For over five decades, the mother-daughter owned business, Diversions Needlepoint, has woven its way into the fabric of Colorado – and now resides in Englewood’s creative community.
Colorado native and owner of Diversions, Cari Davis, was inspired by her late mother, Mary Lou Kidder, to practice the art of needlepoint. It was her passion for the art that eventually led her to pursue it as a career.
“I saw her doing it and wanted to do it,” Davis said. “(I love) the color, the people, the challenge, the creativity, and I love the tactile. I enjoy the kinesthetic.”
Davis was also inspired by a unique shop she discovered while studying in Boston to create her own store. After graduating college, Davis returned to Colorado with a clear goal: to open a business that offered a wide variety of fiber arts.
In 1970, she and Kidder opened their first store in Vail, offering supplies for knitting, needlepoint, embroidery and macramé.
In 1979, after life changes – such as both women getting married – Davis and Kidder relocated to Denver and ran Diversions out of Mary Lou’s basement.
The shop participated in the Junior League of Denver’s annual Mile High Holiday Mart, which is a popular event in Colorado, and found a new home at the Women’s Exchange where they remained for several years before that shop closed and they came to Englewood.
“They all wanted to retire, but mom wasn’t ready yet, and I wasn’t ready,” Davis said. “So we came to Englewood and we were at Hampden and Gilpin in that little shopping center for about 26 years. And then we needed more room, so we moved to this location. And we’ve been here, I think, for seven years.”
Diversions is now located at 410 W. Hampden Ave. in Englewood.
Mandy Adams, Davis’ daughter, also works at Diversions and she said she grew up in the fiber business, even making her first project – a belt – at the age of 4.
Adams brought her artistic talents to the shop, offering custom design services such as hand-painted canvases for needlepoint projects. Her ability to turn a customer’s vision into a unique work of art quickly became a hallmark of the store.
“I was just born artistic,” Adams said. “I always drew and painted and played with color from the time I was just a little one. (I am) awful at math and everything else, but I can kind of draw.”
For Davis, working every day with Adams is one of the best aspects of owning her business.
“Working together is wonderful,” Davis said. “When your kids grow, you don’t get to see them that much. But when they work with you, it’s wonderful if you get to see her a lot.”
Something that sets Diversions apart is not only its products and services but also its strong sense of community. The staff, a mix of paid employees and volunteers, is knowledgeable and passionate about needlepoint. Many of the staff members ensure that customers always receive expert guidance and support.
“We’ve got a great group of women and wonderful people that volunteer here to help people,” Davis said. “Every day is different. You never know what’s going to happen or who’s going to walk in the door, and that makes it fun.”
Diversions’ customers come from all over, including nearby neighborhoods to as far as South Dakota and even Argentina.
The impact of the pandemic on the crafting world was notable. With people spending more time at home, Adams said, many rediscovered old projects or started new ones.
The shop saw an increase in new customers, particularly younger people, who were drawn to the meditative qualities of needlepoint.
Adams and Davis explained they believe the reason people love it so much is because of how much it helps with focus and relaxation.
“Oh, it’s highly addictive (and meditative),” Davis said. “It actually does kick off endorphins, which gives you a feeling of wellbeing while you’re sitting and stitching. It also gives your mind a chance to kind of get it together.”
Adams said she enjoys the challenge and creative aspects of her art.
“(I love) making people happy and I don’t even realize … the impact. You’re making heirlooms,” Adams said.
One challenge both Adams and Davis said they must face is competition with online businesses. However, despite that, they preserve and really enjoy the community they’ve built.
“We love the community and going somewhere to work every day,” Adams said. “We have a lot of people that have become friends, just from coming in so much, and that we know what they’re up to. It’s like a clubhouse.”
As the shop celebrates over five decades of business, they remain committed to providing a welcoming space where people can explore their creativity, build connections and find inspiration.
For them, it’s not just about selling products — it’s about building a community of makers.
“We hope to keep making people happy and inspire future generations and to keep needlework alive,” Davis said.
For more information on Diversions visit http://www.diversionsneedlepoint.com/Products.html.
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Originally from Oklahoma, Elisabeth Slay has been a reporter for the last 11 years. During that time she's worked for various publications across Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado covering local news. She...