Our History

Audrey, Donald, and David LaValley

Donald and Audrey LaValley opened Bittersweet Fabrics in 1968. Audrey was a telephone operator for New England Telephone and Donald was head training officer for the New Hampshire Department of Corrections. Starting the business in the living room of their home they grew it into one of the top Janome dealerships in the United States.

Donald and Audrey worked tirelessly to promote sewing and quilting with a positive image that was widely recognized throughout the Northeast US, among their fellow dealers and consumers alike as being unrivaled in customer service, education and support that has grown and promoted sewing to many generations.

Their accomplishments included lecturing at the first Janome Institute, being selected as one of three dealers for Janome's VDTA Dealer

Advertisements in 2008, participating in the national introduction of the Memory Craft 11000 in 2005, sponsoring the Vermont Quilt Festival's Lt. Governor's Award for First Time Youth Sewers, recognition as a top 25 Janome Dealer from 2005 to 2017 and induction into the Sewing Machine Hall of Fame in 2011.

Their son David joined the business in 1998 and continues the exemplary service, dedication to educating and engaging quilters of all ages, and carries and services the Janome line of products started by Donald and Audrey in 1968.