In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Jessica Whittaker, the creative force behind Silver State Stitch Shop, to discuss her journey as a homegrown entrepreneur in Boulder City. A lifelong resident with deep community roots, Jessica shares her evolution from a young quilter to the owner of a vibrant, social-centered business in the city's historic district.

Jessica discusses her vision for fostering community through the heritage arts of quilting and cross-stitch, emphasizing that her shop is more than a retail space—it’s a sanctuary for connection, social support, and creative inspiration. From stories of her mother’s influence on her craft to the joy of watching her own daughter begin her creative journey, this episode explores the dedication required to keep traditional handcrafts alive while building a modern, thriving business.

DISCUSSION

1. The Social Stitch: Jessica explains how her shop serves as a hub for community connection, offering classes where people can make friends, share life experiences, and even solve problems while working on their projects.
   
   
2. The Longarm Process: A deep dive into the "longarm" quilting technique—the process of using a specialized, computerized machine to finish large quilts that are difficult to handle on domestic sewing machines.
   
   
3. A Legacy of Craft: Jessica reflects on being raised by a quilting mother and the importance of teaching heritage skills to younger generations to ensure these traditions aren't lost to modern technology.
   
   
4. Wrapped in Gratitude: Details on Jessica’s heart-led initiative to coordinate with local guilds and the community to gift handmade quilts to veterans visiting Boulder City during the annual "Salute to the Troops" weekend.
   
   
5. Stitches in the Sanctuary: Jessica introduces an upcoming quilt show at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, aimed at displaying 60+ quilts to change the public perception of quilting from a "museum hobby" to a vibrant, contemporary art form.
   
   
6. Entrepreneurial Lessons: From a funny "aha moment" involving a home address accidentally appearing in a point-of-sale system to her philosophy on maintaining a work-life balance for her family, Jessica shares the realities of opening a shop in May 2024.

LEARN MORE

Silver State Stitch Shop: 1229 Arizona Street, Boulder City, NV.

Class Schedule: Reach out to the shop to inquire about their vintage Singer Featherweight rentals, bag-making bootcamps, and upcoming class offerings.

KEYWORDS

Jessica Whittaker, Silver State Stitch Shop, Boulder City, Quilting, Cross-Stitch, Heritage Arts, The Best Dam Podcast, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce

#JessicaWhittaker #SilverStateStitchShop #BoulderCity #Quilting #CrossStitch #HeritageArts #TheBestDamPodcast #BoulderCityChamberofCommerce 

Podcast Transcript

Jill: Good morning. Good morning. This is a great day. We are interviewing and getting to visit with a great friend of mine, Ms. Jessica Whitaker from Silver State Stitch Shop, and this is such a beautiful location. It's a beautiful business and a beautiful lady and so we're really glad to have you today.

Thanks, Jessica.

Jessica: Thanks so much for having me.

Jill: So, today we get to talk a little bit about an entrepreneur, but an entrepreneur that was born and raised in Boulder City. So very excited about that because I really do think that, we have raised some amazing individuals in Boulder that have taken on some great leadership positions, but also great businesses. So thanks for being here.

Jessica: Yeah, no problem.

Jill: So tell me a little bit about Silver State Stitch Shop. What is it that you do?

Jessica: We provide, materials and classes and inspiration for people to get into quilting and cross stitch. Every once in a while we venture out into other forms of handcraft, such as crochet, knitting.

We're doing a little bit of embroidery in the coming months. We've got a paint class coming up in a couple months.

Jill: That's new. Yeah. Well, very good. So you are located in the Historic district?

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: So what's the address of Silver State Stitch Shop?

Jessica: We're 1229 Arizona Street. We're right next to the Boulder Dam Theater and the historic Boulder Dam Hotel.

Jill: And so who is your target audience? Who do you like to have? kind of as the people that come and check out the.

Jessica: We want anybody who is interested in learning about any of those previously mentioned activities, or somebody who maybe did one of them and is looking for inspiration to get back into it.

We offer a lot of social events where you can not only make new friends, but you also, pick up a lot of skills by doing things with a group of people, so,

Jill: So it is very social.

Jessica: Yes, very social.

Jill: Every time that I've been in, you've had classes and stuff going on in the back room, and those little ladies are back there giggling and carrying on.

I'm like, how the heck are they getting anything done?

Jessica: It just seems like sometimes we don't.

Jill: Yeah, exactly. Seems like a great fun. In fact, the last time I was there you were showing a video of, if I'm not mistaken, it was a crime, like a television show, a crime show or something, and somebody had been,

Jessica: Yes, some of the groups get a little true crime podcasty, like, we'll watch like a clip of something if it's funny or, we'll talk about a lot of different, like current event true crime stuff that's going on.

Try and solve it ourselves. We solve a lot of problems in clubs.

Jill: They really, they, the law enforcement should be looking to you guys.

