A Brief History

Beth’s Creative Stitchery had its humble beginnings in a historic office building in downtown Old Worthington. The entrance was in the rear of the walkout basement. Not exactly the most desirable place for a retail store; some might even say it was a bit risky. But 1982 was a ripe time to enter the sewing machine business! The Bernina name was not by any means a household word, but many avid sewers were catching wind of the merits of this wonderful Swiss machine.

On April 1, 1982, Beth Schillig turned the key to her new establishment. The product line was very small, consisting of two machines! The store had two small racks of cotton embroidery thread, a few books and patterns, and of course an array of Bernina presser feet and accessories. It didn’t take long for Beth to outgrow the two leased rooms, and by the end of 1983, she had taken over the entire basement!

For nine months, Beth worked the store by herself, teaching all the classes, selling all the machines, doing all the repairs, and taking care of all the paperwork. In January 1983, Beth hired Laura Pohlman. Only four months earlier, both Laura and her mother, Arlene, had purchased the new kid on the block, the Bernina 930. During that time, both of them attended classes, but it was Laura who really took to the machine like, as they say, a “fish to water.” Part-time employment turned to full time within two months. Between these two ladies, Beth’s Creative Stitchery outgrew the basement (which was prone to flooding after heavy rains), and in 1987 the shop was moved to its present location at 5324 N. High St. When the rug shop next door closed its doors after one year, Beth moved fast to take over the lease, and the shop expanded again!

Along with expanding the floor space, the product line exploded! It seemed like every year one or two machines were added to the line-up. In a lot of ways that was good thing ... it gave time to master one machine before the next one was released. Instead of one or two top-selling cabinets on display, almost the entire product line is now available. The thread volume alone is greater than the total opening day inventory in 1982!

Garment construction with an emphasis on free-hand embroidery, appliqué, and special Bernina effects were always the main focus of the shop. Both Beth and Laura have entered and won first prize in the annual Bernina fashion show several times. In fact, almost everyday, Beth and Laura were seen in garments they had constructed! It was the first passion of the shop. Most of the part-time employees who have worked at the shop over the years have shown a strong interest in this style of sewing.

Although garment construction and creative work are popular sewing pastime for all of Beth’s employees, a wide range of knowledge exists among the staff, past and present. If ever a question is asked about quilting, home decoration, heirloom, craft, bridal, or repair, an answer or reliable resource will be found.

In December 2004, after 22½ years owning the shop, Beth decided to keep the promise she had made to herself 10 years earlier—to retire at age 50. Beth, a fashion school graduate, had already had six years of experience in the sewing machine market before opening her own shop. She wrote a sewing column for a suburban newspaper, managed the local Bernina dealership, and traveled as an educational consultant for Bernina. So, after almost 29 years, she decided to take a break. The obvious person to continue the shop’s legacy was Beth’s faithful employee of 22 years, Laura Pohlman-Livingston. And on June 1, 2005, the key changed hands.

Laura has always been a strong leader in the operations of Beth’s Creative Stitchery. Although no employee ever had “titles,” Laura could have been referred to as assistant manager and the store’s service technician. Laura is well versed in the day-to-day shop operation, planning and scheduling, and teaching and is considered the finest Bernina service technician in Ohio. Her goals for the shop are simple—continue the strong customer service that Bernina and its customers should expect ... the same vision the store was built upon.

The staff at Beth’s has always been a small group of long-time employees. With few the exceptions of employees leaving to care for aging parents, growing children, job transfers, and educational demands, the faces that greet customers stay the same.

Long-time customers of the shop have come to know both Beth, Laura, and the staff members past and present. Many have seen the shop grow and have watched it evolve to what it is today. Our collective thanks goes to all who have been part of our history and a big welcome to those who will shape our future.

Beth Schillig Retirement Update - Before Beth retired, many asked what she had planned. At the time, Beth had been watching her mother slowly decline from Alzheimer's. It was her strongest desire to spend as much time with her mother as possible. Beth spent all of the first year taking care of her mother, until it was decided to put her into a residential home. With a bit of free time here and there, Beth has also made several quilts, has learned to knit, took a jewelry class, and is enjoying being a “free agent.” She stops in to the store from time to time to say, “Hi!”