The story

A small shop, raised alongside a family.

I left my career in 2015 when our oldest was born. I'd planned to go back to work — and then, somewhere near the end of maternity leave, I realized I didn't want to. We were lucky enough to make that the choice. JAK started not long after — one embroidery machine, in our house, on the days when the baby would let me. The name is just my initials. I didn't think I was starting a brand. I thought I was making a few things between feedings and finding a way to keep one hand in something that was mine.

The early years were small and steady. I worked with a handful of local retailers, doing on-demand custom pieces to support their shops and their customers. Word spread the way it does — slowly, locally, by people pointing at someone else's hat and asking "who made that?" Meanwhile our family kept growing. Three more kids over the next few years. The embroidery machine moved around the house as the kids did, and JAK ran on whatever hours they would give me, which wasn't many.

— for almost a decade, the family carved out space for JAK so JAK could keep going.

In 2024 the youngest started all-day preschool. After nine years of stolen hours between feedings and school pickups, I had real days to work with. JAK got a real workspace, more equipment, and the kind of attention I'd been waiting to give it. The pace picked up. New partner storefronts came online. The originals collection grew from "designs I made for fun" into something I could put my name on. The brand caught up with the craft — and John keeps the business stuff where it belongs. He's good at spreadsheets, so I can focus on the fun part.

The work I do now isn't different from the work I did in 2015. I still pick the thread color. I still test every design on a scrap before it runs. The difference is that I have time to do more of it — and a family who's been part of every step. Our 10-year-old son keeps a watchful eye on quality. Our 9-year-old decides which originals are cool. The 6-year-old makes sure there are always enough tigers in the lineup. The 5-year-old just really likes mustard. The kitchen counters still have embroidery hoops on them more often than not.

JAK is mine, but it's only mine because my family makes it possible.