Conversations with Mac McIntosh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mac McIntosh. 

Hi Mac, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
A lot of people have asked me why or what got me into embroidery. Growing up I always saw my grandma and great-grandma stitching, knitting, embroidering, or doing some sort of making. That trait was passed down to my mom in painting and jewelry. She then passed that on to me, with a mix of interest in a little bit of everything- a blessing and a curse. 

I’ve been stitching off and on for over four years and decided to launch TSC in 2019. We lost my great grandma last year and with that my grandma has been going through her stuff. My mom (always so supporting) saw this old stitching embroidery how-to and sent it to me, this book was from 1964 and given to my great-grandma in 1965. 

The quote right when you open it explains why I stitch such long and difficult projects: 

“Embroidery has always been a deservedly popular hobby. It stimulates the imagination and at the same time provides an island of calm in the midst of a hurly-burly world.” 

I think after as we go into year 3 with covid, a calm in the midst of the world is something rarely found. 

I also think it’s important to stay actively engaged in your communities and issues in the news. But sometimes when I’m feeling overwhelmed, I take a step back and find myself methodically working away on my projects which allows me a sort of rest to refuel and engage again. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. I think any small business owner or artist can tell you an assortment of woeful tales about things gone wrong. A specific time I’m thinking about (slightly bitterly) is when I spent 2 hours ripping out something that took me 5 hours to make because the color didn’t turn out how I wanted. 

Running a small business has taught me so much patience, with myself and others. 

Sometimes folks don’t realize how slow of an art form embroidery is and will gawk at my timeframes on projects. 

Other times and I think everyone struggles with this, figuring how to pay yourself what you’re worth, but at a price point that people can actually afford. 

I also work a full-time 9-5 job, and then another 20-40 hours a week on my small business. 

So, learning how to adapt my schedule so I can fit everything in while still living a life has been a balancing act, I’m not always successful with. 

So no, it has not been smooth, but with every set back I do feel myself actively growing and adapting and those are lessons I am proud to have learned, even if some of them were painful. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love projects I can immerse myself in for 6-8 weeks and seem undoable. I’m inspired by nature specifically the rugged desert and gnarly mountains. I love bringing memories of time spent outside back to life. Kind of like a wearable journal entry. I work with all different forms of clothing accessories, from overalls to felt hats and I embroider straight onto clothes or make hand-stitched patches that can be sewn on. 

I have recently branched into the wedding industry by creating landscape bridal jackets, which has been a fun new creative outlet. 

I also usually request that the item is something you already have or something you get second-hand. I upcycle old jackets by adding embroidery or a southwest vibe to them. In a world that’s focused on immediacy, this slow, slow fashion is my contribution to a better world, 

I also donate 10% of my sales to various nonprofits and organizations. 

I think something I’m most proud of is all of the large-scale projects I’ve been able to learn from and complete. And also, how far I’ve come in learning different shading techniques. Embroidery can be a little rough, it can take you up by looking exactly like what you want, then quickly down by a couple of wrong colors or misstep with your stitches. 

One thing that sets me apart from others is the scale at which I do my embroidery projects. I will fill up backs of jean jackets, which is a long process, but I find it so rewarding to watch as each sections is completed. There aren’t a ton of other embroiderers that do it on the same scale. Embroidery is great, in that every step you can see progress immediately. It’s also great, in that, there is room for everyone to find their own niche and learn from each other. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I think it was luck that brought me my first pair of second-hand overalls that I thought needed some embroidered succulents on the back pocket. But besides that, I’ve put in hours and hours of hard work. I know every small business owner can relate when I say we have to wear many hats. Our hours aren’t just spent on what we are creating, it’s spent on social media, growing your business, finding new products, and going to the store to get supplies. So, while I think I had a bit of luck at the start, I believe most of bringing TSC to life has just been elbow grease. 

Contact Info:

• Email: trailstitchingco@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrailStitchingCo?ref=profile_header
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trailstitchingco/?hl=en