The idea for Moody Brown began when Neilanne Verdell drew several famous Arkansas landmarks for her high school Crafts & Pottery students to embroider. Her former student and fellow art teacher, Sara Brannen suggested they screen print the designs onto tea towels. They included one of the school counselors, Lessie Kirchner, who also happens to be Neilanne’s best friend since college. In 2018, a studio was rented in St. Josephs Center in North Little Rock, a historic former orphanage, and the three novice screen printers began their adventure.
Neilanne had been selling furniture and other items in vintage market shows. Her last name had been Brown, and she decided to sell whatever she was in the mood to make, so she named the business Moody Brown. They decided to keep this name for their tea towel business.
Traveling all over Arkansas, seeing the sights that make it such a special place, eating in restaurants that have been around for decades, and learning the stories that only the locals know is what we do. Every town is special in one way or another, and we love learning about them and capturing the essence in a simple drawing. We love seeing our customers find a towel with their town on it and listening to their stories.