Ceci Davies has spent upward of 175 hours since March in front of a sewing machine making face masks.
The Clear Creek High School senior figures she’s made more than 700 masks, sewing them for family, selling them to friends and schools, and using a buy-one-donate-one philosophy: For every mask someone buys, she donates one to places such as Loaves & Fishes, Project Support Senior Center and the Idaho Springs library’s kids reading program. She made blue and yellow masks in May for the CCHS seniors to wear during their graduation ceremony.
Ceci said she started the buy-one-donate-one idea because everyone would eventually need masks.
“If I sold one and donated one, it would be a good thing for the community,” she said. “A lot of people don’t have a lot of money to buy a bunch of masks.”
Ceci started making masks to give her something to do instead of schoolwork, running track or being at the climbing gym, all of which abruptly ended when COVID-19 hit in March, her mom, Deb Davies, said.
“It’s her nature,” Deb said. “She has a goodness to her that I’m so impressed with.”
Ceci’s “Star Wars” and unicorn masks are a hit, especially in schools. She uses fabrics that will be a hit with adults and kids alike.
The school district has bought a few dozen masks, and Ceci has donated some to the elementary schools.
“They are made by a Clear Creek student, and that’s amazing,” Superintendent Karen Quanbeck said. “They are comfortable and fun designs. Both kids and adults are more likely to wear them when they’re an accessory item.”
Ceci has been sewing since she was 7, learning from her mom and grandmother. She began by making outfits for her American Girl and Barbie dolls, then moved away from sewing as other activities took precedence. While she’s made a few clothing items over the years, she took sewing up again in earnest in March, Deb said, and the family has been sewing so much that their sewing machine broke, and they bought another.
Sewing masks can come in handy after Ceci graduates in May, since she hopes to attend Western Colorado University to major in elementary education.