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

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Today, I primarily sell Navy Flight Jacket Patches through The Perfect Fit Taylor shop in Oak Harbor, WA, and the Navy Exchange at NAS Whidbey Island, WA, and NAS Lemoore, CA. I am licensed to sell US Navy images and logos through 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 2020 and haven't looked back. 

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With the desire to produce patches quickly and less expensively 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 sang for the Metropolitan 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 1st Marine Division Band bassist. I stayed with them for a four-year tour but realized that providing for a family would be more accessible with a career change. I left the Marines mid-year in 2001. After 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 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 nine 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 chose 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. I 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!