Meet Leigh LaMarca of Evanleigh Embroidery in Kennesaw

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leigh LaMarca.

Leigh, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My whole life I have been around sewing and women who are very creative! My mom started her own sewing business when I was in middle school after my older sister volunteered her to sew some items for her high school band.

My mom would “hand down” her old sewing machines and embroidery machines to my sister and I when she got new ones.

I had had an embroidery machine for years, but having 3 boys, I didn’t find a need for it until, surprise, I had a girl. I started embroidering bibs, onesies and diaper bags for her and my friends and neighbors really loved what I was doing. After being asked for about a year to embroider towels for gifts for my friends, I thought maybe I could make a small business out of this. I stayed home since my first son was born, and now my daughter, last of 4, was starting preschool.

I took a class on “How to Start Your Own Embroidery Business” with my mother in March of 2009, after that, I got a business license and have grown from there.

Having 4 kids has been my best, free advertisement. I would embroider a shirt or bag for one of the teams they were on, show up to a game or meet, and people would ask where they could get one of the same. My kids have been in Soccer, Baseball, Swim Team, Cheerleading, Football, Tennis, and Band a ton of stuff so business just grew and grew. Thanks to Facebook, I have been able to post picture of different jobs I have done, and am able to get new customers from there.

As the kids get older, they are now asking me to make things for teachers and girlfriends. It’s kinda fun coming up with clever things to say on shirts for them!

Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a slow and steady road to where I am today. I started with a little Brother embroidery machine that would only sew a 4×4 size area to a bigger 6 needle machine that sews faster and larger designs with more colors to a 4 Head (a machine that sew 4 of the same logo at the same time). Which has taken my business to the next level.

Juggling a business and 4 kids has been my only challenge. I want to do everything. I never want to tell a customer “no”. I remember my mom being up all night to complete a job for a school or team. She never wanted to let anyone down and neither do I.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Evanleigh Embroidery – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I own an Embroidery Business, I can also cut vinyl and apply that to clothing, bags or other items. I take your idea and make it a reality.

I’m most proud of loving what I do! Not a lot of people can say that. I love the look on people’s faces when they see what I have done for them or hearing customers come back and tell me how much their family/friends loved the gift that I made for them.

What sets me apart, in my mind, is that I not only Embroider, I can Digitize and sew. As well as I can monogram towels for you, I can make you a set of curtains! (Not that I tell everyone!)

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love living in Kennesaw. It’s super quaint. I’m close to Lake Allatoona, Acworth Beach, Kennesaw Mountain, and not too far from Stone Mountain and downtown Atlanta.

Traffic is getting a bit out of control, but I’m not telling anyone something new!

Pricing:

• $6 4×4 Monograms
• $5-$8 Full Names (depending on size)
• Logos based on stitch count

Contact Info:

• Address: 3445 Owens Landing Drive
  Kennesaw, GA 30152
• Phone: 678-557-6922
• Email: lasharka@yahoo.com
• Instagram: mom24wildkids
• Facebook: Evanleigh Embroidery

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.