meanderingthread

Welcome to The Meandering Thread. I am Theresa and I live in Urbandale, Iowa. We moved from South Des Moines in September 2019 so that I could move my studio back home - it is fantastic working from home, especially given the current Covid situation! Before the move I rented studio space - this is so much better!

I have been quilting since about 1997 when a friend and I took a beginners class in Oklahoma City where I lived and worked as a Physical Therapist. I had my daughter in 1999 and she changed all my plans for life! I never dreamed I'd love being a mother so much. When she was 9 months I stopped working full time and started a job share. In 2002 I bought a Gammill Quilt machine so I could transition to being home even more. In Oct 2003 we moved back home to Iowa, I quit Physical Therapy for good and stayed home to raise and homeschool my baby. We were broke but my husband has always been supportive of me as a mother as well as anything to do with my business. My daughter is now 21 and working for Nationwide Insurance full time. She lives close so I still see her whenever I want - actually every day right now as she is working from home at our house:) Since Quinn (her boyfriend) works for me it just works for them to be here.

I opened my Etsy shop in 2010 selling quilts. A couple years later I bought my first fabric line - a grafitti line by Stephanie Brandenburg. Never dreamed it would take me to here! My custom T-shirt quilt work grew quickly as well. AND...I was asked to design for several magazines over the past few years. All fun stuff that pretty well fell into my lap as I was having fun sewing.

I've never actively marketed myself because I have been more than busy enough. And then this year everything exploded with the mask-making frenzy so I'm working 10-15 hour days trying to stay on top of orders. I do have plans to change the face of The Meandering Thread eventually - a little less fabric (2500+ bolts is more work that you'd think to manage), many more kits and original designs (by me!), and a website to get back to selling finished quilts and such for those who do not sew. I will be vending at the KC Quilt show in June 2021 - barring cancellation anyway - excited to get back out there after a year of no shows.

Well, I think that is enough rambling about me - should give you a general overview:) I love to see your finished projects so send me photos when you think of it. Let me know if I can post them to my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TheMeanderingThread/ - others also love to see your creations.