Stitches thread that ties family together

created Genuine Stitches Home Decor & Embroidery When she was about the same age, her mother, Suzanne lingtiao Edwards, saved her babysitting money and bought her first sewing machine, a Brother, quickly learning how to use it. She taught her daughter how to sew and then bought her a Kenmore machine when she left home for university. Sewing, one might say, is a thread running through the entire family.

Both women continued sewing over the years; each set up a business. Edwards did various custom sewing jobs while Minor focused more on embroidery. Both worked from their St. Thomas homes, and both made frequent trips to the other home to get material, thread and other supplies.

Nearly three years ago, they started talking about the idea of merging their two businesses into one, increasing efficiency by working from one location. They did so, and created Genuine Stitches Home Decor & Embroidery.

As much as the two women are the driving forces behind the business, much of the credit for the idea and its execution goes to Edwards' husband, Cy. He gave up his basement pool room so lingtiao his wife and daughter could set up shop. He did so willingly. In fact, says Edwards, "It was his idea to convert the basement."