Jessica: Exactly.

Jill: Because come sit, I would imagine you have a lot more information and knowledge about the tools that are being used. Yes. I thought that was awesome.

Mm-hmm. And, those ladies were having so much fun. But have you ever had any gentlemen join any of your classes?

Jessica: We have several gentlemen who join us. We have, one I can think of does both activities. Does cross stitch and quilting. Victor, he's a good friend of ours. but every once in a while we'll have, a new guy.

Quilter. Quilters are, can be all different ages. People always assume it's an older lady, but we have all different ages and we have both boys and girls that get involved in those activities.

Jill: How young is your youngest audience member?

Jessica: We've had like. I'd say probably like late teens. Really, a lot of times if your grandma's doing it or your mom's into it, then you've picked up.

That's kind of how I got into it.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: My mom was a quilter, so she just carried me along to a quilt class when I was 18, and here we are now 25 years later. So

Jill: That is so fun.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: And she's an amazing seamstress too.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill:  So,a lot of talent and creativity.

And so I think that's awesome. And so,this would be a perfect time for me to also mention that your beautiful daughter happens to be Little Miss Boulder City.

And, we are so proud of her. Do you think she's gonna be as creative as you and interested in quilts?

Jessica: Oh, for sure. She, we just had her Valentine's Day party last week, and they had a free drawing activity where you had to turn a heart into something else, and I was so proud. She turned it into a quilt with a big heart in the middle and decorated it and then announced everybody that I was going to make that quilt for her.

So she's designing all the time?

Jill:  Yes.

Jessica: She'll come into the shop and kind of take down the skew numbers. Fabric she thinks should go into a quilt. So she's already creating her own ideas about what a quilt should look like and how she wants a quilt to turn out. And her and my mom are working on making a quilt for my mother-in-law who loves flamingos.

So they're working together on that.

Jill: How fun is that?

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: What a great opportunity for grandmas and granddaughters to bond as well.

Jessica: Yes. Mm-hmm.

Jill: Yeah, that is awesome. And I find it fascinating that she's interested in the skew numbers. She's watched mom take inventory.

Jessica: Yes.

Jill: And even understands the, the technology side of how to maintain a business.

Jessica: She's learning a lot about inventory and that sort of thing.

Jill: That is crazy. I know you just recently did that too.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: So that is awesome. So, in your classes, you also talk about retreats. Will you describe what the differences.

Jessica: Perfect. So a class is like a couple of hours or a day long event where you are working on projects.

A retreat is just that supersized, so it's usually two to three days worth of whatever that is. So we have quilting and cross-stitch retreats. They both look a little bit different, but essentially the same thing. We always cater lunch from local eateries, in town. This last one we used Southwest Diner and, hanger 5 0 2 catered lunch.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: We've used, I'm trying to think off the top of my head. It's been so many wow months since the last one, but we just try and keep it local with the food options.

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica: And because we're located downtown, a lot of people will walk for dinner or breakfast to one of the local downtown eateries.

So,

Jill: So are people coming to stay overnight for these events?

Jessica: We have the first retreat we did, people weren't sure what that really looked like.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: And so people were. Planning to go home by the second and third retreat we've done, more people are booking their hotel at the Boulder Dam Hotel, or at the Best Western.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: Because they want to park their car at the beginning of the weekend and be able to walk, to all the fun stuff that we have going on for the weekend.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: So

Jill: That is awesome.

Jessica: Getting your steps in at the same time.

Jill: Yeah. I love it.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: And so then do they just offload all of their machine and their stuff?

Jessica: Yep. So for quilt retreats, there is a lot more equipment that has to go. Obviously a sewing machine and all the accessories that go with that. So yeah, usually the first morning is a big offloading. Everybody's offloading into the room and then they move and park their car someplace. Got it. And for cross-stitch, a little bit less cumbersome.

You have a lot smaller projects and you don't have a machine to carry.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: So, yeah,

Jill: I love that. I just, the whole idea of this little mini, activity and mini, movement

Jessica: Yeah. Of all the action.

Jill: I think that's awesome. And just the idea that people are getting together, there's that social aspect.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: The, sometimes a little bit of counseling I would imagine goes into it. you guys are a good support system.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: If somebody has something bad that happens in their life or something positive,

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: They've got somebody to share these great things with.

Jessica: Exactly.

Jill: So,you guys are such a tight knit community as well.

Jessica: For sure. I mean, I have, there's people in the groups now that I've known since I was 18 at the first Fiddlesticks quilt shop that was there

Jill: Oh

Jessica: That have come back and have been re-inspired to get back into the craft of quilting or cross stitch, that sort of thing. The classes are like a mini retreat, and a retreat is just like a full package, like a spa weekend kind of thing.

Jill: Oh, right, right.

