Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney Weston. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Courtney, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is any time I’ve gotten to sew for my children. I have been a maker my whole life and before having children, I owned a leather company that created personalized leather goods and shipped them all around the world. While that was a fulfilling time in my life, I closed the business before my daughter was born.

After my daughter was born, I felt lost and disillusioned with the new season I was in. I no longer had a job to focus on, let alone a creative outlet. It was a hard season of adjusting to our new normal.

Through a conversation with my husband, he helped me see I needed to take some time to invest in creating for myself and in my spare time. We worked out a schedule where I had dedicated time to myself and to creating every day. For a new mom, this changed everything.

I began sewing clothes and felt so rejuvenated by my time sewing and dreaming up what I would make next. I saw it changed almost every area of my life – my thoughts, demeanor, how I treated others, and how I was more invested in my time with my daughter.

I look at that season and see how it unlocked a value in me to put my hand to creative work and in turn how meaningful it has been to create for my family, and for myself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Courtney, a sewing pattern designer. I design sewing patterns for women and children with a focus on slowing down and enjoying the process of creating. I love to encourage women to make time to sew and be filled up in the process. Our sewing patterns are the practical step women need for a project that will leave them in disbelief that “I made this!”

My mom sewed most of my and my sibling’s clothes growing up. Holding those art pieces in my hands now, thirty years later, I have such an appreciation for the time and care spent on every little detail. I think what strikes me the most is how I know that she was creating time for herself and being filled up and that is evident in how wonderful of a mom she is to our family.

I learned through her example, not necessarily her sitting me down to teach me step-by-step, but her pursuing the things she loved. That has laid a firm foundation for me as a creative entrepreneur in my adulthood.

I desire to take those principles into Rooney Sewing Patterns. To provide women an outlet, an example, and something they can easily follow through videos and tutorials to be confident in their own creations.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My first small business I created right out of college at the age of 20. I spent all my energy in leatherworking, learning the ins and outs of running a business and building a social media following to support the shop. It can be easy to find your identity in what you do, especially when you build it with your own two hands.

I always thought when I had children, I would just rearrange a few things and keep going at the pace I was going and build things bigger and better than before. Then, a few months into pregnancy, I felt a nudge in my heart to lay down the business I spent seven years of my life working on.

It felt so against my own natural tendencies. I previously wanted to prove I could do it all – and do it well. But when I started to entertain the idea of laying down my business and closing the shop, it felt freeing. It was exactly what I needed, and didn’t even know I wanted all at the same time.

I’ve learned it is difficult to step away from something that is doing well and seems like it is only going up. It is especially hard to explain to others who do not have the gut feeling you do. It even felt foolish to close the shop at times but looking back, that decision has been a catapult to so many other areas of my personal life and other businesses thriving. Those pivots and following the little heart nudges are important to follow!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is mostly fueled by the innate desire to create and practice that muscle. In doing this, I’ve received so much fulfillment from encouraging others to follow their own creative desires and giving them tools to do so like sewing patterns and DIY projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://rooneyclothing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rooneyclothing/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RooneySewingPatterns

Image Credits
Leah Payne