Local craft store promotes the hand arts “one stitch at a time”
Riva Sharples | Editor
For Ginny Gustad, owner of Beresford’s The Shanty Stitchers, it’s surreal to be celebrating 40 years in business.
This Wednesday, Feb. 4, the crafting and hardanger store located at 104 N. 3rd Street, will have an evening open house to honor how the store started. Stop by for a slice of cake and enjoy 25% off product the entire month of February in celebration.
“We opened on Tuesday Feb. 4, 1986, and were open 7-9 pm that night,” says Gustad, who started the business in the basement of her mother-in-law’s house in Volin as a part-time gig alongside her day job. “I do not feel like 40 years has passed. My kids grew up in The Shanty Stitchers. I grew as a person and a business owner–what started as a small hobby has morphed into what it is today: a full line needlework and quilting store. I never dreamed we would be selling product all over the US when we started this business, but I would not want to be anywhere else in my ‘retirement’.”
Gustad was a wife and mother, raising two sons while working in the South Dakota School System for 26 years, while also running and growing the business.
She explains: “The idea of the Shanty Stitchers started in 1985 because I could not find cross stitch supplies in my local town of Yankton, SD–supplies were very limited. I had taken my folks to Greely, Colorado, and visited a mom/daughter who ran a small cross stitch supply store out of the basement of their home. From that, the idea sprung to open our own store in SD. I got home and proposed the idea to my mother-in law, Jeannie Gustad, who agreed and from that point, we started gathering ways to supply our store.”
The original idea was to house the business in a small, older building on the farm that the family called “the shanty.” However, the building needed some work and the project never materialized; instead, the business was started in her mother-in-law’s basement.
“We started with a small, 15 ft x 15 ft portion of the basement and from there, we expanded to the whole length of the basement until the store moved to Beresford in 2009,” explains Gustad. “When we began, we only had cross stitch and hardanger supplies (a type of Norwegian handwork art), but eventually, we added finishing and other services.”
Today, The Shanty Stitchers “promotes the hand arts one stitch at a time,” says Gustad.
“Currently, we have cross stitch supplies, hardanger supplies, wool appliqué, hand embroidery, punch needle and quilting supplies,” she said. “We also offer a full line of finishing–which could include framing, pillow making and long arm quilting.”
Since 2009, the business has occupied a space in downtown Beresford, where Max’s Café was once located. The store itself is a beautiful testament to days gone by and to local history. Inside, visitors will find all the supplies needed for hand crafts, but will also see antiques, a beautiful wooden floor (from the old bowling alley), the cigarette case from Max’s that used to be in the basement where people would go to smoke, an original display case from the beginning days of Beresford, an original tin roof from days gone by, and much more.
Customers come from miles around to visit and shop in the store, but The Shanty Stitchers also has a large online following across the United States.
“ShantyStitchers.com is our online store,” says Gustad. “The distant customer can purchase quilt precuts, quilt patterns, cross stitch patterns and specialty threads from the website. I have shipped to every state in United States and even sometimes Canada.”
In recent years, Gustad has gained an online following with her “Thirsty Thursday” live Facebook posts.
“On Thursdays, we host a Facebook live show which is approximately a 1/2 hour or so where I show or display new items to customers,” said Gustad. “I chat about what is new, upcoming events, and answer questions from those watching. I use a product called Comment Sold, so they can purchase right from my Livecast by typing ‘sold’ and the number of the item. The program sends then a link to pay and I ship out the products the next day.”
For Gustad, The Shanty Stitchers is more than a business – it’s a way of life. She loves to share her passion for the hand arts with others.
“I like to visit with people and offer them a relaxing hobby that produces beautiful results,” says Gustad. “Customers will bring in their finished pieces to share and show and it is very rewarding knowing I helped them on their journey. Working with your hands while quilting, cross stitching, embroidering or doing any craft is very relaxing, rewarding and soothes the soul.”
Gustad encourages all to stop by and check out the store.
“Stop in to indulge in a new hobby of hand crafting or quilting, or pickup supplies for your hobby,” says Gustad. “All the cross stitch, hardanger and quilting displayed in the store has been done by three people: Jeannie Gustad, Peg Nelsen (a local stitcher we hire to cross stitch models for us), or me. So even if you don’t have time or want to be inspired, there are many beautiful pieces inside the store to admire!”
Gustad runs The Shanty Stitchers with some help from trusted employees and family, while also staying busy with seven grandchildren. She and her husband, Jeff, have lived in Beresford since 2004.
“Our grandchild range in age from 10 to 22,” says Gustad. “All of our grandchild are very active in sports and school activities, which keep us very busy during softball, baseball, volleyball, football, basketball and track seasons! We are fortunate they live close and we can attend as many activities as possible.”
Gustad wishes to thank Peg Nelsen of Vermillion, who has stitched may of the pieces on display in the store and who has been working with the store for nearly all of its 40 years of existence.
“Shout out also to Bud and Jeannie Gustad, my in laws,” said Gustad. “The Shanty Stitchers would not have happened if they had not generously helped and offered their home as a starting spot.”
Gustad also wishes to thank the many customers who have become her friends through the years, helping to grow the business.
“Without them supporting and patronizing the store, this celebration would not be happening,” said Gustad. “I also have fantastic employees who are so willing to help and be on call when needed: Judy, Patty, Amber, Erin, Nadine, Nancy, and Sue. They are the best! And most of all, thank you to my husband Jeff along with my kids and grandkids, who have helped and made sacrifices to keep the business growing!”
The Shanty Stitchers is open Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 am to 5 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays, 9 am to 4 pm.
“I encourage everyone to stop in to see the beautiful handwork and quilting on display here, admire the historical building, and to pickup a new hobby!” said Gustad.