Jessica: You don't have the distraction of having to, do house cho chores or getting distracted by, oh, I should probably be doing that before I get back to

 Jill: Yeah,

Jessica: The activity. So it's fun, focused time.

Jill: There's no, no guilt. It's all fun.

Jessica: Yes, exactly.

Self care.

Jill: Love that. And so, what is your favorite part of this new, of this stitch shop, but of just this, being an entrepreneur and this new endeavor?

Jessica: I think the best part for me, I'm. Naturally an introvert. So this is the only area that I can really like. Stretch my legs and get to know new people.

And the new people that we've met and become good friends with through the shop is amazing. And I especially enjoy the shopping for the shop part. Like buying products.

Jill: Oh yeah.

Jessica: That's the best part 'cause as my husband says, I'm a professional shopper.

Jill: Awesome.

Jessica: So it's. It's like shopping for me, but for everybody else at the same time.

Jill: Yeah. I absolutely love that. I also am a professional shopper. It's a skill set that I should put on a resume some day.

Jessica: Exactly.

Jill: So can you tell me an aha moment? You have had some as you have, I mean, this hasn't been open that long. how many years you guys been open?

Jessica: We opened in May of 2024.

Yeah, I'm just trying to check.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: May of 2024. It seems like it's been forever and not very long at all.

Jill: You moved in the middle of that.

Jessica: Yeah, we moved halfway through. So we are in a, our current location is only about one year in May. We'll be there a year, for an aha moment. When we started out, we started on, a spur of the moment kind of thing, and, had a cross stitch retreat that we hosted at the multi-use building.

And so I was scrambling to get like everything set up for the shop, the point of sale, all the inventory you put in, for that first cross stitch retreat the month before we actually opened the brick and mortar. and in the hurry I accidentally put our home address down for some part of the point of sale system.

And Luckily, some of the, the attendees were nice enough to let me know afterwards that they now had my home address and they just wanted make sure I didn't leave that on there when the actual brick and mortar opened.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: So luckily they've all turned into great friends and nobody,

Jill: You'd invite them to

Jessica: Your home anyway.

Yeah, exactly. They've, some of them have been to my home now, but Right. It was just a funny, like, oh my goodness, I can't believe I didn't. Go back and check that, beforehand. So yeah.

Jill: There's so many learning experiences.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: But also with the clientele that you have, like you said, thankfully they're all great people.

Jessica: Oh yeah.

Jill: And you have great relationships with them, so

Jessica: For sure

Jill: That is one of those, interesting learning moments.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: And, maybe somebody else will learn from that as well.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: I would imagine that you aren't the first and you probably won't be the last.

Jessica: Yeah, I think that is great. So tell me about all the services that we can, we can find at Silver State Stitch Shop.

Jessica: So, the biggest service that we offer that most other shops in town don't offer because we have the space for it, is Longear quilting, which is basically the process of putting together the top that you've pieced and backing and batting, and. Doing the stitch design that keeps all three layers together.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: We do pretty brisk business with that. People are constantly dropping off one or two quilt tops at a time.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: Majority of quilters, are going to be piecing different, various sizes of quilts, and most of us can tackle like a baby quilt, which is like. 3, 3, 6 inches square, on our domestic machine.

But it gets harder to fit a twin or a queen or something bigger

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: Through your domestic machine and still get a result that you really like.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: Which is why you bring it to the long arm quilter, which is me. in fact, my dad is the reason why we have the shop in the first place. When I was 18 and turning out quilts and mom was making quilts.

He's was kind of an engineer's mind and thought, you know what, we'll solve the problem of having to spend money on other people quilting. We'll buy a longer machine so that not most 19 year olds don't have a longer machine or the skills to do that. But that was my special talent at 19, was learning on a longer machine and long arming, when I needed extra cash for college and

Jill: Right.

Jessica: Just kind of

a side job. So,25 years later we still have that machine. It's been moved to my mom's house so that we can use it for more custom work 'cause it's very detail oriented. That machine. And then we just upgraded in December to a bigger, faster, more computerized version. the brand is called Innova and It really whips through quilts much faster. So it lets me get more done in a day.

Jill: Yeah. I've watched you setting 'em up and getting 'em started. I find it fascinating that, technology has created such a critter.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: I remember, being at Georgia Washington's house and people dropping off bags and bags and bags.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: She was just always so busy. So I can only imagine there is a demand. And let's take that back to the basics. How important is it that we continue to teach generations about this skill? Because this is so important.

Jessica: For sure. I mean, obviously there's studies out there that show the connection between your mental health and being able to produce like creatively products.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica:  And so it's the. It's the gratification of completing a project, obviously, but it's all the steps in between from imagining what it's gonna look like, designing it. and you can, there's varying levels of it. Some people prefer to buy a kit that's fully, decided and, organized in terms of color.

