We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marcella Armstrong. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marcella below.

Marcella, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I grew up in a small town in rural Utah and I learned to sew because I wanted things that I didn’t have access too. I was always crafting and making things with the supplies I had. I got a sewing machine when I was 11 and I would alter clothing to fit me and make things for others. The need to customize everything I had became an obsession and sewing became a big part of my life.

In college I studied Recreational Therapy and worked as a therapist with at risk youth for many years. As a Recreational Therapist, I created programs to help the youth I worked with to maintain their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. We would hike, ski, ride horses, care for animals, rock climb, and create crafts in an effort to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities; build confidence; and socialize effectively.

After getting married I moved away and had to leave my job. When I had my own children I would sew all the time and they would cut scraps or climb on my lap. They loved watching the needle go up and down as I sewed. They were so excited to participate and create with me.

One day I was working on my industrial sewing machine with a motor underneath the machine. A belt on the motor would spin very fast when I pushed on the pedal. One day my daughter went under the table as I was sewing and put her little finger out towards the spinning belt on the motor. I stopped just in time and quickly listed my machine for sale. I then had the idea to teach children how to sew and use the money from the industrial machine to buy a few small sewing machines. I created a studio in the corner of my living room and made lesson plans.

Not long after I had my third baby I listed beginner sewing camps and I was shocked by the response. My classes sold out in a few days. It has been exciting to be with children who have such a passion to create!

My end goal isn’t necessarily to have my children know how to sew but that through the process they are capable of creating what is in their mind! I want them to learn patience, perseverance, the good things their hands can do, confidence in themselves and to express creativity.

Sewing is my recreation of choice and the benefits of learning to sew are amazing. We are all born to create and there is so much joy experienced when you have made something for yourself or a friend. We have so much to learn in life and I always say “lets keep our hands busy creating all the good things”.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was seven years old I was exploring the storage room in house and came across a yellow sewing box. What I found inside was magical to me. There were needles and thread, ribbon and patterns. My mother had recently passed away from Multiple Sclerosis and I realized this was hers. I went through all the things very carefully wishing I knew how to sew like her.

I took the box and laid on the bottom mattress of the bunk bed in my room. Looking up I saw the springs above me holding up the mattress and noticed they made and S shape pattern across the bed. My mind was enlightened and I got very excited as I realized that the needle goes up and down through the fabric.

I had recently been reading the World Book Encyclopedia for the letter D under the section for Dolls. Remembering there was a sock doll tutorial in there, I quickly jumped up found the book and studied it. I didn’t have much but I did have socks and my moms thread and needles. I started making dolls. I loved them. I even made them as gifts and gave one to my grade school teacher for Christmas. I later found out after I had grown up and moved away that she still had that doll I made. I love being able to make things for others and it is a way for me to show that I love them.

In my studio hold a free sewing class every week in the summer time. The class is open for any child wanting to learn to sew. During our time together we sew bears and dolls for the charity, Dolls of Hope. Dolls of Hope sends these bears all over the world to children who have displaced because of war or are in need of some love and hope.

When I started these classes I thought of my seven year old self and how I would have attended every week! In a way I guess I created this for her and I wanted to create this for any child who has the desire to learn to sew and experience the love that is exchanged when you make things for others.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I started my studio after having my third child who was 2 months old. Two years later I had my fourth child. It has been quite a juggle and sometimes progress is slower than I would like but I still wake up most everyday wanting to find the time to work on my ideas. Some of my ideas I have to file away for a later time but I am steadily chipping away at my goals and love what I do and feel it is important to teach children they are capable of creating anything that comes into their minds.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

I have found many parents have the creative little children who are wanting to learn how to sew but they don’t know how themselves! So, I started creating my own line of cut n sew patterns that can be found at Spoonflower.com. These patterns are printed on fabric and are simple easy projects for children to cut out and make. They are a great beginner project that teach simple basic skills like stitching a straight line, corners and curves. I want to make it easier for the parents with children who want to learn how to sew!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lilpigstitchstudio.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilpigstitchstudio/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilpigstitchstudio/