Carla Shehan-Sturgis enjoys volunteering and knitting hats, scarves and mittens for the homeless and child and youth organizations. She will receive a dedication to volunteer service award in May from the Community Arts Center of Cambria County. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Delightful Ewe owner Carla Shehan-Sturgis specializes in service, and as many of her friends have attested, that’s not only her business model, it’s her way of life.

Longtime friend Vicky Butler learned how to knit sweaters and shawls from Shehan-Sturgis, who teaches classes at her yarn shop every Saturday morning.

Butler, whose significant other recently passed away, said Shehan-Sturgis knitted hats and donated them to the homeless ministry her partner was involved with and has been a supportive friend throughout the years.

“She is here for you and she will do everything she can for you,” Butler said. “She cares about everybody.”

Chris Moyer of Duncansville said, she’s known Shehan-Sturgis for so many years, she doesn’t remember when they first met, but she remembers how they became friends.

Moyer and her sister-in-law wanted to learn how to knit. They discovered the Delightful Ewe, and like Butler, became close friends with all of the people there.

“We’ve all been through something, and we know we can count on each other,” Moyer said, noting Shehan-Sturgis is the one who ties them all together, creating a supportive and judgment-free zone.

Moyer said learning how to knit was difficult at first, but Shehan-Sturgis “always provided support” and would help her out whenever she got stuck on a project.

Lisa Claar of Hollidays­burg said she’s been attending Shehan-Sturgis’ knitting classes for more than a decade.

Back when she first started attending, Claar said she knew how to knit dishcloths but wanted to learn how to knit socks.

“I took her class and I knitted about half a sock and decided socks weren’t for me,” Claar said with a laugh. “But I’ve been knitting lots of stuff ever since. Carla took me past my dishcloth-only stage.”

Service recognized

In May, Shehan-Sturgis will receive a dedication to volunteer service award from the Community Arts Center of Cambria County at the 26th Richard G. and Wanda I. Baker teacher and volunteer recognition awards luncheon.

Although Shehan-Sturgis said she was shocked when she found out she would be receiving the recognition, Claar said it’s “absolutely not surprising” that someone like Shehan-Sturgis would be selected for the honor.

“I’m glad she’s being recognized,” Claar said. “A lot of times, I think volunteers don’t always get the recognition, but it doesn’t surprise me at all. Carla’s always doing something to help someone. She’s always looking for ways to help; not just when something falls in her lap.”

Shehan-Sturgis said she feels there are other volunteers at the center who are more deserving of the recognition than she is, but she feels honored that people appreciate what she does for the center.

“I don’t feel like I do enough, living the distance I live from there,” Shehan-Sturgis said, adding she lives with her husband, Jeff Rinscheid, in Bedford.

Shehan-Sturgis has crocheted since she was 9 years old and taught herself to knit in her early 20s. She has knit sweaters for a New York designer, in addition to several national yarn companies, and sells her own designs on Ravelry.

Shehan-Sturgis served as president of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s Bedford Chapter for many years until it disbanded and organized the juried craft show inside St. Thomas School during the Bedford Fall Foliage for 23 years. She currently volunteers with the Community Arts Center of Cambria County for its annual Holly Bazaar.

Angela Godin, the center’s executive director, said Shehan-Sturgis is the best candidate for the volunteer recognition because she has a great eye for detail and is an all-encompassing volunteer, willing to help out wherever needed.

“She is absolutely one of the kindest individuals. She’s so patient and so caring. But she pays such a great attention to detail in all the little pieces and components that she does,” Godin said.

Rinscheid said the fact that Shehan-Sturgis is being recognized for her volunteer efforts is “a nice tip of the cap.”

“I think she’s proud of it, but she won’t admit that,” Rinscheid said. “It’s clear she’s been talented all along, but to her, it’s just what she does.”

Whenever they go anywhere together, Rinscheid said he generally drives because Shehan-Sturgis is knitting constantly.

Rinscheid said she carries two sets of knitting with her at all times — one for daytime knitting and one for nighttime knitting.

“She can make it in the dark without even having to look,” he said.

Shehan-Sturgis said she enjoys getting to teach people new things.

In a couple weeks, when her business moves from its current location, 206 Bedford St. Rear, to the adjacent property at 200 Bedford St. Suite A, Shehan-Sturgis said she’ll be able to offer more space for teaching sessions.

“I’ll be glad when it’s all done,” Shehan-Sturgis jokingly said of moving all her supplies over to the new location.

“I have a group of knitters who faithfully come in. It’s a good camaraderie for people to develop friendships,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.

The Shehan-Sturgis file

Name: Carla Shehan-Sturgis

Age: 67

Family: Jeff Rinscheid, husband

Residence: Bedford

Education: Central High School, Martinsburg, Class of 1975; small business management degree from Prince George’s Community College, Maryland

Career: Legal secretary, Dean Lower, Hollidaysburg, 1975-90; court reporter, U.S. Senate, 1990-94; owner, Delightful Ewe, a yarn shop in Hollidaysburg, 2000-present

Hobbies: Crocheting and knitting

Volunteer work: Served as president of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s Bedford Chapter, organized the juried craft show at the St. Thomas School in Bedford for 23 years and is currently the co-chair of the Community Arts Center of Cambria County’s annual Holly Bazaar event