The Story Behind The Golden Needle

If you sat down across the table from me with a cup of coffee, this is probably where I’d start.

I come from a long line of seamstresses. My mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all sewed for their families, and over the years they passed that craft down to their daughters. My Mama sewed EVERYTHING she wore.  She made most of the clothing for all of us girls, as well as shirts and jackets for Daddy.   

She was a seamstress—which meant family vacations doubled as full-blown fashion events.  There were times when she outfitted all four of us girls, herself, and Daddy in perfectly coordinated ensembles, sewn with love… and absolutely zero intention of blending in.

Picture it: four girls bouncing around in matching bloomers, Mama in a swishy dress, Daddy in his short-sleeved button-up—all of us wrapped head to toe in blazing hot pink fabric, covered in enormous yellow and electric blue Hawaiian flowers. Not subtle flowers. Not “oh how pretty” flowers. I’m talking “you can probably see us from space” flowers.  We didn’t just walk into places—we arrived. Visually and unapologetically.

And while we weren’t embarrassed (Mama made those outfits, and we wore them with pride), there was always that quiet awareness that no matter where we went—halfway across the country, mind you—people knew. Oh, they knew. That was a family. A very, very coordinated family.

Looking back, though, it wasn’t just about the outfits. It was about Mama’s care stitched into every seam, and the undeniable fact that if anyone got lost, all you had to do was look for the loudest patch of pink in the crowd. 

Mama passed down the sewing bug to all of us girls -By the time I was in junior high, after several years of my mama's teaching, I could pretty much sew on my own for many things.  As time went on, I deepened my knowledge in more difficult projects with a LOT of trial and error.

The day after I graduated high school in 1987, I bought my business license - unsure of exactly where it would lead.  At first, it was all word of mouth—alterations, bridal parties, covers for cushions - one job at a time, one customer at a time. I also spent some of my early twenties working in the corporate world, but sewing was always there, quietly waiting for me.

Then came a moment in 1990 that I’ll never forget. I was on my lunch break, pumping gas, when I overheard a mom talking to her little boy in the back seat. He wanted to know if they were getting ice cream. She told him they were meeting his dad for lunch first, then getting ice cream, then heading to the park. 

That.THAT was what I wanted. In that moment, I whispered a prayer that God would grow my sewing into something that would allow me, when the time came, to stay home with my kids and sew from home while raising them.

Fast forward 35 years, and that quiet prayer has turned into a life’s work.  What started with alterations has grown into decades of experience—competitive show choir costumes, performance and stage productions, custom home décor and draperies, baby nursery designs, and so much more. Along the way, my husband Tony has been right by my side, and now even our four grown children pitch in from time to time.

Every morning, I still wake up grateful to do what I love. The Golden Needle isn’t just a business—it’s the result of faith, family, hard work, and a gift God gave me that I get to use every single day.

If you’re dreaming up something special or need help with sewing or alterations, I’d love to talk with you. Reach out, tell me what you’re planning, and share your story with me. Just let me know - coffee’s still warm.

*The Image to the right is my Mama's brand-new Singer Sewing Machine and cabinet, circa 1966.  Although the machine has changed, Mama is in every stitch, as I still use this cabinet to this day.