Today we’d like to introduce you to Annette Ridge.
Annette, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I didn’t grow up dreaming I’d be a designer. I just had busy hands and a heart that needed somewhere to land.
My story really started long before the fabric. At 11 years old, I was braiding hair on porches, in school, kitchens because creating with my hands made me feel grounded. Fast forward to years later, I found myself living full-time in an RV, free on the outside, but searching for something quieter inside. That’s when sewing found me… or maybe I found it.
I did what most dreamers do: I jumped in headfirst. I bought rolls of expensive fabric, confident I could bend it to my will, no training, no pattern, just pure determination. I laugh now, remembering how stubborn I was, trying to force beauty without first learning its rhythm. That fabric taught me quickly to slow down, practice and to be patient letting the process shape me.
And as I slowed down, something surprising happened. I started to notice how even the “pretty” things I was making didn’t quite feel like me. They were nice, but they didn’t sing. So I went backwards to go forward. I started thrifting, deconstructing clothes, and making my own custom fabric piece by piece. I began creating the things my inner child would’ve adored. Bright, whimsical, raw, magical. Each piece felt like a love letter to little me, the version of myself that never got to wear her joy on the outside.
But that stillness… it did more than make space for creativity. It cracked things open. All the emotions, memories, and truths I had skillfully avoided started bubbling up in the silence. So I started journaling. I wrote the hard things down, not to solve them, but to see them clearly. And in doing that, I found my voice. My real one!!! Not just in words, but in stitches, colors, layers.
Everything around me became inspiration. Scraps, memories, music, dreams. And from that place of inner freedom, I made a vow to myself that I will only create what brings me joy. Not what’s trending. Not what sells fastest. Just joy. ✨
Once I felt what it was like to be fully myself in my art, I never wanted that feeling to leave. And I don’t think it ever will.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all!!!! The biggest struggle was quieting the noise, the pressure to follow trends, to create what people expect, to keep up with the pace of everything around me. It took time to peel all that back and hear my voice clearly. I had to unlearn the idea that success meant being seen by everyone, and instead focus on being true to myself. Finding that authenticity and trusting it was the hardest, but most freeing part of the journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in deconstructing and reconstructing thrifted garments to create one-of-a-kind pieces often building my own fabric from scratch. It’s a process that’s both eco-conscious and deeply personal. I don’t design for trends; I design for joy. Each piece reflects whatever mood I’m in that day, which means when I show up, it’s always a surprise, but always happy, always confident.
What sets me apart is that I create from the inside out. Every piece I create carries a part of my story. I’m most proud that I never gave up, even when it was hard. So when people say they feel inspired by me, I feel honored because I’ve lived every part of the journey I share honestly.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Yes! Patchwork Hues Farm is in the making! It’s a space I’m creating where people can come to reconnect with themselves through creativity in a peaceful, healing environment. It’s not just about sewing or being “good” at art, it’s about the journey. About quieting the noise, shifting perspective, and turning pain into progress.
I’m not here to fix people like a psychologist I just wanna walk beside them reminding them they’re not alone. And to show how creative expression, even in its simplest form, can lead to the kind of healing that lasts.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Instagram:
Patchwork Hues( Annette Ridge) @patchworkhues
Patty Barham ( @ pattyb_studios)
Sheretha Cooper (@ PictureProjectCLT)