And all you're doing is following the directions to get to the end of the project. Some people like to do as much as dying fabric to create a pattern to create a quilt. so anywhere on that spectrum, no matter what brings you joy, is what you're gonna kind of lean into. And then same thing for cross stitch.

They have a little bit smaller scale items, but you can always choose to change the colors, change the fabric.

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica:  Change whatever you think. You want your project to look like. We always say there's no quilt police, there's also no cross stitch police and the designer's not gonna hunt you down and be like, that's not what I said to do.

That's not the color I said for that bumblebee,

Jill: Right.so you really get free reign and whatever you. like you can continue to recreate that. I personally am allergic to curved piecing. I don't do it. I'm not interested. It's not for me. Some people that's all they do is curved piecing for their cross or for their quilts.

There's just different techniques and stuff that people really get into. EPP, which is English paper piecing is a hand, quilting, technique. that's. Kind of on the rise again. And we have some supplies for that. We haven't done any classes for that, so we don't have as much for that.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: But, yeah, there's a lot of different avenues you can go down in both of the hobbies,

Jill: So you had referenced that when you have classes, you try to create the supplies that so people can purchase in the retail front section

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: Retail items, whether for a class or just for in general, for their own. Purpose in their own use.

Jessica: Mm-hmm

Jill: Like you said, there's preassembled kits that people can purchase.

They can also see. All your examples of the quilts that you have made.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: That will be future classes.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: Or potentially somebody else has made them.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: And they might have them there for display. you also, you have the little, the class area that's own little, that's own little designation.

And everybody has like their little tables and it's a super cute and comfy space. And like you said, it's in, a walkable area within the historic district. So it just, it lends itself to being the perfect location. But I also wanna throw back that this was the original Fiddlesticks and thanks to Nancy Bowen for introducing so many of us in Boulder City to what a quilt shop looked like.

Jessica: Exactly.

Jill: It's so fun that it's right back in its home.

Jessica: Exactly and she's even really the inspiration for the quilt retreats. I'd never been to a retreat. My mom had never been to a retreat until Fiddlesticks used to host retreats as well. Theirs looked a little different 'cause they would do it at, what was the old Boulder City Hospital.

Hospital. Or a retreat center and that was awesome 'cause you could go. And your pajamas downstairs to quilt all day.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: And sleep for a couple hours and go back down in your pajamas again. Oh my gosh. And they would usually have somebody on staff to cook all the meals. So you weren't hungry ever.

Jill: That is great. I had forgotten about that being all over there.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: I was working for Jody Kincaid, Jody Bacon.

Jessica: Mm-hmm

Jill: At fiddle or at Perry Cottage right around the corner. And she and Nancy were, partners for at a time, and I just remember all the people coming and going and it was,

Jessica: Yes,

Jill: It was a happen in place.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: It was kind of like a, a social hub then too.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.Right. Mm-hmm. Yep. For sure. I think, for me, realizing. In 2020 when everybody was isolated. Everybody has a craft, well at least everybody I know has a craft room, a sewing space someplace in your home.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: That's dedicated to that. But like I said, it's so much more fun to do it with other people.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: Around other people. You get inspired by what they're doing or learn something, pick something up and then obviously it's just fun to gab with your friends or make new friends. So,

Jill: Yeah, I think, and can be inspirational. And also I would imagine you guys bounce off each other's creativity.

Jessica: Oh, for sure.

Jill: Like, I piece this together. What do you think of this color?

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: Combination people like, I don't know about that,

Jessica: Exactly. Like, there's always some new choice to make when you're designing or putting together a quilt. And a lot of times we'll just have a whole pile of fabric on the main cutting table and taking votes.

Like what do you think? this combination or like, what do you think about this? Can

Jill: I love that.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: And I remember last time I was in, so Lexi, my daughter Lexi, has really taken up,

Jessica: Cross stitch. Yeah.

Jill: Cross stitch and embroidery and, crocheting. She's just got this new creative bug going.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: And I love it. She got a sewing machine for Christmas and she's got a cricket for a birthday and so she's loving this whole aspect.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: So while we were in there, we were visiting and, I had asked you about, okay, so I'm an absolute beginner.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: But you even supply machines. You've got machines there for the classes.

Jessica: Yeah, we do. We, right now we stock, vintage featherweight, singer Featherweights, and they are. Ideal for us because they're low maintenance. They're, they were designed in the thirties and forties for housewives to be able to maintain on their own, in their home and do, sewing. So they have a very, Basic, easy, basic.

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica: It's like I compare it to cars. A vintage car, being able to keep up with that. There's no computers, there's no extra stuff. You just replace parts as they're designed to wear out and it's very easy to handle.

Jill: That's awesome.

Jessica: Versus a more modern. Car or sewing machine usually has computer components or

Jill: Right.

