THE STORY BEHIND MISS MINDY MAC DESIGNS
Life never turns out the way you planned it, and mine is no exception. If you had asked me 10 years ago what I would be doing with my life in 10 years, I could have told you with confidence that I’d be the wife of a cardiologist. And with some degree of confidence I probably would have said that I would be a mom, an ER-nurse and a fabulous party hostess. Never in my wildest dreams would I have had the foresight to see that in 10 years I would become a children’s clothing designer.
I wasn’t completely off base, though. I did become a mom…to two of the most precious blessings God has ever given me, next to my husband. And I think most of my friends would say I throw a pretty darn good party. But a children’s clothing designer? It’s a stretch to see it from 10 years ago, but sitting where I am now…it makes perfect sense.
Sewing is in my blood. My great-grandmother was a professional seamstress for some of the wealthiest, most influential women in Chicago in the early 1900’s. My paternal grandmother sewed most of her own clothes and made gorgeous quilts. My mother would often make matching Easter outfits for herself, me and my older sister. And while my sister wanted nothing to do with a sewing machine, I found it fascinating.
At the age of 8, I joined our local 4-H club (mid-westerners will know what this is!) and made my first piece of clothing to enter in the county fair. I took sewing lessons for a few years and began quilting at the age of 10. In high school, sewing took a back seat to cheerleading and softball, but I still managed to crank a few pieces of clothing out here and there. College brought its own set of challenges, and after a degree in psychology and a degree in nursing, sewing started to become a distant memory. I married my high school sweetheart in 1997 and worked as an ER nurse to put him through medical school. And as it does for so many people, life had taken over my passion.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, however, it’s that your passions never leave you. They may take a back seat for a while, but your childhood passions have a way of creeping over the seat and plopping themselves right back into the front seat, leaving you to wonder, “Where did you come from? You were so quiet back there. I almost forgot about you.” It was my fellow ER nurses in Ohio that helped me remember how much I loved this craft. I joined their “Quilt-ERs” club and I haven’t stopped sewing since.
After moving to San Antonio, Texas in 2002, I began designing purses for friends and family, even selling a few along the way. Purses gave way to bibs, crib sets, baby blankets, custom curtains and upholstery. It was a nice little side business that kept me busy while the kids were in school, gave me some “fun money” and fulfilled my passion.
But in March of 2010, a colleague who is a leader in the children’s clothing industry encouraged me to start my own clothing label. The thought had crossed my mind before, but I had quickly dismissed it as temporary insanity. She assured me it was not only possible, but that I’d be foolish not to. Several days later…Miss Mindy Mac Designs was born. I liken it to giving birth to a third child. It takes up just as much time and requires just as much energy, but the upside is that it didn’t give me stretch marks! Starting Miss Mindy Mac Designs has been the perfect transition of turning a passion into a career. I have no idea where the next 10 years will take me, but I hope you’ll join me in the journey. I’m always open to theme suggestions for my onesies and t’s, and would love to get your feedback. You can contact me at info@missmindymacdesigns.com.
What’s the childhood passion that YOU left in the back seat?
Owner/Designer
