From my earliest memories, I can vividly see my mom sitting at her sewing machine, steadily creating what felt like pure magic with fabric. From beautifully crafted dance costumes to elegant ladies' dresses, I grew up surrounded by a world of shimmering sequins and vibrant threads. By the time I stepped into my own life as a young married woman, my mom had taken a bold step and opened her very own fabric store in our charming rural river town in south Louisiana. With a delightful plethora of fabrics and patterns surrounding me, my own sewing journey began to unfold. I adventured into various projects, from clothing and curtains to whimsical quilts and cuddly stuffed bears, exploring all things sewing with unbridled enthusiasm.

Over the next two decades, I taught hands-on workshops in sewing, scrapbooking, and papercrafting to both adults and children—sharing my love of creativity in community centers, homeschool groups, and church halls. As a homeschooling mom of 30 years, I wove creative expression into nearly every subject, using arts and crafts not only as lessons, but as life skills and emotional outlets. I also became a speaker and retreat presenter, encouraging women to rediscover their passions through simple acts of making.

However, as much as I enjoyed this creative outlet, somewhere along the way—amidst the pressures of life's demands—I lost the precious spark of creativity, and slowly but surely, I let it all slip away.

In 2017, I began a transformative journey of recovery and self-discovery. It was the moment I decided it was high time to take better care of my whole self! I soon realized just how intricately mental health is connected to physical health, and I knew there were countless other women who had lost themselves along life's winding journey, much like I had. Taking a bold leap, I put myself through college at the age of 50, becoming a board-certified Holistic Health Practitioner. In this new role, I’ve had the joy of helping hundreds of women illuminate their stress, lose weight, and prioritize their well-being by embracing meaningful lifestyle changes—everything from practicing daily gratitude to regularly exploring their untapped creativity.

In 2023, I made the exciting move to Alaska, eagerly looking forward to exploring the breathtaking last frontier, the beautiful place my daughter and her little family now call home. I took a part-time job at a local quilt store, enveloped once again by a whirlwind of creative ideas that I could hardly contain!

This year, 2025, I decided to weave together my two great loves—holistic health and creativity—and thus, Fireweed Designs was born. Through this ever-evolving brand, I now create and sell meaningful memory items, altered books, prayer journals, and upcycled crafts, while also teaching classes, speaking at events, and launching a podcast with my daughter. I’m currently pursuing certification in a signature quilting technique I believe captures the spirit of joyful, creative freedom. I’m also developing my own patterns and preparing to take my trunk show and story on the road in 2026!

I am filled with excitement and anticipation—and I can’t wait to meet you.

Rexann Roussel, CHHP