One Strong Mother

Happy 15th Birthday to my artistic, photography-loving, smart, funny, Owen. I Love you, Bud. I’m so proud to be your mom!

#15

Saturday Stitching…a cross stitch project I started (ahem) 20 years ago. It’s one of those work-on-it-when-you-have-nothing-else-to-do that I started one day and only picked it back up a handful of times over the years. Here’s to the year of gettin’ s**t done!

Only four years (and approximately 47 life events) later… I finally present:

✨ My She Shed.
✨ My Shed-struction Construction.
✨ My studio, my creative cave, my escape from the rest of the world.

A place where all the things will finally get made. (Yes… actually. Probably.)

In 2026, my goal is to finish the unfinished — starting with a hankie quilt for a childhood friend who has shown saint-level patience while trusting me with her beautiful heirlooms.

So grab a snack, lower your expectations just a smidge, and come along for the ride.

✨ Happy New Year! ✨

Throw back to 2020!

“Can you make a lap blanket out of cashmere sweaters?” Indeed, I can!
My customer wanted a simple, lightweight lap blanket for someone special who is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
I cut the cashmere sweaters into 6” strips then into 60° triangles. I backed the quilt with a cotton calico and hand tied.

Today is my hysterversary. On July 2, 2013 I had a radical hysterectomy for cervical Adenocarcinoma, Stage I. ‘Radical’ means all the parts and accessories were removed, including 13 lymph nodes…lucky # 13. All margins were clear and no further treatment was necessary.
A little back story- In 2008, I went to my lady doctor for an annual checkup. I was excited (Yay, a pap smear!) because I wanted to have a pre-pregnancy chat. Genetic testing proved that Jacob’s premature birth at 24 weeks and health issues were due to a non-hereditary chromosome disorder 1q.21.1 Duplication Syndrome. Up to that point we werent sure we’d have anymore kids. Sadly, my pap smear came back abnormal. I spent the next two years having multiple cervical biopsies in an effort to preserve fertility while getting rid of the bad stuff. In March 2010, I finally got the all-clear. With the help of a cerclage and progesterone shots, we were blessed with Owen in February 2011.
Another routine exam in May 2013 showed the everloving displasia returned. A biopsy confirmed my worst fears and surgery was scheduled.
Are you still with me? Thank you! Sharing this story every year is a reminder for all my lady friends to please stay on top of your doctor-recommended pap smears. I had no symptoms. No HPV. No visible tumor. No menstrual issues.
Love you all.

📸 | Avid Artistry, A Bo***ir Studio LLC
👰‍♀️ | Kim Pinaire
👟 | CONVERSE
💎 | Bluestreak Crystals & SWAROVSKI

Crystals for days on these bridal Chucks. I hand-glued 3,427 Swarovski crystals and flat back pearls. Well, sort of- I glued each one by hand but I have no idea how many I used. Pretty freaking cool though, eh?

Happy Wedding Kim & Matt 🖤♥️🖤♥️

My boys. My greatest gifts. I love you. And Chelsea girl, I love being your human mama too!

Three years after breaking ground on my backyard studio, I am ready to begin my first project- a commission of bejeweled proportions!

The last few years brought some tough times for my family that left shed-struction and creativity on the back burner. But I’m so happy to share that I’m turning on the stove and boiling the water (er something, ha ha!).

Thanks for sticking around! Looking forward to sharing the creativity to come!

My sister Meagan’s husband passed away yesterday, September 22nd, just days before their 13th wedding anniversary. Justin is giving the gift of life through organ donation.

Meagan has been an integral part of my OneStrongMother ventures- from ironing fabric to pouring pellets, to drawing grids to sewing- she did it all. She’s also our full time respite aid for Jacob.

Without insurance and now a loss of income, I started a GoFundMe to support Meagan with Justin’s final expenses and for peace of mind as she grieves.

Please donate if you are able and keep Meagan in your thoughts. Thank you!

https://gofund.me/410d0e64