Jessica: Areas that you can't really access as easily. So,we have, I think five, we're up to five of them that we can rent at one time and they're only for use in the classroom.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: But they're very basic and simple and anybody can learn how to thread and use them pretty quickly. And if you have an issue, we're right there.

We can usually figure it out.

Jill: I love that.

Jessica: We'll switch you to a new machine.

Jill: I think that's a great way to invite people to come and try it.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: Even if they don't find that it's their favorite pastime. Yeah. At least they've given it a try. Mm-hmm. And they can figure out some of those basics because, going back to some of these heritage arts, I worry that we're gonna lose these skills and we're not passing them down and people aren't learning how to can and bottle and dehydrate.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: And, quilt and sew

Jessica: Mm-hmm. And fix things because, AI's gonna do it for us and

Jessica: Exactly.

Jill: So loving that. Even your basic machines go back to basics so that we're not buried by all of the technology and all the extra.

Jessica: Now, don't get me wrong, I have a very fancy, high powered sports version that's a bru.

It's got all the bells and whistles, and it does things for me that my singer featherweight doesn't. But when you just need to sew a straight seam, it is consistently perfect every single time.

Jill: I would expect you to have the best of the best at this point because you've gotten to that point. But, I would be terrified and there's absolutely zero reason.

Jessica: It's overwhelming to do that for a beginner for sure. And even some of our, especially our quilt clients are generally of an older age. They don't wanna have to pack up their fancy, super expensive machine from home. One, it's hard to lift in and out of a car.

Jill: Right.

Two, you increase the chance of possibly breaking something, which is like a fancy car is expensive to repair.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: So we have quite a few people who consistently rent the feather weights. Not because they are beginners, but because they don't want to have to lug their home machine

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica: To the shop for a day of sewing. So they'll rent one for the day. that, they consistently are just using that same machine.

Jill: And it's easy. I love that. I love that you make it easy for everybody. I am wondering if there is, something that you have learned. I know that Ms. Patty is the one that has really inspired you. Are there other life lessons that your parents have taught you? your dad brought, got you that long arm

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: Which really kind of kickstarted this thought process.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: But I know you as a child and I know that they have built great character in you. So is there something that you can think of that they have shared with you?

Jessica: Well, both of them. Very talented and artistic on their own. my mom always says she's not, but she is.

She just doesn't give herself enough credit. But both of them, really set the example of working hard, at whatever you're doing and doing it to the best of your ability, but also, taking time to balance that with. Your life, your interest, that sort of thing.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: And so, I mean, this is basically the marriage of everything in one, with the support of my husband and obviously my daughter's always in there trying to help out.

Jill: Right.

Jessica:  It's like the best combination of everything.

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica: I've worked a real job out in the real world for over a decade and decided this is much more fun. I love it to get to do something you love and also help other people come and find that same. Inspiration and joy is huge. So

Jill: An expression of their creativity.

Jessica: Exactly.

Jill: So what was your first job?

Jessica: My very first job was with Miss Amy at dance, et cetera, which is where I met you obviously.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: I started that summer. I turned 16 in June and started. Steam and costumes that year. I will never forget the feeling of being in a room just full of steam and costumes.

Jill: Oh yeah.

Jessica: And the smell of it.

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica: Costumes,

Jill: The sequence, getting all steamy is not a good smell.

Jessica: No,

Jill: I do.

Jessica: And also, they're just body smells.

Jill: Yeah, exactly.

Jessica: Some of those costumes that have been around a while,

Jill: Leftovers.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: Well, and I know that you learned a great deal from just that experience.

Jessica: Oh, for sure. it was, not only obviously it was hard work doing some things and learning different aspects of stuff, but it was, miss Amy was a great role model of that professionalism and doing things to the nth degree. I feel like in terms of, helping people, getting people inspired, all of that is involved in obviously running a dance studio.

I feel like, and she was an excellent. First boss, first example of a woman who was an entrepreneur as well, so,

Jill: Right. Yeah. She was an excellent entrepreneur. Excellent, business woman as well as caring.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: Oh, for sure.

Jill: So, I have witnessed in other studios, in the Vegas area surrounding Southern Nevada.

Jessica: Mm-hmm

Jill: To get a hug, or actually even on television, some of these crazy things we see on reality shows.

Jessica: Yes.

Jill: To give a child a hug is just unheard of.

Jessica: Right.

Or conditional at the least.

Jill: Oh yeah.

 Jessica: And I feel like Miss Amy was open and warm to every person that she came into contact with. And we, I try and repeat that as well.

Like

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: We want you to feel like you're coming home or coming to a fun place where you get to hang out with your friends. Like Cheers where everybody knows your name kinda thing, Absolutely. 'cause you wanna come to someplace that's comfortable. You don't wanna be challenged as well as, by.

Having an uncomfortable experience in a place where you're trying to be creative and relax

Jill: And, creating a sense of community.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: And she was all about community as well.

