Some slaves were skilled laborers, such as seamstresses and blacksmiths. During the Middle Ages, Europeans who could afford it employed seamstresses and tailors. There is also an area where the tailors and seamstresses work at their sewing machines. Women worked as cooks, seamstresses, washerwomen and ironers. Costumers and seamstresses use fashion dolls as a canvas for their work. Some women were also cooks, seamstresses, basket-makers, midwives, teachers and nurses. Women stayed home with their family or worked jobs such as maids and seamstresses. She established a dressmaking business that grew to include a staff of 20 seamstresses. Eventually, he created four large backdrops and had Mexican seamstresses sew the ballet costumes. Women also worked in the domestic sphere as servants, cooks, seamstresses, and nurses. Some cities had independent black seamstresses, cooks, basketmakers, confectioners and more. Stefani comes from a long line of seamstresses, as even her great-grandmother would sew clothes. The women most frequently worked as seamstresses in the garment industry or in their homes. During the 18th century, weighted pincushions became popular among seamstresses. She and 40 seamstresses worked on over 19,000 costumes for the film series.