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We moved to Spring Green in 1979 and I was again involved in groups with the children and I met a special friend that taught me to cross stitch. I loved it, we road tripped to stitchery shops with our girls and just loved what we could create with our hands. I fell in love with samplers and the more primitive folk art look, thus this became the look I would try and mirror in my own home. My husband and I also love pine antiques and the warmth they lend to your home's decor. Like I really need to love something else, but one of the antiques I was drawn to was old quilts. I have a collection I love to display and use and I also like textiles so I have collected a lot of them as well. Now knowing this about me the next logical step would be to open my own business and that's exactly what I did in 1983. I opened COUNTRY SAMPLER in a very quaint 456 square foot retail space in a courtyard in Spring Green. I outgrew this space very quickly because when I opened I was just a little cross stitch shop, with some neat folk-art and furniture that would cozy up the atmosphere. I made a move to main street, into a great historical building that was known to the locals as the Royal Blue a bustling grocery in its time. We graduated to 1800 square feet of space and no one thought we could possibly fill it but I'm here today to tell you it can be done!
My staff and I agonize over every kit we create. People hate to unwrap their little works of art. All the girls on our staff bring incredible creativity and skills that compliment each other. It's fun to come to work and you'll find we are always ready to meet our customers quilting and decorating challenges. You are likely to see pictures of Reed and me, our grown up family Scott, Rob, and Sara, and our four grandchildren Michael, Marcus, Mason & Emma. We also have two spoiled kitties at home Chester and Meg. I try to keep everyone in the knowing when I write my newsletters so my customers pretty much know what's to know about me. 2003 marks my twentieth year of business and kicking and screaming I'm stepping off the curb again and introducing my business to the web. Am I crazy at 54 years old, probably, I know my husband Reed thinks so, but I'm always dangling a carrot out there for myself to see if I can make something more wonderful happen. It's just the way I am. I hope you all will find my business something you have been looking for and share it with your friends and most important plan a visit we will try to motivate, inspire and become your best friend. Sincerely, Jeanne Horton
133 East Jefferson St. |
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My passion for retail was awakened at the age of sixteen when I started
a part-time job at a local fashion store in my hometown. I
really loved every aspect of the business from selling to creating
displays and soon window dressing. I could hardly wait to go
to work because I was always creating something new and exciting
people enjoyed, I had found my niche. . . I worked with my mentor
for seven years and during that time I learned a lot about retail, helped
him open another store, went to market, worked on advertising simply
everything. I finished school, went to college and fell in
love. I married Reed Horton, had three children and was a stay at
home mom involved in craft clubs and making my house a home.
When I was in the smaller space I longed for
fabric, we used it for finishing our cross stitch and to enhance the
decor. I decided it was time to go to quilt market and see
what was available. Overwhelmed and excited I stepped off the
curb and haven't looked back since. We have grown into a quilt
shop, awarded a top 10 status in 2000 by Better Homes and Gardens American
Patchwork and Quilting Quilt Sampler Magazine. I cannot tell
you the thrill this award was for me, I have always poured my
heart and soul into my business and this was a milestone I will
always treasure. My little town of Spring Green is 1283 people
and we are a destination town for tourists so my customers have had
to
travel and spread the word about the shop.
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