Quilt shop opens

"Everyone has a creative passion," says new business owner Susan Turnbull, "they might not know what it is yet, but everyone has it and they need to use it." Quilting became Turnbull's creative outlet 30 years ago when she took a class with a friend. Since then, quilting has become her way to express herself, have fun, make friendships, and relax.

The quilt shop has been a dream of Turnbull's for years and after a local quilting shop closed their doors, Turnbull investigated the opportunity a little further. She noted that without a quilt shop in Thermopolis, one would have to drive 50 miles or more for supplies, which encouraged her to often go without. After retiring and moving to Thermopolis full time, her husband Jack gave her the final push to open her dream, Gooseberry Garden Quilt Shop. Opening the shop has not been easy. She stated, "The learning curve has been steep, but I love it."

Gooseberry Garden Quilt Shop officially opened the doors of their small store on Highway 20 next to the RE/MAX office August 12. The shop is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, but Turnbull plans to extend weekday hours to 6 p.m. to accommodate regular working hours.

To a newcomer, the hobby can appear overwhelming but Turnbull welcomes everyone who has an interest with open arms. She commented, "Quilting is supposed to be calming and relaxing. If it's not, you're doing it wrong."

More than a relaxing hobby, though, quilting should be a fun way to make friendships. Turnbull plans to offer beginners quilting classes in the near future and hopes to expand upon that with more creative/advanced classes.

The shop currently offers a wide variety of fabrics including minky fabric, colorful flannels, boutique blends, and a large variety of patterns. Threads, rulers, books and more are also available. Come in, learn, shop – a children's corner is available for the kids to play while you browse – and make lifelong friendships with others with a similar creative interest.