I teach art at an elementary school in Illinois. Before Thanksgiving, I asked my students to make small “Thank You” themed embroidered badges. One child stitched his mother’s smile; another, his grandpa’s lawn mower. When they saw their finished works for the first time, the sparkle in their eyes reminded me what education truly means —helping children realize they can create something kind and beautiful.

Caring for others and creating by hand have been important parts of my life for many years. Alongside my work as a nurse practitioner, I have continued sewing and embroidering while developing my skills. Now, I’m ready to upgrade my equipment, explore new creative possibilities, and keep making thoughtful, one-of-a-kind pieces for the special people in my life. For me, creating something by hand is another meaningful way to show care.

A car accident left my husband with lasting injuries and unable to work, bringing heavy medical and rehabilitation costs, and I spent my days between hospitals, pharmacies, and home with little time for myself. In the small gaps of my day, I began embroidery on an old machine just to hold myself together, and slowly people started to value my work, helping me feel I still had something to give. Now orders keep growing and my single-needle machine can no longer keep up, so upgrading to a multi-needle machine is not about expansion but about keeping my life from falling apart.

As a CT technologist, I provide vital imaging for cancer treatment and research. Outside of work, I’m the proud mother of two sons serving in the Armed Forces and a caregiver for my elderly mother. Embroidery gives me a creative space of my own while helping me make meaningful gifts for my family. Now, I’m starting a small embroidery business and look forward to learning a multi-needle machine as I turn this passion into a new chapter.