My Story

Hi! I'm Helen Charles Williams, but I go by Charlie. I grew up in downtown Chicago, surrounded by energy, people, and buildings that made me wonder how things were made. In fifth grade, I had to stop playing hockey because of chronic migraines, and I needed something new to throw myself into. That’s when I found sewing.

Every weekend, I would take the train up to Evanston and spend three hours sewing with a group of middle-aged women. It wasn’t what most ten-year-olds were doing, but I loved it. Sewing gave me focus, freedom, and a quiet kind of joy. It became my creative outlet and my escape, and it still is.

When I applied to Yale, I thought I would study mechanical engineering and art. I was interested in how things work and how they make us feel. Once I got to campus, I discovered architecture. It clicked right away. It combined the logic and structure I loved with the creativity I had been chasing since that first sewing class.

Now, I’m a Yale architecture grad and a former Division I track and field athlete. I’m still driven by the same things: curiosity, craft, and community. Whether I’m designing, building, sewing, or throwing, I care about process. I care about how things come together and who they’re made for.

If you ended up here by accident, welcome. This site is mostly a personal portfolio where I keep track of what I’ve built and created. Making and being creative are central to who I am, and I hope something here brings you a bit of inspiration.