Ten years ago, I took that passion and turned it into a mission. I founded the Creativity Shell, a nonprofit organization that teaches sewing and other creative arts to children as young as three years old. Our programs now reach children in schools, libraries, shelters, juvenile justice facilities, and our own studio in Kingwood, Texas. But more than just teaching them how to sew, we are teaching them how to create, how to cope, how to express themselves, and how to heal.

Through this partnership, the Creativity Shell will collaborate with Bernina dealerships across the country to create and refine programs that inspire children to sew.

Sewing with survivors is not the same as teaching a typical sewing class. Every tool, every fabric, and every stitch must be approached with intention and empathy. Over the years, I’ve learned lessons, sometimes the hard way, about how to create a space that truly supports healing and safety.