About the Author
Hi, I’m Candice Garay Ayala—lifelong maker, curious creative, and now, author.
I am a South Asian woman from the Caribbean diaspora, born and raised in Belize, Central America.
Before I ever called myself an author, I was a maker. Sewing, upcycling, and pattern making were my first languages of creativity. What began as a love for fabric and texture grew into a deeper practice of storytelling. Over the years, I’ve poured my heart into DIY projects, textile art, and custom designs, all while learning to honor myself and my desire for creative expression.
All of my work is deeply shaped by my lived experiences, my cultural roots, and my ongoing journey of healing. I am a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, especially within South Asian and Caribbean/Belizean communities, where conversations around trauma and emotional wellness are often silenced by stigma. I am committed to breaking cycles of generational trauma and becoming a liberating ancestor—one who chooses healing, freedom, and compassion not only for myself, but for those who come after me.
This space was originally a sewing and upcycling blog, but it has evolved, just as I have. While you’ll still find my sewing tutorials, pattern testing reviews, and my PDF patterns here, it is now also home to my work as a writer. It’s where stitches meet stories—where creativity, healing, and self-expression live side by side.
Through sharing my journey of mental, emotional, physical, sexual, and generational healing alongside my creative work, I hope to inspire others to honor their own paths of self-discovery and creativity. My story is a reminder that transformation is possible, that creativity is a form of medicine, and that choosing to heal is one of the bravest things we can do.
So whether you’re here for stitches or stories (or a little bit of both), I’m so glad you found your way here.
