GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO)--The embroidery machine in Linda Mulleady's home clicks away as she sorts through a stack of cloth. Mulleady says, "Well when I was a little girl my grandmother used to make me sew she used to make me sit on telephone books because I was so little." Now Mulleady, sans the phone books, is threading her way across the Grand Valley. "I love to design clothes. That what I would love to do is design clothes for a living," says Mulleady. In the meantime she makes children's sundresses, aprons, dolls and other unique creations, each with their own custom embroidery.
"So when you give that to someone it's like for them. With their name, their date on it, it makes it more personal," she says.

Mulleady used to give away all her handiwork, until her husband suggested she sell it. Something she didn't believe she could do. "And I was like 'oh my gosh, you have to be kidding me they actually want my stuff," says Mulleady. That was when Coolstitch.com was born.

That's also similar to how friend and fellow seamstress Yvonne Cain got her start. Cain says, "My daughter–in–law wanted a purse and I saw hers and she said 'I want one like this' so I thought I'll try it. And that was the beginning about two years ago." Each of Cain's purses is one of a kind something she says can help avoid any awkward wardrobe malfunction. "So you don't run into your purse walking down the street," says Cain laughing. Working under the name Cain’s Creations, she also makes insulated curling iron bags, as well as glasses cases, gift bags and other small handbags. Together you could say these two women have a pattern for success.

If you have or know of a business you'd like to see features on our 11cares for business segment you can email Aaron at aaron.luna@nbc11news.com.

Yvonne Cain can be contacted at 970-261-0592 or 970-254-1592.

For Cool Stitch, click the link below.