A little about me
Since being discharged from the Navy in 1986, I have been doing business as Woodside Country Store, doing freelance graphic design, quilt pattern design, and textile art. I have a degree in interior design from Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!) and was in the kitchen and bath design field for a number of years.
A couple of years ago, I began working on the Library of Congress course for Braille Transcription as a sideline interest after doing some research. In 2005, I was diagnosed with macular degeneration. This stepped up my desire to become more proficient in Braille. I'm still studying, because I think it will become an increasingly important part of my life in the future.
Why I started this business
Instead of this new stage of my life making me want to throw in the proverbial towel, I decided to try something new. I made the first prototype shirt for myself in 2003, using a new heat set type of Swarovski crystals, and put on it an old bumper sticker witticism "If you can read this, you are too close". Friends liked it! They ordered some for their other friends for presents. And so the story goes from there.
My clients include both visually impaired and sighted customers. The great part of doing these shirts for me is the feedback I get from the recipients. It's a novelty item, sure, but one with some meaning and (pun intended) feeling.
Thank you for your interest in my little business.
Alice Woodside
Please join me in supporting the Foundation Fighting Blindness. A cure is in sight.