Spotlight: Natalie Buxkemper, Patchwork Kicks

Natalie Buxkemper has always loved making things by hand, from childhood creations in her family’s workshop to today’s colorful quilted sneakers. With a problem-solving spirit and a love of bold geometric designs, she turns fabric into wearable art that is as fun to make as it is to wear.

Can you tell us how you first fell in love with making things by hand?

From a very young age, I remember enjoying making things.

I grew up in a family of carpenters. My grandfather and father also worked with stained glass. I can remember running around in their workshop, being given the scraps of wood and other materials, and being given the freedom to create anything I could imagine.

We were taught to use hammers, drills, and other tools from early on. Without smart devices and living on a farm, I was blessed with the space to use a mixture of creativity and problem-solving skills to fill my time with my inventions.

What led you to create your first pair of shoes?

When I started sewing in my mid-twenties, I was always more drawn to bag making and creating. I liked the idea of taking my creations with me.

When I learned that I could make quilted sneakers, I was excited about the challenge and freedom to create something unique to me that I could wear.

Did you have a “lightbulb moment” when Patchwork Kicks began to take shape?

I was having a conversation with a colleague at H+H in May of 2025. I had made a version of the quilted sneakers using a kit for leather shoes. I was discussing modifications I would make if I had my own soles to create.

He asked me what was stopping me from starting my own brand. I didn’t have a good answer. I thought hard about that conversation for the rest of the weekend. I went back to my husband and business partner that next week.

I said, “So…I think I want to create a company where we make quilted sneaker kits that can be used in quilt shops across the nation.” I thought his reaction would be something along the lines of “you are crazy!” That was not the response, he asked me to tell him more, and I shared all my ideas.

In the next month, we figured out how to manufacture the soles and started creating the branding that we needed. It was a very quick process.

How has owning The Sewing Studio influenced the way you design projects and patterns?

I have owned The Sewing Studio in Lubbock, Texas for nearly seven years.

From the very beginning of Patchwork Kicks, we had the mindset that we wanted a product that we could market to quilt shops. I was not finding an all-inclusive kit on the market that allowed participants to have all the materials and tools needed to create a pair of quilted sneakers.

It can be very difficult as a shop owner to source all the tools and supplies needed to assemble a pair of sneakers. I wanted a product that gave shops something new to offer in their classrooms, and I also wanted to make it easy to have everything their participants would need.

I have the luxury of having the knowledge of the quilt shop owner and how our products can be marketed and utilized. I really believe it has added to the success of Patchwork Kicks.

Did working closely with customers help inspire the idea for Patchwork Kicks?

I don’t think it affected the idea of quilted sneakers, but it definitely affected the way we setup our kits.

I wanted to be able to have a customer sign up for a class and let us know what size they needed. All they needed was the fabric of their choice. No need for them to figure out all the tools and notions they would need.

That’s why our kits include basically all the items you need to assemble a pair of sneakers. I didn’t want the step of customers having to find those items to prevent them from joining a Patchwork Kicks class.

How did teaching in-person classes help you refine the instructions and process? 

I have been an educator all of my adult life. I taught junior high and high school math for many years and then I switched and taught teachers to use different technologies in their classrooms.

My educational experience, combined with my experience teaching in-person classes at The Sewing Studio, helped me to develop the right content and pace for the written instructions and video tutorials that accompany our kits.

Oddly, the in-person classes did play a large part in the safety videos. Many of the safety issues we discuss have happened in our own classroom.

What kinds of reactions did you first get when people saw quilted sneakers?

It is always so fun to watch people’s reactions when they learn they can make their own quilted sneakers. The most common reaction is “Wow! That is so cool! I didn’t know such a thing existed.”

I do get the occasional comment that they don’t think they can do it, which we walk them through the included paper instructions and video tutorials. That gives a lot of people the confidence to buy a kit and give it a try. 

Do you have a favorite part of the shoe-making process?

Binding! I know, I know… some people will think I’m crazy. But starting the binding means that I have completed my sneaker wrap and tongue and now I get to finally see it all come together.

I have made so many samples and helped so many people in my classes that I can make a pair of kicks in about three hours from start to finish now!

What are some common fears people have before making shoes for the first time?

Most people worry about having the skill set to put the sneakers together. Many have only tried quilting projects and have never done anything three dimensional.

My reply is always that we’re going to take it one step at a time, and we’ll be successful that way. We pride ourselves on having quality video tutorials included in our kits, and we have an amazing customer support team.

If someone reaches out with a problem, we are quick to respond with information, additional instructions, or even pictures that help them through a step. 

Do you have a dedicated space for creating your personal projects? 

I do have a craft room and it is my happy space.

My Type A personality is very much on display in my space. It is very organized and well labeled. I always put away all of my tools and notions before shutting it all down for the day. It makes me happy to have things in their place. It also has all of the art and creative pieces I have collected from my travels around the world.

Are you the type of person that works on one project at a time? Or multiple projects?

There are always multiple projects in the line up and ideas I am working on in my head.

I usually work on one physical project at a time while I am working out processes for other projects in my mind.

If I have decided on a project to create, I will work on it relentlessly until I am done. I can complete a full king quilt in about a week. I am a fast sewer, and with my math brain, I can usually see what I am making in my mind, so I get instructions and processes fairly easily.

If it is something I am creating, I will get it all worked out in my head, and then when I think I have it worked out the way that I want, then I will make the physical product.

Have you had any happy accidents that turned into new ideas?

Straight Lane is our pattern that has video tutorials that walk participants through creating a quilted sneaker that does not have binding. It is a stitch and flip method.

After I worked out how to best create Straight Lane, I realized that I could create embroidery files that could do the same thing. I was so excited because that meant that a new kind of creator could enjoy our product and make something unique they would be proud of.

That was the birth of our Park Place in the hoop embroidery pattern. I did have to teach myself to digitize, but it was all worth the effort!

What have you learned from your customers and their creations?

That I want a pair a kicks made out of the fabric that all of my customers have used! I am blown away by the creativity of the individuals that I have been blessed to be around.

Every version they create is just beautiful and so uniquely theirs. I will see a pair of kicks that one of my customers made and think, “Man! Now I need to make a pair of kicks for myself out of that fabric!”

Why do you think people are drawn to making their own wearable art?

Self expression is one of the greatest parts of being a human. We all want to show off our own unique likes and style.

Wearable art is a way of showing off that personal self expression. Thankfully, the maker community gives us all a supportive place to showcase our talents.

What has surprised you most about running a creative business?

What has surprised me most about running a creative business is the massive amount of logistics it takes to be successful. You have to manage this world where you need to be thinking about the next pattern or sample while also managing inventory, branding, and business relationships.

Staying on top of all the pieces and parts of the business including social media takes a lot of work. I enjoy what I do, so I love the challenge, but it is definitely something to consider if someone has a great product they want to market.

How do you stay motivated during slow or difficult times?

I am a problem solver. I love a good challenge.

If things are slow or difficult, it means I have a problem to solve. It gives me something to focus on so that I can create something different. Whether that means that I need to come up with a new product or a new branding campaign, I know that I need to be looking at the current situation differently.

There is always something we could be doing to help ourselves out of our difficult times. I am an optimist at heart and looking for something better.

What new ideas or directions are exciting you right now?

We have just finished creating our Park Place embroidery designs and pattern. I can’t wait to see what people will create and what new collaborations will be created from our new direction.

We are also experimenting with different colors of wax thread and eyelets to see if customers want to customize their sneakers to that level.

Where can people learn more about The Sewing Studio and Patchwork Kicks?

The Sewing Studio