10/19/2026
We've had so many new people joining us around here lately, and I thought it was about time I introduced myself and shared a little of the story behind Thimble Bee's! 🐝🤍
I'm Jennifer Taylor, although many of you know me as Mrs. Jen! And since Thimble Bee's has always been such a big part of our family's life, I thought I'd introduce you to my favorite people, too. This is my husband, Chris, our three children, and our wonderful son-in-law.
If you had known me as a little girl, you probably wouldn't be surprised that I ended up teaching. I was the child who lined up all her baby dolls for school, complete with individual report cards and teacher notes. I took my job very seriously! Haha!
Then came my teenage years, when I became absolutely obsessed with sewing, long before grandma hobbies were cool! I took lessons from Phyllis Willis at AAA Sewing Shop off Independence Boulevard, spent hours dreaming up projects at The Piece Goods Shop, and landed my very first job at 14 years old at Hancock Fabrics in Matthews. (Anyone remember those shops?)
In the early 2000s, as Charlotte was growing like crazy, I began sewing professionally, working alongside some incredibly talented interior designers and helping bring their drapery visions to life in some extraordinary homes. It was demanding and sometimes stressful work, but such a wonderful learning experience.
Fast forward to 2010. Chris and I were raising our little family. Hannah was 7, Luke was not quite 2, and Kate was on the way.
One day, Hannah asked me to teach her to sew. A few of her friends wanted to learn, too, so I taught them. Then those girls told their friends, who told more friends, and before I knew it, Thimble Bee's was born!
I'll forever be grateful to those parents who brought their children to my humble little sewing studio (otherwise known as our garage!). Some weeks we just about sweated ourselves silly out there, but we kept right on sewing and having the best time! Haha!
Eventually, I began teaching at elementary school enrichment classes and homeschool shops. Oh, the days of hauling an entire sewing classroom around in my car, setting it all up, teaching, breaking it all down, and doing it again the next day! 😂
In 2014, we opened our brick-and-mortar studio in Waxhaw, and we've been there ever since. (Although, we have some pretty big dreams in the works for what comes next! 😉)
Through every season, Chris has been my biggest supporter. Many of you know him from helping around the shop on weekends. He's encouraged every dream and stood beside me through the ups and downs of owning a small business.
For years, while we were raising our children, my focus was primarily on teaching kids to sew. I loved that season of life, but I always had another little dream tucked away…opening a fabric shop.
There's a season for everything, isn't there?
Now our children are grown, we've added a wonderful son-in-law to the family, and Chris and I are getting to enjoy a whole new chapter together. After all those years of dreaming, we've finally (just over a year ago) opened the retail side of Thimble Bee's, and goodness, are we having fun!
Our cozy little studio is filling with beautiful fabrics, we're welcoming so many new faces, and we've brought on some wonderful shop associates who I'll be introducing in the weeks ahead.
Just this weekend, a customer stopped in with a friend and told me I'd taught her daughter to sew many years ago. That little girl is now 28, has a little girl of her own, and is still sewing.
I can’t tell you how much that means to me! There’s something so special about seeing former students carry on their love for sewing, and knowing I got to play even a small part in that!
One of the greatest joys of Thimble Bees has been the wonderful people and families we’ve gotten to know over the years. It’s funny how people walk through your doors as customers and somewhere along the way, they become friends. Chris and I even catch ourselves saying during our breaks from classes, “gosh I miss our people!” Haha, and we really do! You’ve become such a special part of our lives and we’re so thankful for that.
And while we’re so thankful for all the years that brought us here, we know the best is yet to come! Stay tuned, friends!🐝💛
Now we’d love to know…how long have you been part of the Thimble Bees community? Are you one of our longtime sewing families or have you just recently found us?
