After 26 years as an educator, Debra Tuggle has turned a lifelong hobby into a successful business.

Debra Tuggle has always loved to sew. Growing up, Debra’s mother tailor-made clothing for her and her siblings. Throughout her childhood and into college, Debra learned to sew, making many of her own clothes.

“My mother was a big inspiration for me,” Debra says. “She taught me everything I know.”

Debra picked up different crafts over the years, and these crafts came in handy while teaching her children, both at home and in the classroom. For 26 years, Debra taught in the Jefferson County school system. Teaching almost every elementary grade, she interacted with children in different developmental stages and used arts and crafts to connect with the children in a fun way.

“I always told my students’ parents, ‘Children care when they know you care.’ I loved my students and my job, and I loved finding fun ways to show them I cared,” says Debra.

After retirement, Debra began helping her husband in his hardware store in Curry. During her free time, one could find her in the back of the store running an embroidery machine. She soon began displaying her creations in the store and quickly sold them all.

“I noticed we had a lot of women customers in the hardware store,” says Debra. “Most of them figuring out how to repair things in their homes, and I think they enjoyed seeing something pretty they could buy for themselves.”

Debra’s hobby began to grow, and women began buying all her inventory and requesting more. Monogram Fever’s Unique Boutique was born, taking its own place in the hardware store.

Debra then began customizing clothing and hats as well as selling jewelry and accessories. Soon, she outgrew the hardware store and another small pop-up.

In 2017, the boutique opened its first storefront at 5100 Curry Highway, Unit 180, in the same shopping center as her husband’s hardware store. It has since expanded to around 3,600 square feet of retail space and ships orders all over the United States.

The store offers personalization of vinyl, embroidery, screen printing, and logos. There is also a large selection of clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, jewelry, men’s gifts and toiletries, lotions and skin care, a large baby registry, and more.

“It’s become a department store. We offer things that no one else around here does,” says Debra.

Monogram Fever’s also has a mobile boutique that travels to schools and events. As a former educator, Debra is adamant about helping schools and teachers through fundraisers.

“I understand that, as a teacher, it’s hard to find time to shop,” says Debra. “Our mobile boutique gives teachers and students the chance to shop while raising money for their schools.”

Debra’s lifelong love of sewing has turned into a successful business that anyone in Walker County and the surrounding areas can enjoy.

“We provide an affordable service to the community, and we love our customers,” says Debra. “It makes me happy to know that through my business, I can pay their kindness back.” 78

Monogram Fever’s Unique Boutique is located at 5100 Curry Hwy # 180. Connect with the store on Facebook and Instagram, or call (205) 512-1115.