Welcome to Counted Stitches website!Counted Stitches is a cross stitch specialty shop that was opened by cousins Nancy Bailey (me) and Sharon McCabe in 1994. Owning a cross stitch shop had been a long time dream for both of us. I don’t even remember when I first learned to stitch. But I developed a real love for cross stitch during a period of time when I was experiencing serious health limitations. Stitching filled many happy hours for me. And I loved watching the design emerge from an empty piece of fabric. On my own, I can’t even draw a decent stick man, but by following someone else’s charted design, I could create works of art! I was hooked…and still am! Sharon, my “little” cousin…5 years younger and 7” taller…was taught to stitch by another one of our cousins. Over the 30 plus years that we have been stitching she has created some masterpieces…in my humble opinion. Two of my favorites are Rainbow Row and Moira Blackburn’s Time and Season Sampler. She is a meticulous stitcher, whose work looks far neater than mine. But then speed has to count for something doesn’t it? These days most of our time is consumed by “the shop”. But that’s OK; we love it. While Sharon, unfortunately, has to work a real job elsewhere, I’m here at the shop 99% of the time. Sometimes I’m asked by naïve customers if I just sit and stitch all day. If only!!!!! Besides the fun stuff like classes and retreats, running a shop includes the mundane things like ordering stuff, checking it in, paying bills, filing all the reports to satisfy Uncle Sam, writing our monthly newsletter, cleaning the toilet and yes, helping our wonderful customers choose their cross stitch projects. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! We’re new to the world of blogging, but we figured it was time to get plunged in. Our goal for this site is to keep you updated with that’s new here at the shop. We have classes, night stitches, a weekly morning stitch, special all day stitches, fund-raiser events and out-of-town retreats. Check our EVENTS heading for the latest news about these. What’s that I hear? You say it sounds like we’re having a really good time at Counted Stitches? Well grab your stitching and come on over and join us! It’s been a while since you last stitched you say? We’ll help you get you going again. There are so many beautiful designs, fabrics and threads to choose from, you may have a hard time deciding what to stitch. And what’s that I hear about not being able to see the fabric anymore? We have magnifiers that will make stitching on 40 count linen a pleasure! We look forward to seeing you in the Shop, |
