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It’s been nearly two years since The Blue Button Quilts and Embroidery sharpened its first pair of scissors in March 2023. The shop in LaFayette held its second ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday in celebration of the store’s rebranding and renaming hosted by the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce. 

“The chamber is excited to be here, to be involved in this exciting time for the blue button as we celebrate the grand opening of the rebranding, as they introduce their new line,” said Carrie Wood, GVACC Executive Director. 

Now known simply as The Blue Button, the locally owned shop got its start back in March as a quilting and embroidery store. However, as business has expanded, owners Adee Nelms and Rick Nightingale have decided to make use of the space in the storefront. 

“Our business has done great, and our embroidery business is continuing to grow,,” Nelms said. “And we realized we had this really awesome retail space in front of our store, and it gave us the opportunity to present more to the city.”

“I find myself in LaFayette quite often,” Wood said during the ribbon cutting. “That means growth in our city and within our businesses, and when our own businesses can grow, that is amazing.”

The gift shop will feature gift items that represent the city of LaFayette from candles named after Joe Louis and the Pine Tree Festival and town events to “LaFayette”-embroidered tea towels. Nelms said she tries to source most of her shop inventory from Alabama-based and locally women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.

“We’ve done a lot of candles that represent the city, so all of the names of our candles are based on businesses and or people,” Nelms said. “… We love LaFayette, and we like being a part of what’s happening here.”

“I tell everybody all the time, if you’re going to and invest in the city of Lafayette, we have to invest in you all as well, and that’s what we plan on doing,” said LaFayette Mayor Kenneth Vines. 

Nelms added that many of the front of house items will be able to be sold right away or they can be embroidered which incorporates the quilt and embroidery business in back. 

The shop is not only a member of the GVACC but also of LaFayette Main Street, an organization that works to stimulate the economy and tourism around downtown. 

“Both of these organizations have supported us and helped us grow, and are part of the reason we’re able to expand,” Nelms said.

“It just warms my heart to see tea towels and ornaments and now a new line of candles that actually say ‘LaFayette.’ I think that’s something that’s very special to so many people from all over,” said DeAnna Hand, director of LaFayette Main Street.

Nelms has been sewing for over 10 years. She started out as a garment seamstress, creating clothing for her children. After teaching sewing at a quilt shop called Sunday Best Quiltworks in Ellerslie, Georgia, she discovered quilting.

Nelms opened her first quilting business in Columbus in 2016. Later, in 2020, she moved her business to LaFayette.