Sewing

Lindsey O’Donnell didn’t set out to have her own sewing business. In fact, she’s a licensed therapist, who was also a teacher, and now does part-time subbing. However, being a Coast Guard spouse means growing and adjusting through multiple evolutions. Anyone who has had to transfer a professional license from state to state knows it’s not an easy thing to do, and at times isn’t worth the time and money to obtain it for the limited duration in a new location. Which is why Lindsey has been fortunate to discover a more portable talent- sewing.

While living in Massachusetts, and new to being a mom, Lindsey watched a documentary about how clothes are made. What she learned about the fashion industry made her both angry and sad, but inspired her to start making her own clothes. Lindsey always liked working with her hands, and already had a sewing machine, but decided to also buy a serger. She began making clothes for her and her daughters. Her goal was to make clothes by using big t-shirts and old dresses, and producing little to no waste.

However, a move to Alaska meant limited opportunities for upcycling, so she transformed her new passion into making memory backpacks out of the uniforms of service members. The bags were popular, but there were emotional and financial obstacles that came along with making such personal mementos at such a high quality.

Fortunately, she had cultivated her skills even more, and was able to pivot into alterations, tailoring, applying patches, and making custom clothing and active-wear for women. Lindsey had an understanding that women don’t fill a cookie-cutter mold for sizes and shapes, and started creating clothes to help friends feel good in clothes that are made-to-measure just for them.

By the time her family got to San Diego, she was frequently asked, “Where did you get that?” When her response to one retail clerk was, “I made it,” she began getting attention from local clothing boutiques that featured hand-made clothing. With first-hand access to a variety of fabrics (like denim) coming in on cargo ships, Lindsey was able to expand her repertoire to include highly coveted custom jeans.

Lindsey’s creations cover a wide variety of wares, including headbands, accessories, quilts, pouches, clutches, handbags, dolls, head wraps, and clothes for both women and children. She has no intention of picking a lane; loving the versatility and creativity that flows from a life that guarantees change.

Kristen Trexler, an “Army brat” turned Coast Guard spouse, has been moving her entire life. She can claim changing location eight times in eight years – a major feat for even the most seasoned military family. Kristen feels like she’s from nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

Each new community becomes a home to Kristen. She finds jobs where she can -a phlebotomist, a pediatric nurse, a nutrition counselor, a physical fitness instructor (to name a few) – all related to her degree in exercise science, her medical background, and her passion for serving people.

While Kristen and her family enjoy the adventures, there have been a few complications along the way, both professionally (keeping current with references and qualifications in each state), and personally (growing her family). With that, Kristen needed something to occupy her mental space. She had always been a hands-on, motivated person. So Kristen taught herself to sew, and sewing became her therapy.

Kristen would sit, sew and make gifts for people. Every season and duty station had a different niche and opened up more opportunities to grow her art. She made bedding, curtains, costumes, aprons, and super-hero capes.

Friends began asking whether Kristen could help add striping or sew a patch onto a uniform, particularly dress uniforms. Those needed special attention to detail when it came to alterations, buttons, and hemming, and local seamstresses didn’t always know how to do it. Kristen was particularly good at it, but also added a personal touch. Her skill, flexible work hours, and willingness to come to people’s homes, led to an overwhelming demand. She started Sew-Called Therapy; aptly named for the remedy it was providing to her and other women.

Soon, sewing began to serve another purpose for Kristen and her community. Women were asking for lessons, and Kristen started teaching classes to individuals, groups, and even kids. Kristen provided the material kits with zippers, buttons and stuffing, and taught different techniques. Ladies would bring their sewing machines, sometimes taking it out of the box for the very first time, and Kristen would start them on simple projects. Women were meeting women and strengthening relationships between mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.