Jessica: Huge. Yeah.

Jill: And I have noted that you're really taking that to the next level too.

Jessica: Yep.

Jill: Can you tell us a little bit more about wrapped in gratitude?

Jessica: Wrapped in gratitude? So we. Always try and contribute to anything that has to do with veterans. We have, we take a donation if you want, you can round up for Quilts of Valor, which is a larger, I think it's international.

Jill: International

Jessica: Might be international, where they make obviously quilts or, take donations to.

Create quilts for veterans.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: Of all types. and we have been lucky enough for over the past 12 years to get to participate in an activity 'cause of the company. My mom used to work for. American Airlines participates in something called Salute to the Troops. It happens around Veterans Day Weekend, American Airlines and a bunch of other large sponsors fly, wounded Warriors in from Bethesda Hospital and all the different military hospitals.

Into Las Vegas for a weekend of, they get to stay on the strip, they get to go to fancy dinners and shows and all that kinda stuff. All. you, we probably

Jill: don't wanna know all of it.

Jessica: Oh yeah. But they get like, they can opt to do, I think they do like a Grand Canyon helicopter tour option.

I mean, they can choose what do lots of wanna of attraction

Jill: based Yeah.

Jessica: And one of them is going to see the dam. And so usually there's two days worth of. Busloads of veterans who are coming out to see the dam. And then Cindy Ford at Southwest Diner is so kind. Every year she caters a box lunch for them.

And we have it in, down at Hemingway Park. And for years we've been bringing our personal quilts to spread out for people to sit on, See the sheep and eat their lunch. And every year everybody's like, oh, I just love these quilts. There's lovely quilts. And so last year I'm sitting there going, Hey, we could give them a quilt.

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica: Hey, you like that quilt? Well, thank you so much for your service. Here's that quilt.

Jill: That's awesome.

Jessica: And so we're working. I figured if we got an early enough start, we'd be good to go by November. and so. Reached out to a bunch of the local guilds and obviously our community that we have at the shop.

And we've got quite a bit of traction of people producing quilts, working on quilts, planning quilts, so that we can have quilts to gift to them. And we're encouraging the quilters who are making them to add a label, saying thank you or add a perfect a card that you can attach to it if you don't wanna do a label.

Just expressing your gratitude for, those veterans.

Jill: Yeah,

Jessica: Because they have. Served and done their

Jill: service

Jessica: a lot for our country, so

Jill: Oh, I love that.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: How special is that? I bet you they leave that, that weekend.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: With such a warm experience.

Jessica: Exactly. We're hoping for that.

Jill: Brought in gratitude.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: I love that. And can you also tell us a little bit more about stitches in the sanctuary.

Jessica: Yes.

Jill: I am excited about this one too.

Jessica: Yeah, we're coming up on that one. We're starting to collect quilts for that. So I was talking to my friend Barbara, who's a parishioner at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, which is just a couple blocks away from us on Arizona.

And we had talked about how nice it would be to do a small quilt show, because like you said before, people, we don't want the craft to die out. And part of that comes from changing people's idea of what a quilter is to. Something historical as to being something contemporary, like people are still doing quilting and people are still creating and crafting.

It's not something you go see in a museum. unless we let it die, I guess it would be something in a museum only. And so we kind of talked about it when we were at our previous location. When we moved to the new location, we're like, let's just do it. We'll pick a date. We'll. We'll make it happen. So we're starting out this year with kind of like a trial run.

We're gonna, we're testing out all the things. We're gonna have up to 60 quilts, displayed.

Jill: Wow.

Jessica: On the beautiful pews inside of St. Christopher's.

Jill: Yes.

Jessica: The inside part is nice 'cause we don't have to deal with wind or anything like that.

Jill: Oh, right.

Jessica: The dream is someday it gets. Big enough that it has to occupy a whole park and the church kind of thing.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: But for right now,

Jill: Such a beautiful chapel too.

Jessica: Oh, it's so pretty with the stained glass. It really is gonna make that whole space look amazing with color and stuff. So,we're already accepting, people's quilts and tagging 'em and stuff like that, and organizing as they go. so. the 27th is when we're gonna set up in the morning and then it starts at noon on the 27th.

Jill: Oh man, that's gonna be so much fun. I can't,

Jessica: and it's free to anybody who wants to walk through just looking at beautiful quilts and

Jill: Come and appreciate all the time and the talent that goes into those.

Exactly.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: Yeah. I cannot wait. That's gonna be awesome.

Jessica: Excited.

Jill: So Jess, tell us something that many people don't know about you.

Jessica: Well, I have done, I'd say I'm a jack of all trades. I've done a lot of different things. Obviously I was a dance instructor first, and then I worked at the skydive place at one point. But when I moved up to Reno for a little while, I also got into dirt bike racing in the desert. Not exactly like a straight trajectory.

