Friday, May 3, 2013

Happy Birthday Butterfly Threads!



One year ago, in May 2012, Butterfly Threads was born! I can hardly believe it's been a year, and in some ways, it feels like forever. That's a good thing,  I promise!

The birth story:

I had been a home school mom for almost four years. I absolutely adored spending my days with my 3 kids! We explored so many places, shared so many laughs, and learned SO much (me especially!) But the plan was to home school the middle school years, and then go back to public high school to rejoin their friends from elementary school. The kids took to school like fish to water, but I stayed home secretly hoping they would drop out and come back to me!! After I realized that was most definitely not going to happen, I needed to create a new job for myself.

My husband is gone lots of the time (typical of airline pilots) and my kids were all now going to out of district schools thanks to some awful redistricting. So in order for them to stay in the school system they started in, I would have to be the bus driver. That's right, back and forth twice a day, is a real schedule killer. But my kids are so worth it. So what could I pursue between carpool, barn duty, and sports events? I must be my own boss, and be flexible.

My favorite thing to do (besides being mom) is quilting. So it seemed natural, to pursue something quilting related. My friends had often asked for patterns for my quilts, but I had them only in my brain. "Light bulb" moment. I could write my patterns, and offer them to folks.

The name:

I needed a company name, because my name "Diane Knott" was already taken. I know, crazy, but there is a super talented quilt fabric designer using my name! Technically, she is a few years older, so she had it first, but I wanted to create a "brand" that was unique to me. My daughter thought of the name and announced on the way home from the barn one day...Mom, I've got your new name...Butterfly Threads! And that was that.

The milestones:

In the first year, I've published more than a dozen patterns, created a template, been published in a BOOK and a MAGAZINE and have 6 more quilts in the process of being published in the next year in three different magazines. I've given trunk shows, and taught workshops, and vended at my first quilt show. Oh, and I started a blog.  :)

The future:

I have more trunk shows and workshops on the calendar. I hope to vend at another show or two. I am anxiously awaiting the publication of my next 6 quilts. I plan to create another template or two. I am going completely digital with the redesign of my patterns (so exciting) and I plan to keep blogging! I may or may not have a book proposal in the works.

The give away:

As with any decent birthday celebration, there will be gifts! I am still deciding what the give away will be (feel free to leave suggestions in the comments) and how many. But I think we should stretch out this party for the entire month, don't you? Why rush a good thing!

So now you know the whole story (or at least the highlights). I am so thrilled to be sharing this journey with so many amazing quilters. Thanks to each of you for your continued support and encouragement. This would not happen (or be any fun at all) without the amazing folks that keep me going!!

Enjoy Every Stitch!
Diane
 

41 comments:

  1. Oh wow! I love your story!! I am just a quilter (only for the last five years or so) and I really am focused on trying to put together quilts that are square, have the points match, choosing the "right" colors, etc., etc. The fact that you have done all that and so much MORE is amazing! I love your blog and all of your patterns. (What do you eat for all of that creative energy - LOL!) Congratulations on a wonderful year! Again...WOW!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations on a year of blogging. I don't know how you manage blogging, quilting, and a family of three children so well. Good luck and here's to another fantastic year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations on your entrepreneurship!!! Yeah for you!!!
    I think it's a wonderful thing and am quite envious of you. Seeing what you achieved in such a short amount of time is very impressive!! I will be your first buyer when you publish your first book. Promisse! Furthermore; just keep up the good work! Finding a satisfying job for yourself in something that you love is the best thing. I applaud you....
    Sadly quilting isn't that common over here to be able to make a living out of it, next to the many little stores and designers. But nonetheless I love to quilt and everything that's linked to it. Being able to make beautiful things for the peoples in my life is a good thing too.
    Again, congrats!! You can be very proud of yourself!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congratulations! Only 1 yr? You have accomplished so much! Good luck to another great year.:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations, Diane. Your year of accomplishments leaves me breathless. Here's to many, many more!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy 1 year birthday anniversary.....Always great to hear the story behind the blog.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happy Anniversary! Love the story of how Butterfly Threads came to be and how successful it is. Amazing what can happen in just a year.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations! We should go out for lunch to celebrate!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy first blogging anniversary. It seems that you are very successful in your quilting endeavors. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations on this milestone! I have loved watching your business unfold.You are an inspiration! Best wishes for the year ahead - sounds like it will be keeping you busy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations! May Day was my first post last year. Sounds like you and I are experiencing similar adventures in our quilting careers. It sure is fun isn't it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for sharing a great story. Congrats!!'

