Not many people still know how to chain stitch, Sarah says. “So many skills are going away, because no one teaches them anymore,” she laments. She plans to teach her stitching know-how to her own teen daughter, when she shows an interest.

But Sarah would love to share her knowledge with others, too. “My dream is to create a women’s group, where everyone could bring different perspectives and collaborate together,” she says.

Sarah has lived in Costa Mesa for more than 18 years. “I love the diversity and the food of the Westside,” she says. “There are hardly any chain restaurants. It feels like a small town!”

Her favorite places to eat are Sushi Sho, TK Burger, and El Toro Bravo for tacos, of course. “I’ve been here for so long,” she says, “It’s deeply home for me. I raised my kids here and it’s just a beautiful, cool community.”