About Us

Hello! Change is Good! This store has a great legacy. Julie Smith opened the shop in May 2012. Holly Bayley joined her in May 2015 and then bought the shop in September of that same year. In July 2020, Kristin and John Groman bought the shop.

Kristin has been a serial crafter from the age of 7 or 8 and dedicated quilter and hoarder of all things quilty since 2003 and has brought her husband John into the fold. Kristin has a modern and quirky leaning aesthetic with a solid foundation in quilting and sewing skills. Since moving here from the San Francisco Bay Area in 2011, Kristin and John have dreamed of owning a quilt shop, and have patiently watched Gathering Stitches grow into the great community shop it has become before finally taking the plunge.

John was our resident sewing machine mechanic repair guru, but he has handed off the duties to our son, Brian, who also is our computer and inventory wizard.  Brian manages the shop and keeps us crazy women balanced. 

We could not do this without our fabulous staff and creative team: Terri (Director of Special Operations), Rose Mary (of grab bag fame), Marie (hostess of embroidery and scrap clubs, longarmer extrodinaire*), Mariah (the organizer, stylist and creative boho chic designer), Valerie (our resident garment sewing guru) , Sheana (my Saturday partner in crime, quilt designer and longarm artist*) and Shelly (kit wizard, kids and Tula Pink section manager), and teacher and  Breakfast Club host Dianna, we are so happy to be in this journey with the quilting and sewing community and look forward to learning, creating and gathering with you.

*Marie and Sheana are our longarmers, who can custom quilt your quilt tops for you with all over edge to edge or custom designs.  Drop off quilts at our shop and they will work their magic at their home studios, then return the quilts to you here.

—Kristin and John and the entire Gathering Stitches family.