1,000 DRESSES

Four hundred pillowcase dresses pour out of a tote, while stacks of cases yet to be sewn are folded neatly beside them. In the next room, a rainbow of threads adorn a side table and spools of lace, elastic and precisely-cut trimming cover the remaining surfaces.

This is where Louise Dribnenki’s real work is done.

It’s a quiet space — a healing space.

In front of her sewing machine those headaches aren’t quite as bad.

Occupying her hands gets her mind off the pain.

And she’s certainly got work to do — 1,000 dresses by year’s end, in fact.

To read the full story and see our favorite photos, pick up the Aug. 25 edition of the Pioneer or subscribe to our e-edition. Current subscribers are provided complimentary access to the e-edition with registration.