Our Story

Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself how fortunate I am. I truly love what I do every day.  My craft has been woven into me since childhood—I began sewing at just three years old. I can still picture myself beside my grandmother at her Singer treadle machine, carefully pulling stitches for hours. It was there I learned patience, and where my eye for detail first took shape. At the time, I longed to be outside with my brothers, playing Marines or catching crawdads in the creek. But in those days, girls were expected to learn how to sew—and so I did. If I could have one wish, it would be to thank my grandmother for insisting I learn, because it became the greatest gift she could have given me.

My mother carried her own creative brilliance as an interior decorator. She had a remarkable talent for crafting custom bedspreads, draperies, and cornice boards with an exquisite flair for design. From her I inherited much of my creativity, and certainly my work ethic and determination. But perhaps the most thrilling influence came from my Uncle Bill, who owned an upholstery shop. His machines were bold and powerful—able to sew through anything. I was captivated by the way he could dismantle cars and furniture and transform them into something entirely new. He welcomed me into his workshop, teaching me as I watched with wide-eyed wonder. That was where my love for upholstery first began.

Through the years, I have been blessed to learn from many masters of the trade, each adding to my knowledge and shaping my craft. I carry deep gratitude for every lesson and every hand that guided me. Nothing compares to the joy of creating something beautiful for someone and seeing their eyes light up when they behold it. That joy—along with my children—gives my life true meaning.

I always dreamed of having a family business devoted to making beautiful things. When my oldest daughter was a teenager, we started a wallpaper company together and worked in many of the grand homes along Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa. Later, life took me in a different direction—I built and ran a technology company for sixteen years before stepping away to adopt three wonderful children. That, too, is one of the most beautiful chapters of my story.

About ten years ago, I felt the call back to my roots and returned to my craft as a full-time artisan. I haven’t looked back since. Every day is an opportunity to pour my passion and creativity into pieces that will bring comfort, beauty, and joy to others. The greatest blessing of all is sharing this journey with my youngest son, Joseph, who carries the same spark of creativity in his heart. Together, we are building Dorothy Alice Custom Stitchery & Upholstery—a family shop that is growing slowly but surely, now with two talented artisans joining us part-time.

This is more than work. It is heritage, legacy, and love—stitched into every seam, and shared with every client we serve.