Life is expensive, and for a long time I was fueled by the need for more. More income, more promotions, more recognition. I was always chasing the next step in the ladder, competing with peers and trying to prove that I belonged in the rat race.
For years that was enough to keep me going, but everything shifted once I had my kiddo. I was spending an hour driving to an office to work for the day and then another hour home only for less than an hour before bedtime? THIS wasn't worth it.
After Mother’s Day one year, I jokingly told a friend that I wanted to buy a sewing machine. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow and asked, “Can you even sew?” Those who know me really well know my obsession with Legally Blonde and the scene literally played out in my head "What, like it's hard?" That moment planted a seed I couldn’t ignore.
I was introduced to Diane, who has built a legacy of beautiful, heirloom-quality stockings and tree skirts under the South House Designs brand. She walked me through the machines, the process, and the techniques that make these pieces stand out. I was reminded of my own grandmother and her passion for luxurious fabrics and elaborate home decor.
I took a few days of PTO to spend with Diane in her studio, going through a sewing bootcamp and all the 101 lessons you can imagine. With time, practice, and a whole lot of determination, I realized that not only could I sew, I could carry on her tradition of quality and care. I could continue her story while writing my own.
The truth is I had spent my entire career building brands for other people. I poured my energy, creativity, and strategy into making sure their businesses succeeded. But at the end of the day, those wins were never mine to hold onto. When I looked at my future, I knew it was finally time to stop fueling everyone else’s dreams and start building my own.
So here I am. Choosing handmade over mass-produced. Choosing creativity over burnout. Choosing to sew Christmas stockings that will hang in homes, surrounding families during the most memorable seasons of the year. This isn’t just about fabric and thread. It’s about legacy, tradition, and believing that the work of our hands can matter far more than another line item on a corporate report.
