Meet Our Staff

Kathy Neal
Co-Owner

I began sewing in 1986. I started with making a crib set and learning how to read a pattern in anticipation of my first child.  I continued sewing clothes for my 5 children and learning the process of straight stitching to heirloom sewing. After they grew up, I turned to quilting which became a passion for me. After moving to Spain and trying to learn a new language and culture, quilting became my refuge. I began to teach quilting while I was in Spain, then I began to get calls to travel to teach. I moved home a few years ago, and quilting continued to be my support as I began to work at Beginnings. When the opportunity came to partner with Todd and be Beginnings co-owner, I felt it was a gift from God.

Todd Simmons
Co-Owner

I'm a lifelong sewer, having learned from my father at a very young age. Sewing has been a passion of mine ever since. I enjoy all kinds of techniques, my current favorites being quilt ing, machine embroidery, and surface design. I also have experience with garment construction and heirloom techniques. You'll find me in the shop helping customers find the perfect sewing machine for their needs, teaching machine embroidery, helping customers troubleshoot their machines, leading serger techniques classes, and more.

Marti Sofie

I grew up in a family of sewers. My grandmother made us quilts from the scraps leftover from mother sewing our clothes. That began my love of quilts and fabric. I retired from nursing in December of 2018, and working at Beginnings is my dream retirement job. I love to play with color and design, and of course, pet the fabric!

Marti is a talented quilt designer, and has put together many of our quilt kits and sewn samples in the store.

Suzanne DeLaGarza

I began crafting with my mother as a child. Always interested in creating something new, I continued to create throughout my life. When my sister moved to Rutherfordton, NC we opened a scrapbook store together. I not only enjoyed scrapbooking but also learned to enjoy beading, watercolor painting and multi-media art. In 2020, I started sewing small animals, by hand, to give to children at my husband's pediatric office. Before long I purchased a sewing machine and started to learn to sew. Today I love to work and teach at Beginnings Quilt Shop. I also enjoy quilting, making bags, and more.

Kathy Baldwin

I have been quilting for about 35 years. My husband bought me a sewing machine shortly after our marriage in 1985 which I still use. As we moved around the country, I took classes from several quilt teachers including Georgia Bonesteel back in Dayton, Ohio in the 1980’s. We lived in Maryland for about 25 years before moving to Fletcher, North Carolina. While in Maryland I worked at two local quilt shops, one in Annapolis, the other in Crofton. I taught some classes in the Annapolis shop. Over the years, I’ve given the quilting bug to several friends/neighbors who had never quilted prior to their lessons with me. They learned one thing that still is a problem for me….FINISHING THE PROJECT.

Lynn Easler
Founder

Years ago, my husband and I were impatiently waiting for a greatly anticipated adoption of a baby. To help pass the time, I took a beginning quilt class, which turned out to be a life-changing event. When I finished my first block, I quickly ran to my husband and told him I had found what I could do the rest of my life: quilt!  Twenty-two years and 18 children later, I have come to realize what a gift quilting was to me. It gave me creative outlets when I was surrounded by toddlers, and it provided many wonderful friendships when I had feelings of isolation.

In October 2019, Lynn retired from the business to concentrate on her family. We honor her dedication in building a vibrant quilting community at Beginnings.