Check Out Elyssa Gerber’s Story

Hi Elyssa. Thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve loved making things all my life- jewelry, crochet, knitting, anything to keep my hands moving. I picked up cross-stitch on a whim, and it clicked with me. The eureka moment to make cross stitch on a miniature scale came late last year, and I started The Stitching Hour in early January. The plan was for my business to be a relaxed way to share the things I made, learn to pattern, and keep evolving my craft. Then, three weeks later, I was laid off from my job, and it felt like a sign I couldn’t ignore. My best friend had started her cottage bakery in 2022, and she came over the day I was laid off to help me make a business plan. The Arizona maker community is incredible, and I’ve had such a great experience getting to know everyone.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For the most part it’s been awesome! It feels like the uniqueness of my medium really resonates with people, and the response has been wonderful. I wake up every day looking forward to what I do. Summer was rough between the slowdown and the weather, but it’s that way for everyone. Being a team of one is also challenging, there is always so much to do. Still, I would rather do this in the middle of a July monsoon than any other job I’ve had!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a fiber artist specializing in cross-stitch, a type of needlecraft. Part of what makes my work special is the scale. Cross-stitch is usually made as wall art, but I mostly stitch mine to become accessories like necklaces, earrings, bolo ties, and pins. Nearly every piece I’ve made is less than two inches across but still packed with details. It takes no small amount of patience, and I spend a lot of time with each piece.

The other magic I bring to my work is harder to spot. As a practicing witch, I use knot magick, color magick, and sigils in creating each piece, as well as astrology and crystals to charge them with complimentary energy. My pieces double as charms to bring the wearer clarity, luck, self-love, or protection. Everyone could use a little extra magic in their life, and I love helping connect people to it.

If you’re interested in seeing more of my work, I am proud to be part of the Lore Exhibition at &gallery, which will run from October 7th- 31st.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
People often tell me that they could never do what I do for lack of talent, and it makes me so sad. I want to tell you that you can make any art you wish to; it just takes practice! Machines cannot replicate some of these ancestral skills, and we are the only ones who can keep them alive. Please believe in yourself and try! I would love to help you get started.

Contact Info:

• Website: stitchinghourneedlecrafts.com
• Instagram: @stitchinghourneedlecrafts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090153908865
• Other: https://ko-fi.com/stitchinghourneedlecrafts