I grew up watching my Nana sew on her back porch. She made dolls for a store called “Fairfield Folk Art” in La Habra, California. She could make anything. If someone gave her an idea or showed her a picture, she would whip it up like it was nothing. Her sewing machine was like lightning. I can still remember the sounds and the smells of her back porch. Lots of coffee. Her mug full of cold coffee she forgot to drink, and buckets of coffee she used to dye new bright fabric so it looked vintage and stained. I loved that smell. I lost her in my twenties and think about her all the time, but mostly when I'm creating or sewing. She is my inspiration and my angel. I know she is with me when I'm sewing. I am truly lucky to have her talent and I aspire to be more like her every day. 

In 2013 I started a brand called So Cute Co. I thought that creating a brand would inspire me to create and sell some of my own handmade products. I decided to sell children's clothes and one-of-a-kind bags called "Machine Bags". I was and still am inspired by the Japanese culture. Not only do they keep things super Kawaii, they also pay close attention to detail. I always hope my products meet those two standards. 

Because my family moves quite often, and we homeschool our girls, I found the time to dedicate to So Cute Co. very limited. I would often go through phases of motivation and never quite got So Cute Co. going in the direction that pleased me. So, it was put on the back burner. 

Fast forward to today, we are going through one of the craziest times in our lives and mandated to wear face masks in public. I did not want my children to wear facemasks but at the time we were living in California and could not shop at certain stores without one. I ended up making my girls a mesh mask so they could breathe and as I was playing with fabrics I created the “breathe easy” face mask.

I am using my So Cute Co. logo but decided to start a new chapter, as a namesake brand, Cissy LaLa.

(I want to make it VERY CLEAR that I do NOT support mandated face masks. My belief is that it should be VOLUNTARY. I support your choice to wear a face mask and I support your choice not to wear a face mask.)