The Stitchers' Grotto is owned and operated by me - Cortney Markham - a 20-something-year-old woman in Michigan that has so much to do and so little time to do it! I have a Bachelor's in Journalism and Media Production, am currently working toward my Master's in Creative Writing, and work at a local community college when I'm not at the Grotto. Somehow, even through all of that, I've managed to find time to craft, whether it be knitting, crocheting, or cross stitching (and doing puzzles on occasion!)
A while back, I'd talked to my mom about starting a cross stitch store in the Downriver area of southeastern Michigan. My goal was to make a space where people could come together and create together, regardless of what that creation was. The Grotto has always been a place, to me, that would allow crafters to have community with each other rather than sitting alone. Plus, I wanted to create a spot where people didn't have to be serious. Adding whimsy into life is important to me, and I wanted other people to have that too.
Except...I didn't think it would ever happen. I'm still young, going to grad school, with a part time job. I didn't have the money to buy a building, much less the potential renovations that would go with it. The Grotto was a pipe dream to me, until one day in early March when Mama Grotto and I walked into The Framery and Gallery.
We had never stepped in the place before. Didn't even know it was there, really, until a friend of mine mentioned it. So we picked out a few pieces that we wanted framed that we didn't necessarily "care" about, so if things went south (we were traumatized by Michael's framing, I'm sure everyone can understand), we wouldn't mind it. When we were there, we were talking with Lynn, who's been at the Framery for years, about this pipe dream, and would they ever want to collaborate if I eventually do get a shop? Well, really my mom was talking with her about it - I hadn't even thought to bring it up. Then the owner, Shelby, came up to us as we were paying for the frames, and said:
"Do you want to do it here?"
And there started the absolute whirlwind that would be the next two months, until we officially opened in May of 2026. Since then, it's been absolutely bonkers in the best way. It was all by chance, and sometimes I don't know if I really deserved it, but I'm so glad that I got it. So come in, check us out, and let's add some whimsy into our crafting together!