Jill: I never knew that.

Jessica: Yeah,

Jill: I think that is hysterical.

Jessica: I have, I. my husband and I have a picture of me racing in the desert in the living room, which is kind of like a, I've done that kind of thing, because even I go at this point, that was like 10 years ago. I can't believe I used to do that.

Jill: That is,

Jessica: But yeah.

Jill: Awesome.

Jessica: It was a good, fun, exciting. diversion from regular life kind of thing.

Jill: Well, yeah. And I would imagine it created a sense of adventure.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: For future things. What's your next big adventure thing that you want to do?

Jessica: Ooh, that's a, that's kind of hard. Got an idea. I don't know.

We right now. We're kind of setting goals for our family, for traveling. We love to travel.

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica: Sophia's a very traveled little 6-year-old. we've been all over the place. We're really excited about possibly visiting more of the national parks.

Jill: Oh yeah.

Jessica: And collecting like, all those little,

Jill: the map on your trailer that has all of the

Jessica: Exactly. We got a passport. We went to the Grand Canyon last year, on the train from Williams.

Jill: Yes.

Jessica: So that was really cool and she was really into it. She became a junior ranger that day. She was stoked about the whole thing, so I love it. We can't wait to go on more of those trips. We're just kind of trying to find time to balance like the shop, obviously, and then traveling and trips and yeah.

Just,

Jill: I love that you truly do make time for family.

Jessica: Yeah,

Jill: yeah,

Jessica: yeah.

Jill: That is awesome.

Jessica: Mean, people have asked, why are you closed on Wednesday? Well, because my kid has a million activities on Wednesday every year, it seems like. So that's just the day we have to take a break from shop life and, oh. Get her to all her activities and run around and

Jill: and I love it.

You stand your ground. That's important stuff. They'll come back on Thursday.

Jessica: Yeah. Unfortunately. You just have to wait till 10 o'clock on Thursday morning.

Jill: That's right. And so one of my favorite questions is, what book are you reading right now?

Jessica: Oh, I just reading, the Mad Housewife is the name. The Mad Wife.

Jill: Mad Wife.

Jessica: Mad Wife. I was, we were walking through Barnes and Noble the other day and the cover kind of caught my attention. Oh. Then I borrowed it from Libby because I don't need more books in my house, Uhhuh. but, li I generally listen to audio books 'cause I don't have time to sit down.

Jill: Right.

Jessica: And like look at a book, but I could not put that one down. It was really compelling and moving and just when you think you know what's happening, you don't know what's happening.

Jill: Oh, that's awesome.

Jessica: So it combined a lot. I like a suspense, but I also like, Like the psychological thriller is kind of usually

Jill: Right.

Jessica: What I like to read right now, so, Ooh, I like it. Yeah, I went through a strong World War II vibe with a lot of, like The Nightingale and those sorts of things. but yeah, that was a really good recent book.

Jill: That sounds awesome. And I love the insight that we have into your brain and what you do and what you, how you either entertain or educate or uplift.

I find that fascinating. Thank you. It's one of my favorite questions to ask people.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: And so, I know that recently you were given a very prestigious award.

Jessica: Yes.

Jill: Can you tell us a little bit more about that?

Jessica: We won, the first year they did it, the Creative Hub Award. It was one of. It was supposed to be one of three awards given last year.

It's, there's a local company outta St. George called by Annie and the owner's Annie. and she has had this, I think it's eight years or nine years of doing this local quilt shop contest. she's trying to just get everybody's attention to our local quilt shops.

Jill: Right,

Jessica: Right.and so in years past, they've done it by the numbers.

So the number of votes you get determines who wins their state or regional, award. And then there's an. country awards. So the US will have a grand prize winner. Canada has a grand PRI prize winner. I think Europe has won.

Jill: Oh wow.

That's a big deal.

Jessica: It's a big deal.

Jill: Yeah,

Jessica: It's a big deal. And then because they were trying to focus on not only the numbers side of things, but also like customer experience, they added the Creative Hub award.

So they were gonna take a look more carefully at the stories that our customers share, and from that pick their top three. So, Annie let us know that she was looking and looking and she. Really couldn't decide and bring it all the way down to three. And so she added a fourth. 'cause she can do that 'cause she's the boss.

Jill: Yeah.

Jessica: And and when she realized, and you're in charge,

Jill: You can do what you want.

Jessica: Exactly. And she realized that we were very close to them in St. George. She was like, oh, perfect, I'll come and do your. Presentation in person. because the prize for that, particular award was a virtual presentation with Annie, which we would've been able to do as well.

But this allowed us to open it up to more people because we, had the, amazing opportunity to use the Boulder Dam Theater. Worked with Desi and Anna. On opening that up for that one day event.

Jill: Right

Jessica: It was beautiful. We had over 120 people showed up to that event, which was awesome. I learned a lot.

