07/07/2025
❤️
Stitch by Stitch: The Story Behind The Rustic Hydrangea
Day 1: Meet the Maker
Hi! I'm Shelby—the hands and heart behind The Rustic Hydrangea.
This little business was born during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Just before the world turned upside down, I took a quilting class from Magnolia Heirlooms in February 2020... and I was instantly bitten by the quilting bug—hard! That strange season of uncertainty (and all that extra time at home) allowed me to dig deeper into my newfound hobby. And let me tell you—I jumped in headfirst. By Christmas of 2020, with the help of Mrs. Kathy (owner of Magnolia Heirlooms and a real-life quilting angel), I made not one, not two, but FOUR quilts as Christmas presents. I’m pretty sure she thought I’d lost my mind—honestly, I thought the same once or twice—but we finished them just in time to wrap them up a few hours before they were opened.
But here’s the thing: quilting, and quilts themselves, have been part of my story all along.
I grew up watching two of my great-grandmothers quilt. Their stitches were everywhere—in the quilts we snuggled on the couch, the beds we slept in, the boxes tucked away with half-finished blocks and scraps. One of them reminded us often that quilts were made to be used and enjoyed, not hidden away in a closet.
That legacy stuck with me.
The Rustic Hydrangea became my way to honor their memory—to carry forward a legacy of handmade comfort and help others do the same. Whether I’m stitching a cherished recipe in Grandmother’s handwriting onto a kitchen towel or piecing together a quilt block, I —and I hope you do too. 💛
I’m so glad you’re here. Stick around—this week’s going to be a fun one!
