In the Beginning, a Dream .....

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep....
Whatever you wish for, you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru...

If you keep on believing

The dream that you wish will come true.

It all started many years ago, in an old run-down five-and-dime on Mission Street in San Francisco. I remember the day so well. I was probably somewhere around 10 years old and my absolute favorite part of the store was upstairs – the fabric department. Mama would shop and I would stand there and just watch the ladies flip those bolts and cut, cut, cut! I was awestruck.

This particular day, a lady was cutting fabric for ME! She looked just like the mom from My Three Sons … so slim, with her hair pinned up, with a pretty apron on; I wanted to be just like her. I remember asking her if I could get a job with her cutting fabric. I just knew I could do it, after all, I had been taking sewing lessons for FOREVER! But much to my disappointment, she told me I couldn’t until I was MUCH older, like 16! Wow, that wasn’t until forever from then.

Time went by, 16 came and went. I was busy in high school, playing the piano for youth choir, and yes, ALWAYS sewing. Seventeen came, so did 18, a boyfriend, a wedding. Nineteen, 20, 21, a son. Well you get the idea. So 35 some-odd years later, a couple of houses and 5 children ….. The Quilt Shoppe was born.

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This last year has been an incredible journey for us and there is no way any of it could have come to pass without the wonderful help and support of our family and friends. Many times in our lives we often ponder "if only I knew then, what I now know ....." It is such a relief to know that even if we don't know, God does. And it is such a blessing to realize that for the last many, many years He has been working in the lives of so many individuals to bring us to today. So first and utmost, my thanks goes to Him.

There is no way I could thank everyone, but there are a few that I would like you to meet. They have been here since the beginning of this part of the journey and are each still an integral part of all the goings on.

THE FAMILY

Without a doubt the first person on my list is my best friend, my husband. He has been a wonderful support, teammate, encourager, shoulder to cry on, and the list goes on and on. There are not enough words .....

The kids - all five of them! These poor souls have sacrificed so much over the last year and have been such an inspiration. They've worked their little patooties off helping out, too. They have been wonderful helpers, each enjoying a special job here and there. I couldn't have done this without them.




COTTAGE COLLECTIONS

These are two of the most wonderful women I have ever met. Joyce is the owner of Cottage Collections, the company that designed our fabulous website. She is also the Mama Bear at Make Mine Pink. She has been such an incredible inspiration.

Katie is the "angel" from Cottage Collections who held my hand through the creation of our website. She is always there with a kind word and a willing heart to make me happy.

Thomas - Thomas is our website "techy." I suppose without him, we probably wouldn't exist. He is one of the most patient people in the world. I am always filling his email with notes starting out with, "Thomas, can we do this?"

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

THE ARTIST
When The Quilt Shoppe was in its infancy, we contacted several people to put on paper the vision we had for our logo. What an educational experience. Just when I thought this whole endeavor would go south, God sent Marci. Actually, she was already there, I just had to remove a few blinders so I could see her! From our logo, to our magazine ads and everything in between, she provides us with outstanding artwork that defines who we are.

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It will be fun to see where this blog takes us, the roads we will travel together, and the skies we will soar. One thing I know for sure: the quilting community is built on love, laughter, and a deep sense of commitment to provide and care for those less fortunate than ourselves. What a privilege it is to be a part of this wonderful community.