ABOUT US
Life Is Better in a Lake Girl State of Mind
ABOUT US
Life Is Better in a Lake Girl State of Mind
A Birmingham needlepoint tradition since 1978.
For more than forty-five years, stitchers have come through our doors for canvases and threads, classes and advice and often stayed for the friendships they found along the way.
Today, that story continues as Lake Girl Needlepoint.
The name may be new, but the feeling behind it has been here all along: a comfortable place to settle in, work on something you love, ask for help when you need it, and spend time with people who get just as excited about a beautiful canvas as you do.
And the Lake Girl part? That’s a state of mind.
It’s relaxed, inspired, content, and wonderfully unhurried. It’s morning coffee and nowhere you need to be. A cozy couch during a thunderstorm. A sunny afternoon that stretches a little longer than expected. Wherever your happy place happens to be, we believe needlepoint can take you there.
Every stitch is a little escape.
Meet Lisa Osikowicz
The Lake Girl Behind the Shop
Lake Girl Needlepoint founder, Lisa Osikowicz, took the helm of The Needleworks in 2018, drawn to both the craft and the community that had grown around this Birmingham institution.
As its next chapter began to take shape, Lisa saw an opportunity to hold onto everything people loved about the shop while giving it a name and home that reflected the feeling she wanted people to have when they walked through the door.
Relaxed. Comfortable. Inspired. Happy to stay awhile.
Lake Girl Needlepoint was born from that idea.
Today, Lisa continues the tradition of personal service that has defined the shop for decades while bringing fresh energy to its future. You'll still find her helping choose a canvas, talking through a project, catching up with a longtime customer, or welcoming someone into the shop.
Meet our Instructors
Linda Watkins
Linda has worked in the needlework industry for more than 20 years, with extensive experience helping customers and teaching students the art of needlepoint.
Her depth of knowledge, approachable personality, and willingness to share what she knows make Linda a trusted resource for stitchers. Whether answering a quick question or helping someone work through a new technique, she makes learning feel comfortable and encouraging.
Kathy Stolpin
Kathy has been teaching creative needlepoint for more than 28 years, including over 20 years right here at the shop. A Michigan native, she studied Biology, Education, and Drama at Mott Community College and the University of Michigan–Flint—a combination that, as Kathy would say, uniquely prepared her to teach needlepoint!
Throughout her career, Kathy has studied with nationally recognized needle art instructors including Chottie Alderson, Jean Hilton, Joyce Lukomski, and Jane Zimmerman. Her own needlework has received numerous awards, including a blue ribbon at an American Needlepoint Guild national show.
Kathy also brings a unique perspective on color and composition shaped by her husband Bill's career as a fine art printmaker, along with her own natural eye for texture and technique.
Most of all, Kathy is known for her relaxed classroom atmosphere and personable teaching style. Her ability to combine deep expertise with an easygoing approach has earned her a loyal following of students over the years.
Shay Pendray
We are pleased to have Shay Pendray as a staff member and teacher. She has taught needlepoint for over 50 years, is a certified teacher of The Embroiderer’s Guild of America, hosted the successful PBS program, Needle Arts Studio, shown on over 300 stations nationwide. Visit YouTube to view several of the shows. She has written 4 books about needlepoint. Shay has studied at the Glasgow School of Fine Arts, The Victoria Albert in England, plus numerous trips to Japan to study Japanese Embroidery. She is now considered a sensei of Japanese Embroidery .
Shay will be in our store every Tuesday teaching a class or here to greet and help you with your project.
Our needlepoint store also carries Shay‘s laying tool and we are happy to demonstrate how the BLT laying tool glides your threads onto your canvas for the maximum effect.
The Finishing Touch
Your needlepoint experience doesn't end with the last stitch! We partner with a talented network of professional finishers to bring your completed projects to life. We'll take the time to discuss your vision, explore the possibilities and help you select the right finishing approach for your one-of-a-kind creation.