To all the wonderful sewists that follow this blog, this is DD3 writing this post. Sadly, Tia Dia passed away on March 21st, 2021 after a 1.5-year fight with cancer. It’s taken this long to write this post because well, losing a parent is extremely difficult, especially when that parent is as amazing as my mum. I confess I have no idea what I should write here but I figure word vomit is better than nothing.
I am going to start by talking a bit about my mom; my mom has been a seamstress since she was about 9. She made most of her clothes and was determined to live as if her life was a Vogue magazine; this was in a way passed on to us 3 daughters but sadly none of us have her talent. She was a walking encyclopedia of fabric and stitching, and yet she always thought she never knew enough. She always wanted to fly to Paris and take an embroidery course, then visit the Outer Hebrides and bring back a suitcase of tweed for coats. She wanted to take a tailoring course and learn how to make jackets better than Chanel. I hope that wherever she gets to do all that; I’m sure the angels would love handmade Chanel tweed coats haha.
My sister and I were scrolling through her previous blog posts a few days ago and we both remarked just how invisible our mum’s stitches were. I would kill to be as meticulous as she was. It pains me to know that she gave away most of her sewing projects, but at the same time, it makes me happy that someone has really wonderfully made clothing. Each item my mom made had a story. The story made up of: where she picked the fabric, who it was made for, the creative process of frankenpatterning, the frustration with small seams, the endless amount of thread mess on the floor, and how proud she was of each and every project. They all brought her so much joy, and it hurts when I come home and remember I’ll never see her at the sewing machine or the ironing board again. The mountains of fabric that were for a specific project will never achieve their potential, and we won’t get to say “Thank you my mum made it” when a stranger compliments our outfits.
My mum is my hero. She was one of the kindest people I know, she raised 3 daughters in not the easiest circumstances and she made the world a little prettier with each garment. I will dearly miss her and her shenanigans (she had the best dry sense of humor). The world is a little poorer without her and with that we say SCREW CANCER at the top of our lungs.
I just wanted to let all of you know why she hadn’t posted anything in a while, as well as, say that this blog will stay here forever in memorial of her amazing sewing skills.
I know some of you may ask what you can do or if there is anything that she wanted to happen after she died, and yes there is. In the place of flowers she asked that we make a lump sum donation to L’Arche Canada.
L’Arche Canada is the ”umbrella” organization for L’Arche in Canada, and is focused on supporting all of our communities from coast to coast. In L’Arche, people who have intellectual disabilities and those who come to assist, share life and daytime activities together in family-like settings that are integrated into local neighbourhoods. L’Arche is a global network of people with and without intellectual disabilities who collectively live, work and learn together, creating communities of belonging.
The link to the fundraiser is here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/4440691769279193/
We hope that you will chip in a little in remembrance of her.
I just wanted to let all of you know why she hadn’t posted anything in a while, as well as say that this blog will stay here forever in memorial of her amazing sewing skills. Much love and blessings to you all!! I remember how much my mom loved following all of you and your sewing endeavors. Your comments always brought a huge grin to her face 🙂
I hope you all stay safe throughout the remaining days? Weeks? Months? of the pandemic.
DD3 (or Bella)
Mezzo Couture 
I’m so sorry for your loss. I loved reading your Mum’s sewing adventures. I can’t believe I haven’t read this prior to today. Thank you for taking the time to let her readers know.. it’s a great kindness in your difficult time. I loved seeing what she made. You will miss her so much. I know you will be hurting for a long time so I hope you are good to each other and look after yourselves.
Oh oh oh my heart goes out to you three girls and your family. I am so so sorry to read of Tia Dia’s passing and send my love and condolences to you. I loved reading of your mum’s sewing and family and renovation and music experiences over the years and she was kind enough to provide sewing support and chat with me over the blog-sphere from time to time.
She was an amazing woman and thank you for leaving her blog and Instagram presence there for us all to visit.
I am so sorry… I don’t know what to say. I have gotten to know your mom via her blog, and always loved to hear from her. We never met, but I thought of her as my sewing sister. Much love to you. Many, many hugs.
I’m so sorry to read this, my condolences to you and your family. I’m sure you know but your mum made a lot of us very happy with all she shared.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your Mum will be missed by us too. May she rest in peace & creativity. Thank you for keeping her blog online for us to revisit from time to time. She was an inspiration. What a loss for the world 😢 Hope you girls and your Dad will be OK.
I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother was an inspiration. Thank you for writing this post about her.
I’m so sorry to hear about the death of your mother. I enjoyed reading her blog and seeing the clothes she made over the years. I know it’s tough when your mother passes away, but she obviously loved you and your sisters very much and guided you through life. Her presence in your life will live on within each of you and sustain you forever. Rest in peace Tia Dia.
This is a beautiful tribute to your Mother, my sincere condolences to you and your family on your loss. X
I’m very sorry for your family’s loss. Your mother was not only a talented seamstress, but her makes showed a sophistication and level of taste that inspired me. Thank you for your tribute post, and for leaving the archives for her readers.
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. Thank you for thinking of us and posting this difficult update, and thank you also for your beautiful tribute to your mum. She will be missed by many who never even met her.
My deepest condolences!! I’m so sorry she had to go through cancer. She was a wonderful sewist and an even wonderful person.. It must be a very difficult time for you and your family. Big hugs and love and prayers to all of you! She’ll be there every step of the way watching out for you.
Thanks Bella for posting this. I am so sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for you all. Your mother was such a beautiful creator.
My condolences to you and your family. Thank you so much for writing this wonderful tribute to your mother. Take care!
Mes plus sincères condoléances.
She was read the world over and we loved her because she had that passion that was contagious and that talent that made us all want to get better.
I will remember her kindly.