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Birthday to you! You have accomplished a huge amount in one year - Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations!You are one busy woman.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You have had a great year. Sometimes it's nice to look back and realize how much you ave accomplished.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It was fun reading your story. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congrats!!!! Love your story:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congratulations on your One Year anniversary of Butterfly Threads. It is always interesting to hear how people get started. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congrats fabric is always a great giveaway thanks

    ReplyDelete
  20. However, more than not, they end in absolute disaster.
    Because the comes to continuing to keep cesspools, a specialist can handle all
    of the clean-up.

    Also visit my blog post: Gsaser.Com.Pl

    ReplyDelete
  21. The prices will vary from the company supporting the plan.
    An old laundry basket fantastic for gathering turn out
    from your biological garden.

    Also visit my web-site - imprezy integracyjne

    ReplyDelete
  22. A good lawyer is almost certainly one who would be able to be
    trusted. Contact a truck accident attorney the instant possible and talk over your options.



    Also visit my web site; agencja detektywistyczna warszawa

    ReplyDelete
  23. In my opinion, they are often well-built and result oriented when utilized smartly.
    The price is now around $4 and could go down to $3 by the edge of 2011.


    Here is my web page - adwokat łódź

    ReplyDelete
  24. More wafers per ingot leads the direct lowering of a price for solar
    powered energy. “The company expects to help you retail a
    employee kit with a person solar panel for $799.

    my web blog - tłumaczenia włoski Katowice

    ReplyDelete
  25. Form areas command a higher price structure versus the rest of metropolis.


    My site agencja detektywistyczna

    ReplyDelete
  26. The channels consists of MTV, Country Sounds Channel or CMTT and much a great deal more.
    At last, people are quenched by using what you have built, put
    this item apart for a little time.

    Here is my web page :: biuro detektywistyczne warszawa

    ReplyDelete
  27. Take it a stride at a along with there will is improvement.
    This situation has a binary hybrid plan just that allows you that will help earn money top 5 different ways.


    Also visit my web blog :: biuro detektywistyczne warszawa

    ReplyDelete
  28. It only makes it necessary that internet connection
    while sending SMS message to the .

    Take a look at my web-site ... usługi detektywistyczne warszawa

    ReplyDelete
  29. People need towards exchange ideas and feelings with want people.
    Hook up the plumbing towards filter and backfill around
    it.

    my page usługi detektywistyczne warszawa

    ReplyDelete
  30. Remember, this possibly be for those who are
    certified by the state run. The specific notches on the tool are useful to maneuver
    generally parts of each of our door that freeze the auto.



    Also visit my blog post; prywatny detektyw warszawa

    ReplyDelete
  31. Located in this way the exact immune system is usually improved and his or her functions are heightened.
    Look, can you be sure to ask any more using this eye drop remedy?


    my web blog: prywatny detektyw

    ReplyDelete
  32. It is appropriately a socially-driven persistence.

    To perform the role of mortgage advisor property qualification is the
    videos . requisite.

    Check out my web blog pobierowo

    ReplyDelete
  33. The good news is that you would't need to be wearing any kind of a suit and put! Text and hand gestures are the most popular funny t-shirts.

    Feel free to surf to my web-site :: zespół muzyczny Poznań

    ReplyDelete
  34. Crystalline modules potentially can sell for $1.48 for watt.
    From time to time a cell or just a solar panel can easily fail, and they'll would need to be changed.

    Feel free to visit my web page - organizacja wczasów

    ReplyDelete
  35. We may also use the used solar energy by our office not to mention in our family homes.


    Also visit my page - koszulki z nadrukiem

    ReplyDelete
  36. Precisely how being a contractor impacts your
    eligibility. All of this means that ones body and judgement are free
    of a diseases and fret too much.

    My web blog - borelioza

    ReplyDelete
  37. Helpful guides, manuals in addition handouts focus referring to
    a certain idea or lesson to make a day. From Spain you will find
    Rumba, Pasodoble, and Flamenco.

    Stop by my web-site ... candida

    ReplyDelete
  38. It helps you to get set with compliance with security programs.
    The messages can also be highly customizable as per the necessity of the fans.



    Also visit my site; historia piwa

    ReplyDelete
  39. That Susquehanna crested this time at slightly above 32 feet.
    That rain-soaked soil flushed away and folded the walls to her basement.


    My blog post :: wycieczki all inclusive

    ReplyDelete
  40. If you own the property and you find out where the cesspool is, there must be no problem.
    They practically certainly know in which the pit is very much located.



    Feel free to surf to my webpage projekty-wnętrz-bauart.pl

    ReplyDelete
  41. This is excellent excellent way to promote your business.
    Reading is not to mention paper more difficult online, so make certain that you're concise.

    Feel free to surf to my site :: http://www.biorezonans-warszawa.pl/

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear what you have to say, sadly, the spam has gotten ridiculous, so I will be approving comments from now on. I apologize for any inconvenience and I truly appreciate you taking the time to comment. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!