2025 - A year of joy, learnings and connection.

Here we are on this very cold morning, closing out 2025 with a deep clean and time to reflect. I stepped into a flurry of activity at the store, tripping over bolts of fabric, furniture, and displays being loaded back in.

Can you believe that I thought, when I opened the doors 10 months ago, that opening would be the hardest part? Turns out, that was just Day One. Silly me.

I envisioned this first year filled with smiles, hugs, and loving every minute. While it has been that, it has also been so much more. With the help and support of our fantastic community, we have been able to distribute over 500 pounds of fabric to non-profits for use in charity quilts and other items, create over 100 walker bags and cat trap covers for donation, send 350 pounds of food to Brumby Elementary School for kids to take home, donate weeks of free event space to our community partners, and raise a few thousand dollars for local charities. That’s a tremendous achievement!

Our first-ever shop hop was a huge success! Fat quarters are all the rage, and I totally get it, I love them too. Our local creators never cease to amaze me with what they bring to the boutique. Every day, more people walk through our doors eager to learn something new. We hosted classes on everything from mahjong and sampler quilting 101 to cupcake decorating and junk journaling, and so much more.

What I didn’t expect was a lithium battery fire to sweep through our building, shutting down our neighbors.

Despite that unexpected disruption, it has been a delight to see our workshops and classes fill up. Watching beginners gain confidence, participating in community events, joining quilt-alongs, and sharing in-store laughter has been wonderful. Seeing fabric leave the shelf and return as a finished project is a joy.

When I reflect on all the achievements, it naturally comes with a hearty dose of "things I wish I had told myself" (and whether you are a small business owner or not, I'm sure you can relate to these sentiments): Don’t sweat the slow days or weeks. I drove myself and my staff crazy during those times! Not every class will sell out. I’ll order too much of one thing and not enough of something else. And everything in your first year of business takes three times the amount of time and energy you think it will.

But what has emerged is so much more. Stitched is a place where seasoned quilters and beginners connect. There’s a rhythm and energy in the shop that is different from most I’ve been in. Our regulars feel like friends. Teaching the same skill in ten different ways has taught me so much, and the absolute joy of helping people choose the perfect colors and fabric combinations has brought a light to my work that I never anticipated.

As we step into 2026, I look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting so many new ones. We are expanding our partnerships with local creators, teachers, and makers, and making Stitched the “Cheers” of creativity. Stitched is a safe place to learn, make mistakes, grow, and come together.

If the first 10 months have taught me anything, it’s that this shop is built community stitch by community stitch - together.

Thank you for being part of the story, unfinished edges and all.

Here's to 2026!

Clare Schueren, Owner