“You deserve a hobby.”
For Brennan Ennis ’22, MAcc ’23, those four words have become the heart behind Sunday Shoppe Needlepoint, the online needlepoint shop she launched after discovering a creative outlet that unexpectedly changed the direction of her life.
As needlepoint experiences a resurgence among young adults — fueled by social media and a renewed appreciation for slower, hands-on hobbies — Ennis has found herself at the center of the trend. Through colorful hand-painted canvases, thoughtfully designed project bags and accessories inspired by meaningful memories, she is helping modernize an art form often associated with previous generations.
Growing up in Birmingham, Ennis was surrounded by entrepreneurship through her parents, both small business owners. That mindset followed her to Samford University, where she found encouragement and community in the Brock School of Business.
“Samford taught me how valuable it is to collaborate with people who think differently than you do,” Ennis said. “There were so many people building each other up and encouraging creativity.”
After graduation, Ennis found herself craving a hobby that would help her unplug from screens and slow down. Around that same time, needlepoint videos began repeatedly appearing on her TikTok feed. Eventually, curiosity won out.
“I finally thought, ‘Fine, I’m going to try this,’” Ennis said with a laugh. “And immediately, I loved it.”
Needlepoint quickly became more than a hobby. It gave Ennis a creative outlet and a sense of calm amid the fast pace of daily life.
“It gave me a way to slow down and get off my phone,” she said. “There’s something really peaceful about creating something stitch by stitch. It forces you to be present.”
Soon, Ennis began sketching and painting her own designs inspired by travel memories, favorite restaurants, family traditions and Southern life. Many of Sunday Shoppe’s most popular pieces are rooted in nostalgia and sentimentality.
“I love things that tell a story,” she said. “I love the idea that a needlepoint ornament or pillow can remind someone of a specific season of life or memory.”
Rather than approaching needlepoint as only a traditional hobby, Ennis has built Sunday Shoppe around the idea that stitched pieces can feel modern, stylish and seamlessly incorporated into everyday life. Her designs are meant to feel equally at home in a stitching bag or styled on a bookshelf.
“I want people to look at something and think it’s beautiful even outside of needlepoint,” she said. “I want it to feel like an accessory or part of your home.”
Today, Sunday Shoppe Needlepoint continues to grow through new collections, custom pieces and creative collaborations. But for Ennis, the business remains rooted in a simple idea: encouraging people to embrace creativity and make space for hobbies that bring joy.
“Everyone needs something that fills their cup,” she said.
