From Your Hands To Theirs...

The Scariest Thing I Have *Ever* Done....ever.

This post is way overdue….

The Finishing School Shop - a dream I tried to suppress for far too long, is finally here and is open for business! I still cannot believe it as I type those very words. The official launch was last Friday and although I had every intention of publishing this in tandem with the website launch, (much to my dismay) this post took a back seat so I could focus on making sure everything else was ready to go for the big (to me) day

As such, here we are.

The *best* support team & my reason "why"

The Finishing School Shop (linked here)— is a small digital boutique features some of my favorite things, and more specifically, The Finishing School Diary and Correspondence Cards - two items I created to help stitchers honor and preserve the story behind what they stitch.

As many reading this can attest, there's a certain magic that happens in the quiet moments between stitches—when your thoughts wander, memories surface, and life seems to unfolds around you while your hands remain steadily at work. It's in these moments that the true value of needlepoint reveals itself: not merely in the finished piece, but in the story stitched into each thread….your story.

What You'll Find

A thought-filled collection that celebrates the heart of needlepoint:

The Finishing School Diary — The centerpiece of our collection featuring the art work of the ever-talented With Love By Bug. Designed to be a sanctuary for your stories— this is a place to take a few moments to jot down the life events, emotions, and moments that were happening while you brought your canvas to life. You can read more about the backstory below:

Introducing....The Finishing School Diary

With space to write down the technical details of each project (threads and stitches used, place of purchase, etc.); as well as grid sheets to plot out that design idea you have in your head; prompts for writing; dedicated areas for ideas; goals checklist and more. This is something I truly hope will help more stitchers recognize how much beauty and goodness exists in their “why” and the story behind what they stitch.

My great aunt was an avid needlepointer and although I didn’t pick up a needle and thread until almost a decade after her passing, knowing what I know now, I would give anything to hear more about why and how she stitched what she stitched. More on this later….

The piece on the left was a pillow stitched for my by my great aunt for my nursery. The one on the left, one I stitched in 2021. Both are off for finishing and re-finishing.

Correspondence Cards — To me and my old soul, there are few things as personal and magical as the handwritten note. I love to give ‘em and receive ‘em. And truth be told, how many of us have have an old, handwritten recipe we transferred to a tea towel or a pie dish on Etsy? I’m willing to bet the reason we do this is not because we want to know how many cups of flour are in our Grandmother’s infamous Banana Bread recipe. It’s because it’s a piece of someone you love and in their own handwriting.

How many reading this have old letters saved? The same thing applies. Because in a world of digital everything, there's something revolutionary about creating something tangible and the ability to give the gift of remembrance to someone you love. In my *very* humble opinion these are the perfect #finishingtouch to the beloved items you stitch.

And Accessories! Thoughtfully selected items that elevate your documentation experience from mundane task to cherished ritual. I love the notion of having and using a favorite pen or stationery accessory to really seal the deal and make things feel more special from some of my favorite vendors.

shop accessories here

You can listen to me chat more about the collection here:

thefinishingschoolblog

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Why These Products Matter

I created this collection after realizing something profound: needlepoint is merely the byproduct of something far greater—you. You are the true heirloom. Your joy, your challenges, your life circumstances, your creative decisions—these are what transform thread and canvas into something meaningful and special.

I don’t know about you but I have worked too hard on our needlepoint to leave our stories to generational whisper-down-the-lane. If you want the full story, you are going to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth (aka me!). When your grandchildren discover your needlepoint collection decades from now, whether they sell it at an estate sale or not, shouldn't they also discover you?

Shop Now

The shop is now open at www.thefinishingschool.com and will continue to evolve (just as all good things do).

Most of all thank you for being here and for showing up authentically as it helps me to do the same. Putting your “idea” out into the world is equally parts exhausting, exhilarating and (quite frankly), terrifying but your support thus far has made all the difference. And for this I thank you - your support means more to me than you could ever know.

Here's to writing our stories, one stitch at a time.

P.S. I'd love to hear what you think of the shop! Drop a comment below or share your thoughts on Instagram.