I have been making patches, wallets and book covers out of leather since I retired from the Navy in 2020. I started making small bags and other items to fill the time during lockdown and my hobby began to turn in to a business. 

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Today, I primarily sell Navy Flight Jacket Patches though The Perfect Fit Taylor shop in Oak Harbor, WA as well as the Navy Exchange at NAS Whidbey Island, WA and NAS Lemoore, CA. I am licensed to sell US Navy images and logos though the US Navy patent office. You can find my license number at the bottom of my home page.

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The road to selling Flight Jacket Patches started with my 23 year career as a Naval Aircrewman.  I was always shocked at the price and length of time it took other companies to create patches. At the request of a friend, I attempted to make my first leather patch. After spending several weeks learning Photoshop, Illustrator and Lightburn, I produced my first patch in October of 2020 and haven't looked back. 

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With the desire to produce patches quickly and less expensive than my competitors, I developed a vintage look with a laser engraved design. My process allows me to sell patches "to order". My average order fulfillment time is less than 3 days for patch only orders of 50 or less. 

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                                                        ~ My Story ~

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I come from a long line of entertainers and public servants. My great grandfather was a jazz musician, my grandmother and uncle both sang for the Metrepolitan Opera Company and my mother ran a theatre company. It was no surprise to anyone that my first career was as a musician. 

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I joined the United States Marine Corps in 1997 as a bassist with the 1st Marine Division Band. I stayed with them for a four-year tour but realized that trying to provide for a family would be considerably easier with a career change. I left the Marines mid-year in 2001. After the events of September 11th, I heeded the call to return but chose to make a service change to the Navy and a career field change to Cryptology. 

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Not fully understanding what a career in Cryptology entailed, I chose to fly instead of sail on ships. After nearly two years of schooling, I arrived in Rota, Spain in late 2002 to serve as a Cryptologic Aircrewman with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two (VQ-2). I spent several years flying around the world and meeting some life-long friends and mentors. I married my partner in 2004 and we relocated to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington in 2005.  

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For the next 9 years I lived in Oak Harbor, WA serving with VQ-2, VQ-1 and Navy Information Operations Center (NIOC) Whidbey Island before relocating to Denver Colorado in 2014 to serve at the Aerospace Data Facility, Buckley Space Force Base. I was also promoted to Chief Petty Officer that year. I reached military retirement eligibility in 2017, however, Denver wasn't home. We choose to complete one last tour of duty with VQ-1 to bring us back to the Pacific Northwest and retire from active duty.

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I retired from the Navy in 2020 with 23 years of service and took a position with the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWC-WD) where I work supporting the Navy's P-8 Poseidon community and running Widdershins and Bumfuzzle Leather!