For both of us, at its core needlepoint is about creating heirlooms by hand. Whether it is a Christmas stocking for a family member, a belt for a friend’s child graduating from high school, or an ornament to commemorate a family milestone to hang on our tree, creating something by hand as a keepsake has always resonated with both of us. 

As young girls, we were taught to needlepoint by our mother, an interior designer and teacher who instilled in us a deep appreciation for the decorative arts. Our maternal grandmother, an entrepreneurial inspiration, also played a significant role in shaping our journey. Granny Fraser was the first female professor at Centenary College and was a trailblazer in the early 20th century. She later married and settled with her family in Mansfield, Louisiana where she owned and operated a local flower shop and wedding gift registry. She boldly converted the downstairs formal parlors of her antebellum-style home into her gift shop and floral studio, where she happily lived and worked well into her early 80s. 

We spent our summers working in her shop, helping design flower arrangements and tablescape displays, assisting her with inventory, and learning the art of gift wrapping. We were inspired by the freedom of her creative expression and the gracious way she welcomed everyone into her shop.

At Wipstitch, we've seamlessly woven these influences together to create contemporary, whimsical hand-painted needlepoint canvases and lifestyle accessories. Our stitching studio and showroom, affectionately known as "The Attic," is a lively and welcoming space where both seasoned and new stitchers can gather, stitch, and learn.