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