The Marin spirit: Christy Miller is ‘doing her share’

By Barry Smail

Novato Historical Guild

This year, Christy Miller began her fourth decade as owner and sole-proprietor of Christy’s of Marin, a Novato bridal shop.  She creates wedding gowns from sketch to finished product — ”I’ve made hundreds” — and does pattern-making, interior decorating, and more.  

In 1981 Christy graduated from the Fashion Institute in Los Angeles, and got her start working for Carol Clark Productions making costumes for movie producers.  After moving to Northern California, she did work for LucasFilm and other companies.  Presently, Christy works part-time as a paraprofessional for the Marin County Office of Education (MCOE).  

Then, on March 16, everything changed.  

The County Health Department issued the Covid-19 shelter-in-place order.  Her business slowed down, and her work with special-needs kids shifted from in-person to Zoom, a difficult adjustment for her charges.  

“I love my work with high-risk teens.  But being in lockdown, I was feeling guilty about not doing my share,” Christy said.  

Then her church asked if she could make masks for its congregants.  The seamstress responded by turning her bridal shop into a mask-making factory.  She gave away 500 masks to the church and donated several dozen more to the MCOE.  

Several weeks went by, and “a lightbulb went on”.  On May 12, she posted on NextDoor: “Mask coverings–I am a professional seamstress here in Novato.  I am making hundreds of masks.  If you need one, let me know.”  Scores of people responded, some thusly: “Hi Christy, you are truly a kind soul to offer your handiwork.”  And, “Yes please!  I’m immunocompromised and have MS.  I was able to get a mask but the ear garter is too tight.” And, “Thank you for being so kind; your message made my day…”

Christy has produced and distributed approximately 1,300 masks to date.  Most she has donated, some she sold for $5.  “I did not anticipate such an overwhelming response”, she said.  In the process, she has attracted new clients.  “Right off the bat, a woman asked me about a wedding mask.  And of course, I have all of the raw material already in stock. I find it interesting that I was a wedding gown designer and now I’m making wedding masks!”

As a child, Christy’s interest in sewing was sparked by several family members.  In the 1960s, her father, Jim Hume, worked as an artist for Hanna-Barbera Productions.  “I watched Dad draw cartoons and tried to copy him by drawing dresses.  Mom (Erica Hume) was incredibly supportive of my artistic efforts.”  Christy’s grandmother, who she calls “Nanna” and her Aunt Bo taught her how to sew.  

“During World War II, Nanna worked as a seamstress in Totowah, New Jersey, and was a member of the local women’s club.  The town needed a new ambulance, but there was no money, so the club made a huge quilt out of servicemen’s ties and auctioned it off to pay for the ambulance.”  The quilt remains on display at American Legion Post No 227 in Totowah.  

“Nanna was always a giver, and that rubbed off on me because I feel the same way,” Christy declared.

Christy takes pride in her father’s many accomplishments, including his induction into the National Hot Rod Association Hall of Fame.  Currently, he designed and fabricated the “Target 550 Streamliner”, which will attempt to break the world land speed record of 550 mph later this year on Lake Gairdner, a dry lake in South Australia.  And that’s not all:  Back in the 1990s, he carved a wooden ornament which was placed on the White House Christmas tree.  

And speaking of trees, it doesn’t appear that Christy’s apple fell far from her family tree.