Stitching dreams into reality, one thread at a time
With the assistance of Jen Marsh (left), Mary and Joe Koval come alongside Wahl to pass ownership of the building that currently houses Mary’s Quilt Shop and will be the future home of Twila’s.
Taylor Wahl is creating a unique haven for creativity with her new store, Twila’s — a creative hub for makers and creators in the community. And, Wahl says it all started with a call to Startup Alleghenies. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them,” she said. “Jen Marsh is my coach and the best person in the world. She has provided connections, resources and invaluable advice. She helped connect me with attorneys, finalize my business plan and secure funding through banks, turning my vision into a reality.”
“When Taylor first called me, she said, ‘I want to buy a building,’” Marsh explained. “I was immediately impressed with Taylor’s drive and passion. She had a vision to bring new life to the building and to her business. She is tenacious, smart and, equally important, willing to listen, learn and do the work. It has been a pleasure working with Taylor, and we’re eager to continue our support as her bright future unfolds.”
Finding a passion for sewing
Wahl’s journey into the sewing world began when she received a sewing machine as a Christmas gift. “I wanted to make American Girl doll clothes,” she shared. “So that’s what I did; I made doll clothes and then made myself clothes to match them. I honed my craft through my teenage years, creating bags and other handmade items, then during the pandemic, I started to quilt.”
“I have been creating for as long as I can remember. I always thought I wanted to be an art teacher but decided to study business instead,” she continued. “I never thought I would open a quilt shop, but in a way, I will get to be an art teacher after all.”
As a college senior, Taylor Wahl is making her mark on this beautiful, historic Bedford building by bringing new life to an old craft.
Restoring a lost art
The new business existence owes much to the serendipity of timing and opportunity. “Mary’s Quilt Shop was in this building,” Wahl explained. “Mary, the current shop owner, is looking to retire after a successful career in the textile industry. She approached me about opening my own sewing store. She wanted to ensure that there would be a young person in Bedford to spread the art to a new generation. I eventually purchased the entire building from Mary for adequate space to bring even more art to the community.”
I want to provide classes so that I am not only describing and teaching how to sew but helping emerging artists make a tangible creation they can proudly call their own.
“There is a demand for handcrafted items,” Wahl said. “I believe learning skills like sewing is crucial to historical and cultural preservation. I want to continue arts like quilting and garment making to avoid them becoming lost. I am inspired to use my skills to educate others, and I believe I can make a positive change to the people around me.”
Wahl said she couldn’t come up with a name for her new shop but wanted to have a sense of nostalgia, so she decided to call it “Twila’s.”. “Twila was my great-grandmother; I look a lot like her, and her name was derived from twill of fabric, and she was a seamstress, so it seemed so fitting to call my shop Twila’s,” she said. “As an additional tribute to heritage, each room within the building is thoughtfully named after Twila’s sisters, transforming the studio into a haven of warmth and homage to the remarkable women who paved the way for Twila’s.”
Primarily self-taught, with plenty of mentors along the way, Wahl has honed her skills since she was a young girl with a dream to make doll clothing.
Vision for the future
Wahl said that Twila’s will be more than a quilt shop. “It will be a creative hub that transcends generations,” she shared. “I envision a space where individuals, regardless of age, can nurture their artistic inclinations. I hope this is a space where people will have the freedom to create.”
What sets Twila’s apart is Wahl’s secret sauce – making creativity fun and appealing to the younger generation. “Collaborations with neighboring businesses will enrich the studio’s offerings, engaging a diverse audience,” Wahl said. “I want to provide classes so that I am not only describing and teaching how to sew but helping emerging artists make a tangible creation they can proudly call their own.”
“It will be a creative hub that transcends generations,” she shared. “I envision a space where individuals, regardless of age, can nurture their artistic inclinations. I hope this is a space where people will have the freedom to create.”
Advice to young entrepreneurs
Wahl offers this advice as a beacon for young entrepreneurs, particularly to those still in college: “Checklists—make checklists for everything to help prioritize what needs to be done in what order,” she said. “It can be easy to get lost in the weeds of all the small details and lose sight of the big picture. Checklists helped me navigate the big, important decisions and tasks.”
She found the perfect synergy between her artistic aspirations and entrepreneurial dreams while pursuing her business degree. And, as her journey continues, Wahl sets her sights on the next milestone on an August open house, where Twila’s will welcome the community to celebrate creativity, heritage and dreams woven together.
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
