Stitches ‘n’ Blooms still going strong after nearly 40 years in business in Alpena | News, Sports, Jobs

She was 23 years old. Since then, the business has not only survived but thrived through several location changes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The business was originally located in the Thunder Bay Shopping Center, then the Alpena Mall, and is now located at 3033 U.S.-23 South, where Red Arrow Party Store used to be.

The Gruschkes bought their current building after they moved out of the mall, which officially closed in December 2022 and is now owned by I2P, a manufacturing company.

The current Stitches ‘n’ Blooms location, which opened for business Sept. 6, 2022, offers more space and has been renovated inside. It is meticulously organized and easy to navigate, and Gruschke is available to help customers with any questions they may have.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley
Stitches ‘n’ Blooms co-owners Chuck and Karen Gruschke pose with their 3-year-old Boston terrier, Paisley Petunia, behind the counter at their store, which has been on U.S.-23 for nearly a year now in the former location of Red Arrow Party Store.

Gruschke credits her loyal customers for keeping business going, no matter what challenges come along.

“I’m so grateful and blessed to be able to do something I love every day, and make a business out of it,” said Gruschke, who co-owns the business with her husband, Chuck Gruschke.

Stitches ‘n’ Blooms offers stitching groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Currently, the Wednesday group is full, but openings are available in the Tuesday group. Call the store at 989-354-3739 for details. Classes are planned for the winter, as well.

Last Wednesday, a group of stitchers gathered around a table in the front room and worked on projects they brought in from home.

“Some of them have projects that they only work on on Wednesdays,” said Karen Gruschke.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley
Above is a framed white tiger stitched by Mike Schultz, who provides framing at Stitches ‘n’ Blooms. This form of stitching is called full-coverage counted canvaswork. Patterns are seen for sale in the background at the shop.

Linda Kittle was working on a project using the hardanger technique, which originates from Norway.

“It’s Norwegian,” Kittle said, holding up her delicate, hand-embroidered piece featuring a variety of blues and greens. “It looks more intricate than it is. I think that’s why I got hooked on it. Because it’s easy to do, and the finished product is something else.”

“She does beautiful work,” said Karen Gruschke. “She has gifted all of us a piece of her work.”

Kittle said she’s been stitching for over 40 years.

“I took classes down in Grand Blanc at Homestead Needle Arts,” she said. “And I’ve done canvas work, I’ve done hardanger, I knit, I crochet, I’ve done cross stitch … I just do it all.”

News Photo by Darby Hinkley
This beautiful American home was created by Linda Kittle using a counted canvaswork technique.

Kittle said she enjoys working with her hands.

“I like that it keeps my hands busy and my mind busy,” Kittle said, adding a note about the hardanger technique. “You have to count, but once you’re experienced at it, it comes naturally.”

Other group members said stitching is relaxing.

“It’s therapeutic,” Karen Gruschke said. “We’re all dealing with something, and you just get to let that go for a while.”

Several members of the Wednesday group have been meeting together for over 10 years.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley
Kelly Trombley is almost done with this colorful counted canvas piece she was working on Wednesday.

Kathy Morse comes from Oscoda to attend the Wednesday group. All the others are local, including Kittle, Krisann Farah, Kelly Trombley, Barb Szczesniak, Sherry Rosburg, and Karen Gruschke.

“It’s just one of those fun friendships,” Karen Gruschke said of the group. “We all have that common interest, that common thread.”

Stitches ‘n’ Blooms has everything a stitcher needs, from embroidery thread in hundreds of different colors to patterns to all the supplies needed to complete a wide variety of projects. They even offer complete custom matting and framing done by Mike Schultz.

People come from downstate, out of state, and even Canada to visit Stitches ‘n’ Blooms, which provides a regional need to stitchers in northern Michigan and beyond, Karen Gruschke said.

“A lot of cross-stitching places have closed,” Chuck Gruschke said, referring to both downstate and other parts of northern Michigan.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley
Linda Kittle holds up an intricate piece she is stitching using a Norwegian technique called hardanger.

“They’re making the trip,” Karen Gruschke said. “They come up, they shop, and they go right back home.”

She said it does take patience, practice, and attention to detail, but stitching is a fun and rewarding hobby.

“We call it painting with thread,” Karen Gruschke said of cross stitching.

She said anyone can try it, and patterns range from beginner level to expert.

“You can take a photo of yourself, or your home, or your favorite pet, and there’s a software that you can (use to) chart it out, and then you can stitch it,” she added.

Stitches ‘n’ Blooms is decorated in all kinds of stitched and framed pieces made by various local needlework artists. Many are for sale at the shop.

Framer Schultz creates full-coverage counted canvas pieces which can be admired at the store, including two majestic tigers and a pair of loons.

He works in framing, not just embroidery pieces, but any type of framing a customer needs.

Stitches ‘n’ Blooms is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Upon entering the shop, prepare to be greeted by Paisley Petunia, a 3-year-old Boston terrier who happily meanders around and spends time lounging in her cozy bed on the shop floor.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley
Wednesday stitching group members gather at Stitches ‘n’ Blooms last week. Each participant brings their own project to work on. A new Tuesday group is starting up as well. Pictured, from left, are Linda Kittle, Krisann Farah, Kelly Trombley, Barb Szczesniak, Kathy Morse, Sherry Rosburg, and owner Karen Gruschke.