If you’re here then you’re wanting to know a little more about how and why I started my business, CaseyGirl Designs. I am so glad you’re here and I hope you find some inspiration in my story. Let’s dive in!

To Start With…

To start, I am a mother of 3 gorgeous babies…who are not babies at all anymore but grown kids headed out into the world. My older two are my beautiful girls but it is my youngest, my son, that got me into what I have been doing for the last 12 years. My Handsome was born with Spina Bifida, which is as individual as the child born with it. In my son’s case, he was born with a spine that was a foot too long and the inability to move water formed in the brain to the rest of his body. There is a lot more to it but this explanation will do for now. 

The Problem

He has had over a dozen surgeries and has been a trooper through them all. I like to call him my well-packaged mess because if you didn’t know any better (and if you can’t see his leg braces) you’d never know there is anything going on. After his third surgery it became clear to me that I would not be able to hold a “real” job as no one is willing to keep an employee that has to take 4 – 6 weeks off every time their child has a surgery. At that point I had been apprenticing as a seamstress at a local dance studio so we could afford for our oldest to be a company dancer. I translated those skills into a small diaper bag and tutu side hustle, sewing mine and my children’s clothing for fun. 

The Solution

I had sewn just about everything under the sun but was feeling unsatisfied. I decided upholstery would be my next hurdle. Goodwill had this great wingback for sale and I had found a yellow gingham fabric I loved just the day before. Match made in heaven, right?! Nope. I failed…big time. I took everything off, chucked it, and was left with a chair I could do nothing with. Thinking back, I remember wondering why there were metal pieces inside a cloth cover as I was throwing them away. 🤦‍♀️ Eventually I got it covered to some degree but when it was time to move back home (we were in AZ at the time) I left the undone chair there. I had already been bitten by the bug though, and as soon as we were settled back in Idaho I got another piece of furniture and tried again. CaseyGirl was officially born in May of 2012. 

Our son is 17 now, is in a good place health wise and works with me at the shop a few days a week. Our girls are 22 and 18, both making their way in the world. My business, for the first time ever, is about me now. I am finally finishing my design degree and expanding the business, so exciting! There will still be hurdles with our son’s health but we are all in a good place and my little business is what got me through. 

I hope you join in the journey through my Creative Collective email list. It is a great way to connect with a maker community full of skill and inspiration. Thanks for reading!