Meet the owner

Hello! My name is Shy, and I am the owner and founder of Sapphire Stitching, based on the beautiful Island of Hawai'i.

Growing up, crafting and creating things, was something I did a lot with my Mom. She and my grandma had a passion for creating things that they passed down to me. However, like most adults, when I graduated High School, I was focused on handling responsibilities before indulging in hobbies.

After my first year of college, I got what I thought was my dream job of working for the National Park Service. I started off as a tour guide and slowly started gaining certifications that would qualify me for my real dream job which was serving as a Law Enforcement Officer. In 2015 I completed my Law Enforcement academy and then finished college in 2016. By then, I had accrued all certifications required for this complex job. Including things like search and rescue technician, a Wildland firefighter, being an EMT, and of course my Police Academy certification.

From 2017-2022 I then traveled the country with my husband working as a Law Enforcement Officer at different National Parks. This was an exciting time of my life filled with all sorts of experiences from thrilling to terrifying. The most stressful aspect of the job, however, was the lack of support from the agency, which imposed unrealistic demands on first responders, making it impossible to maintain a healthy work-life balance. In 2018 I noticed a significant decline in my mental health, but like many first responders I didn’t do anything about it until it was affecting every aspect of my life. In 2019 I was diagnosed with PTSD, but I continued pursuing this career because it was something that I had wanted to do for so long. I didn't know how to stop doing this job, because I thought it’s what was expected of me.

Again, it was everything I thought I wanted to do and I didn’t know how to shift. Between 2020 and 2021 the agency lost 2 Police Officers to suicide. One was a friend of mine; the other was a friend of a friend. It's a small agency of police officers and their deaths were felt by many. I began to start to question my "dedication" to this job and this agency. I loved helping with forest fires, I loved being able to support people who had experienced traumatic events, or who were injured and scared. But I didn't love myself anymore. I didn't love what I was becoming.  I was becoming exhausted, sad, anxious, always on high alert waiting for the next incident.

In search of an outlet, I turned to my hobbies. Which is when I found jiu-jitsu and my lifelong love of crafts, with sewing always at the core. I first learned embroidery in high school, but I finally made time to truly embrace it. My husband gifted me an embroidery machine and suddenly I was reminded of how much joy there was in life. I realized how much the job,”my so called calling” was consuming me and I was starting to see the kind of person I would become if I stayed and I didn’t like what I saw. In August of 2022 I made the most heart wrenching decision of my life. I decided to leave my job and the career I had spent over 11 years building and immerse myself in creating full time as well as training jiu-jitsu.

Jiu-jitsu and embroidery became a healing journey for me. It helped me cope with the mental health challenges I faced and gave me a way to express myself creatively. My passion for mental health is deeply personal—I have lost friends and coworkers to suicide and have witnessed many others struggle with their own mental health issues. I believe in the profound connection between physical and mental health, and I support both wholeheartedly.

At Sapphire Stitching, I pour my heart into every piece I create. Embroidery, sewing, and crafting are not just my passions; they are my way of healing and connecting with others. I hope my creations bring joy, comfort, and a sense of peace to those who receive them.

Thank you for visiting my site and supporting my journey.

Warm regards,

Shy