Beloved Rockhampton shop to close after 18 years in business

“I’m 73 this year and I have been teaching Japanese embroidery for some time and it will just give me more time to do more of that”

Dianne Jeha and Sloane Alexander at Needlework Cottage. Picture: Aden Stokes

One of Rockhampton’s most iconic patchwork shops, Needlework Cottage, is soon closing its doors and customers are rushing to the store for its massive final sale.

Dianne Jeha said she was excited to be going into retirement, after running the store since 2003.

“I’m 73 this year and I have been teaching Japanese embroidery for some time and it will just give me more time to do more of that, and perhaps even other embroideries,” Ms Jeha said.

“To spend my time enjoying it a little bit more instead of working so many hours.

“It started out as a hobby and its going back to a hobby.

“I am really pleased to getting back to doing some things for myself.”

She started sewing at the age of eight or nine, creating dolls, dresses and her own clothes.

Dianne Jeha and Sloane Alexander at Needlework Cottage. Picture: Aden Stokes

It became a natural progression for her to keep creating patchwork for around her home.

Ms Jeha eventually turned her hobby into a career, running Needlework Cottage with her daughter, Sloane Alexander, for about 18 years.

Many people have rushed to the historic location on Quay Street for Needlework Cottage’s closing down sale, with the store to be vacated by July 10.

Although Ms Jeha’s retirement is the main reason the store is closing, parking was also an issue.

She said if she continued the store, she may have needed to find a new shopfront to operate from.

“The council have made it more and more difficult for me to operate a business in this area,” she said.

“I think they’ve made the CBD very, very beautiful and I congratulate them for that, but as far as businesspeople for this area, they have not helped them.”

She said some people haven’t felt like walking four or five blocks from their carpark to support her business.

Nonetheless, she said she had made many friends while operating the business and thanked the Rockhampton people for being so supportive of her.

“I would have loved to have had somebody take it on, unfortunately that hasn't happened,” she said.