Everybody else learned a bunch. And it inspired, we're gonna be doing a Buy Annie Basics bootcamp. Series of classes. So working on the skills you need to make bags, 'cause that's her specialty is she does bag patterns bag, like the, materials that you need for bag making is what her company specializes in.

I, am teaching that class actually, and we start, this Saturday. So

Jill: How fun

Jessica: We're getting ready to start that class. It'll be like gradually getting more complicated or different skills are added. Each project for four, four months. So then

Jill: That has. Quilting and sewing.

Jessica: Yes.

Jill: Right?

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: Because in order to sew the bag

Jessica: Yep.

Jill: You have to have that expertise or understand how to do that, but it's a little bit more than just, there's

Jessica: Zippers and hardware and stuff that you're adding into that

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: That you're not doing in a regular quilt

most of the time. So

Jill: I find that fascinating.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: I find her fascinating that she not only wanted to inspire the people that were within her circle of influence, but now she's really opened that up huge.

That is phenomenal. What a neat lady.

Jessica: She's amazing. I mean, I didn't know all of her story, but she basically started out as just a mom who was making patterns for stuff that she needed for her life, bags that she needed for her,

Jill: Right

Jessica: And then that turned into somebody noticing how nice her bags were.

Then she started writing patterns, and then she created her own company. Now she creates her own products, like they have a new product. They just debuted like a, what is it called? No tool snaps. So like if you've ever put a snap on anything, you require this big grommet pusher thing.

Jill: Mm-hmm.

Jessica: It's kind of a pain, The new, no tool snaps. You just need an all basically to poke a hole uhhuh to start it and then they snap together and you don't need like a lot of force or anything like that. So it just makes Snap application a little bit easier. and I wanna say like eight or nine years ago, they really revolutionize.

What we put in bags to make, give them body or stiffness.

Jill: Yes. Okay.

Jessica: Because you had like a really stiff option before or a really soft option and they basically manufacture something called soft and stable that like everybody knows about now.

Jill: Wow.

Jessica: But it's perfect for giving bags that you would make for her.

Jill:  A little bit

Jessica: more Stand up. Yeah.

Jill:  Form.

Jessica: Yeah. Form,

Jill: Right.

Jessica: But not like stiff to the point of. Not being able to bend at the same time, like the perfect In Between product.

Jill: Oh, that's awesome.

Jessica: Yeah.

Jill: So you can store it easily.

Jessica: Exactly.

Jill: But it's also gonna protect the items that you're putting inside.

Jessica: Mm-hmm. Yeah. So

Jill: I'm loving that. That is very cool. Yeah. And so I know that you are working on another opportunity to work with Miss Annie. So can you tell us a little bit about how do they, how do they help participate and help your shop?

Jessica: Perfect. We, We're currently in the, we have about 10 days left to vote for our shop.

The voting ends on the 27th of February. You can go to, I think it's lq s.com/vote

Jill: and we'll have that in the show notes,

Jessica: Right And you just look up our shop name and it's just gonna ask you a couple short questions about, it takes maybe like 35 seconds to complete the form all the way. Obviously, that's where we won our award was last year in those comments and stories about.

Our effect, the effect that they've had our shop has had on the community. and so it, there's nothing that says we can't win that award again, but we would love to be our state's winner this year. So I think the last time I checked, we were in the seventies. If we could get to a hundred, I think that would be closer to possibly winning that award.

Jill: Okay. Very good.

Jessica: And it comes with lots of benefits for us. It brings product, new product into the shop that they, give us and just all sorts of op opportunities for our shop to. Try new stuff.  

Jill: And you had a QR code at the counter at the shop.

Yeah. the shop as well, right?

Jessica: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Jill: Yep. So I had the opportunity to vote and I was very excited.

Jessica: Yeah,



Jill: We appreciate that. Well, thank you very much.

Jessica: Yeah. And so you have so much more to share, but we will be putting that in the show notes. Perfect. And I want people to go there and learn a little bit more about your insights into when large brand stores like a Joanne's closes, what that does. I would, yeah.

Expect in my mind. Oh, okay. Great. It's gonna drive more business into little guys. But there's actually, you've got some insight into that and I want them to check the show notes out, find out a little bit more about, silver State Stitch Shop and the amazing Jessica Whitaker. We are so grateful to have you, Jessica Ru us.

Jessica: Yeah, exactly.

Jill: I need to throw that in there because we need to honor those amazing parents.

Jessica: Yes, exactly.

Jill: The fact that you are homegrown right here in Boulder City. That's right. We're very proud to have you.

Jessica: Mm-hmm.

Jill: Thank you so much. Thank you. And, I hope to have you come back 'cause I'm sure you're gonna have a million more things and, community projects.

Community programs, and so you're amazing. Miss Jess. We love you.

Jessica: Thank you. Thank you Miss Jill.