Carmen
What a lovely post. Thank you so much for posting a closing to the blog.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss and thank you for letting us know about your mother. Mezzocouture’s blog was one of my favorites. Her makes showcased her skill at sewing. Her clothes and the photos showed her meticulous details. I always looked forward to a new blog post. She will be missed.
Bella and to all of your family, I’m so sorry for your loss. Your mom’s blog was one of the first I found when I started reading sewing blogs and started blogging about my sewing. I was amazed by her impressive sewing skills on such a wide range of often tricky to sew fabrics. You will always carry the love and skill she put into making outfits for you and others.
Your mother was an inspirational seamstress who wrote wonderfully informative and generous blog posts about her creative efforts. Wanting to share her knowledge and talent was just one of her many lovely attributes that came through in her writing. My deepest condolences on your collective loss. Her memory will certainly shine brightly for me as a reader. 🙂
So sorry for your loss and what a wonderful tribute to her. Her sewing was beautiful and I so enjoyed seeing what she created.
My condolences to you and your family.
I enjoyed reading your mom’s blog and seeing the lovely garments she made over the years and periodically seeing glimpses of you girls who are now mostly adults.
I’m sure this was difficult to write but thank you for the news. Your mum had mentioned her health issues and I’m sure all of her readers were very hopeful treatment would be successful. I always enjoyed reading her posts; she shared her talent and enthusiasm for sewing. Prayers to you and your family. She will be missed in the sewing world.
Bella, my most sincere condolences to you and your sisters and families. This is a extremely difficult time for you, I am tearing up as I write this. Your mom was a bright spot of love, ingenuity and generosity in this world. She shared herself and her skill, and oh, did she inspire! She was generous with her encouragement and truly loved talking sewing and fabric with her readers. You and your sisters take care, and may God bless you three with the grace and patience you need to help each other navigate this season of incredible loss. You have many cherished memories, enjoy them, even through your tears. Much love to you all. 💕
I’m so very, very sorry. Thank you so much for sharing this terrible news with us—it’s so very sad, but good to know. She, and her blog, will be missed.
❤️Wishing you and your sisters strength, peace, love and beautiful memories of you lovely mum.
My deepest condolences to your family, Bella. Your mom was truly an extraordinary seamstress and a kind and generous person – that was obvious from every interaction I had with her online. She was so kind and helpful to me, even though I am one-quarter the seamstress she was. I had hoped to meet her in person one day, to perhaps share a coffee and to talk about books (I know she liked to read) and about Vogue. We both grew up teaching ourselves to sew from Vogue patterns – on opposite sides of the country – but she got the skill out of it that passed me by. I am so deeply, deeply sad to hear this news.
I lost my dad at eighteen and although decades have now passed, he remains very present to me. I dip into the well of memories that I have of talks I had with him as a young person. They give me the courage that I need sometimes, when courage is otherwise lacking. I hope you find the same comfort in the memories that you have of your wonderful mum.
SCREW CANCER indeed.
Thank you so much Stephanie, I confess your comment made me tear up a bit. I am 17 years old so your message gives me a little bit of encouragement.
I know the road ahead will be difficult, but she’ll be there with me every step of the way
I’m just so sorry that you have to go through this. Nothing can take away the pain of such a loss (and its senselessness!), but I know that you will find that well of memories of your mum an important trove as you go through the ups and downs of the life to come.
As a side note, I would be happy to make a donation to L’Arche in honour of your mom, but I haven’t had a FB account for several years so will have to do it directly through the L’Arche site (it looks as though I can put her name in there). I just wanted to let you know that I care and am so sorry that this has happened to your family. Stephanie
My sincere condolences and thank you very much for letting us all know. I always looked forward to a Tia Dia post: I shall go back and scroll through all her postings. Thoughts with you and your family
Bella, Sincere condolences to you and the rest of your family and thank you so much for letting us know this sad news.
How difficult it must have been to write, but, what a wonderful tribute to your totally amazing Mum.
Thank you for allowing the site to remain as a wonderful tribute, your Mum was such an amazingly talented lady.
God Bless you all during this most difficult time. xxx
Thank you so much for posting this at such a difficult time. Your mum made some wonderful clothing – her skill is evident in every one. I can only imagine how great your grief and loss is – to say I will miss her posts seems trite in comparison however true it may be. Look after each other.
Thank you for this wonderful tribute to your mother. She was such a talented seamstress may she rest in peace
Thank you for your post. I’m so sorry for your loss. She had a wonderful talent , her work was an inspiration.
Thank you for posting. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Although I only knew her through the blog I will miss her. She was a very talented and kind person.
Dear Bella,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your mom truly was extraordinarily gifted in many ways, not just in her ability to make the most beautiful garments. It was kind of you to let us know and kinder still to keep her blog available. Thank you.
Joanna
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Thank you for writing this. It must have been terribly difficult. I enjoyed reading her sewing adventures and will miss her posts. I agree with you SCREW CANCER. I am sure she is still watching out for you. I am so sorry for your loss. Take care ❤️
I am so sorry for your loss Bella. Thank you very much for the sweet remembrances of your wonderful mom. I appreciate your generosity and effort in writing this lovely farewell post. Like your mom, I have three daughters. I imagine that you three were the best parts of your mom’s life. Sending hugs and some tears.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I know how much she loved all of you through reading her posts. I had missed hearing from her and wondered if anything was wrong. I learned so much from her; she was a master! I’m sorry you had to deal with this detail, but appreciate you sharing your family story. Sending hugs. 💔
Thank you so much for sharing. She was an amazing seamstress and so generously shared her skills. I feel I have lost a very dear virtual sewing friend. I cannot imagine how your worlds have been turned upside down. Take care and be kind to yourself.