MEET KATHY

Owner & Master Craftsman of Badgers Island Sewing Co

Kathy has always been drawn to things with a story.

A well-loved chair.  An old daybed with good bones. A cottage that has weathered a few Maine winters. A restaurant banquette that has seen a thousand conversations. A boat cushion that has spent its summers on the water. She sees beauty in the marks of time and possibility in the pieces others might overlook. Through upholstery and sewing, Kathy gives those pieces another chapter.

Her work moves easily between homes and businesses, from cherished heirlooms and coastal cottages to restaurants, offices, commercial spaces, and boats. She loves the mix of old and new, the unexpected pattern, the beautiful texture, and the fabric that somehow feels as though it has always belonged.

Some of her favorite projects have come with particularly good stories. She has upholstered for the historic Cliff House, refreshed a cherished heirloom chair, whose memories mattered as much as its fabric, created cushions for the newly restored Wood Island Lighthouse, and reupholstered an antique daybed, for her cottage on Chebeague Island.

Each project has its own personality. Each has a thread to follow.

A Life Woven In

Her love of textiles has taken Kathy well beyond the coast of Maine.

She has traveled to Jaipur to learn block printing, worked with indigo dye on a farm in Bali, explored ikat and backstrap weaving among hill-tribe communities, and spent time discovering the remarkable Hmong textile traditions in Chiang Mai.

Kathy loves seeing how people around the world make beautiful things by hand, how color is pulled from plants, how patterns are carried through generations, how a simple thread becomes something extraordinary.

And then there is the magic of bringing those discoveries home. A color remembered from a market in Jaipur. The particular blue of an indigo vat in Bali. A pattern from a Moroccan tile tucked away in a memory. The feel of an old textile in a Parisian market softened by decades of use.

For Kathy, inspiration has a way of crossing oceans.

Off the Clock, or Perhaps Not

Kathy’s adventures don’t always involve textiles.

There was a women’s hiking expedition in Nepal. Ninety-two miles of the Camino. And the ongoing love affair with restoring her cottage on Chebeague Island, one project, one paintbrush, one old board, and one good story at a time. Maybe it’s island life that makes her appreciate things that are weathered, useful, beautiful, and built to last.

And she believes the best things are rarely found all at once.

They are gathered. Discovered. Restored. Carried home. After all, life is much like a textile made up of places, people, journeys, memories, and a thousand little threads. Kathy simply loves finding the beautiful ones and weaving them in.

At Badgers Island Sewing Co, we believe beautifully crafted pieces have the power to transform a space.

Whether we’re creating custom home décor, restoring a cherished piece of furniture, or designing commercial upholstery, every project is built with exceptional craftsmanship, premium materials, and careful attention to detail.

From custom pillows, cushions, window treatments, and slipcovers to marine upholstery, commercial seating, and specialty projects, we bring creativity and craftsmanship to every job. Whether you have a vision in mind, a designer’s plan, or simply a piece that needs new life, we work with you to create something beautiful, functional, and built to last.

Exceptional Craftsmanship since 2016