Stitches & Paint started in 1992. In the beginning I painted and appliquéd t-shirts, sweatshirts, and denim jumpers. From this came the name Stitches & Paint.


It all began when I made some appliquéd sweatshirts and took them down to the local fabric store. They wanted to display them and have me teach classes on how to make them. A friend suggested that I rent a booth and sell them at a local craft show. I did and received many orders. Since then, we have been participating in craft shows.


I started sewing in Jr. High. My dad told me if I sewed my own clothes he would buy me all the fabric that I wanted, needless to say I did just that and have been sewing since. I made all of the clothes that our two girls wore when they were young.


Our youngest daughter, Melanie began sewing when she was 9 years old. With some direction and my old sewing machine she was good to go. Melanie first made doll clothes, she would lay her doll on the table, trace around it and go from there. (We have the clothes in a box and get them out occasionally.) While in Jr. and Senior High School, Melanie received many awards for her sewing. Melanie received her Bachelor’s degree in apparel manufacturing. After working in the industry for a couple years she decided to join me full time. In 2005 we decided to change from clothing to quilted and chenille accessories.


Allen, my husband, is also very involved in the business. He cuts out pieces, puts on snaps, grommets, tags, loads and unloads before and after each show. After retiring from the corporate world in 2009, he is now helping me full time, and has also taken over all of the quilting so I can concentrate on sewing the handbags and accessories.


Our products are designed and sewn by Melanie and me. We coordinate and quilt all of our fabrics.


God has blessed my business and family through the years. It has been a real test sometimes with the long hours, but has all been worth it. So many wonderful people have followed us through the years. We enjoy seeing and visiting with each one of you at different shows.