My name is Pat Riley and I've been quilting for over 20 years (sounds like an AA meeting)! I've been exposed to sewing since I was a toddler. My mother was an excellent seamstress, but never a quilter. My first experience to sewing was making Barbie clothes. Then through school I was drawn to art. I took my first quilting class at the old Julianne Fabrics Store at Creston Park. When I discovered that I could use my art skills and sewing skills together, a whole new world opened up for me.

I worked for the local hospital for over 18 years and felt I was in need of a change. At that point, my husband, who has a very strong business background, encouraged me to open a quilt store. I think that he thought, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. My stash was about to grow, but also, my life was about to take a different path.

In November 2003, we opened Life's A Stitch Quilt Shoppe, (which my husband and daughter named) at the Northgate Plaza. I was on top of the world, but also putting in about 80 hours a week.

As if life couldn"t have been anymore busy. My husband came home one day and said, "That old house on 14 is up for auction, do you want to go see it?". Did he think I was going to say "no"! We went through the house and fell in love with it. We fell in love with the arched doorways, the nooks and crannies, the small quaint rooms, the large open rooms, the original floor coverings, the side porch and the land it sat on. We knew from the moment we saw it that it would be perfect for the quilt shop.

We bought that old house at an auction in September of 2004. We had 30 days to fix up three rooms, and add lighting before moving the shop to the house.

We closed the shop at the plaza for three days, moved it and reopened on November 16, 2004. And we've been enjoying the ambience of the old house ever since.