Than One!

When I learned about the expected attendance, I knew this wasn't going to be a one-woman embroidery operation.

Live chainstitch embroidery is done by hand, which is part of what makes it so special. But it also means that planning for guest volume is incredibly important.

I recommended bringing on an additional embroidery artist, along with assistants, to help keep orders organized and the stitching moving throughout the event.

Thankfully, the team agreed!

I recruited the incredibly talented Hilary Cortes, a Brooklyn-based chainstitch artist who works under the name Rowdy Cowlick, to join me for the evening.

Hilary and I have worked together before, so I knew we'd make a great team.

Ahead of the event, we coordinated the details to ensure our embroidery stations felt cohesive. We aligned on matching table wraps, thread colors, and the embroidery designs we'd be offering guests.

That way, no matter which machine guests visited, they'd have a consistent experience.

And because we'd worked together before, we were a FORCE!

A Little Behind-the-Scenes Planning

One of the things I really enjoy about running That Crafty One is that I get to combine my creative work with my background in project management.

When you're planning a high-volume event like a restaurant grand opening, there's a lot more to consider than simply showing up with an embroidery machine.

How many guests are expected? How many customizations can reasonably be completed? How many artists will be needed? What should the embroidery menu include? How can we keep orders moving while guests enjoy the event?

These are exactly the kinds of questions I love helping clients work through.

For Borromini, that meant recognizing the need for additional staffing, recruiting another talented artist, and coordinating the creative and operational details so we could deliver a cohesive experience.

And with attendance exceeding expectations, I was especially glad we had planned ahead!

My goal when working with event planners and experiential marketing agencies is to be a creative partner who can also help manage the logistics.

Whether an event needs one stitcher or several, I have a wonderful network of fellow embroidery artists I love collaborating with, and I'm happy to coordinate the team.

A Little Embroidery Goes a Long Way

One of my favorite things about live chainstitch embroidery at brand activations is that it gives guests something to participate in.

Rather than simply handing someone a branded tote bag, you're inviting them to choose a design and watch it come to life right in front of them.

And when that tote bag becomes part of a larger experience, like Borromini's Italian marketplace, the embroidery feels like a natural part of the celebration.

Guests left with a personalized keepsake they could use long after the opening festivities ended.

It's such a fun way for restaurants, retailers, and brands to create memorable moments around a launch, special event, or customer appreciation experience.

A Very Special Request from the Kitchen

As the evening was winding down, I had one of my favorite moments of the entire event.

Two members of Borromini's kitchen staff were finishing their shifts and came over to ask if I could embroider their chef jackets.

OF COURSE!

After spending the evening personalizing tote bags for guests, it was such an honor to add my little stamp to the official Borromini uniforms.

There's something really special about getting to create something for the people working behind the scenes to make an event happen.

And as someone who appreciates the artistry that goes into both food and embroidery, this request felt extra meaningful.

Definitely a highlight of my night!

A Grand Opening to Remember!

This event was such an exciting milestone for That Crafty One.

Not only was it my first restaurant opening, but I got to work alongside a fellow artist I admire, collaborate with an incredible group of event professionals, and experience the energy of a major Philadelphia restaurant launch.

We even had a little TV moment when 6ABC Philadelphia covered the opening festivities!

And yes, I absolutely sent the clip to my Mom.

A huge thank you to the teams at Borromini, Starr Restaurants, Capital One Dining, and LRG Marketing & Events for inviting me to be part of such an exciting celebration.

And thank you to Hilary of Rowdy Cowlick for joining me behind the embroidery machines!

Special thanks to Joe Mac Creative for capturing the evening so beautifully.

Check out my Instagram reel of our opening day experience!

Planning a Grand Opening or Brand Activation?

Whether you're opening a restaurant, launching a retail store, hosting a corporate event, or planning an experiential marketing activation, live chainstitch embroidery is a fun way to give guests something personal to remember the occasion.

That Crafty One provides custom, professionally managed live embroidery experiences in Philadelphia and beyond.

From helping determine staffing needs and developing embroidery menus to coordinating additional artists and managing event logistics, I'd love to help bring your vision to life.

Let's plan your next live chainstitch embroidery event!