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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 five grandchildren Michael, Marcus, Mason & Emma and Ayden. We also have two spoiled kitties at home Madelyn 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. In 2008 I made the decision to go to a weekly email newsletter that you can sign up for on our front page. It is informative, fun and something our customers look forward to getting every Thursday morning. I also own my building now and we have transformed the 2nd floor into a wonderful Retreat Space called our 2nd Story that you can rent we sleep seven. We also have our classes in the same gathering room space. 2009 marks my twenty six year of business we have a great website that is full of inspiration, we have clubs with great designers as well as our own, events and there is always something new. Am I crazy at 59 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. My latest adventure has been to design fabric. My second line will be out in April of this year. Look for Worn and Loved II manufactured by Windham and Baum Textiles. 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. (