About

What happens when a contractor of more than thirty years and a long-time English professor decide they want to start new careers?  You get a new business named Threads of Time Creative Sewing and Retreat Center.

After a year and a half of researching quilt shops, Bill and Missi Gouty decided to open up a destination-style fabric store.  One property after another was investigated and rejected because the size or location just wasn't right, until one day Bill came home and said he had found the perfect spot, an old, abandoned International Nursing Home.  After her initial “are you crazy?” comment, Missi saw the same vision as her husband, and they began a complete remodel of the old building. The building was purchased on August 1, 2006, and the store opened on November 1, 2006.

Missi and Bill had already built two houses together, and renovation was just another “day-in-the-life-of-the-Goutys.”  The hard part was learning about the fabric industry, and stocking inventory for the large store, but they learned quickly and soon had a fully functioning store.

The front section of the nearly 16,000 square foot building now hosts Threads of Time Creative Sewing, a premier store in the Midwest.  In the original plan, the back hallway of the building was remodeled for offices.  However, the growth of the store and the interest of the customers moved their plans in a different direction, and this area has since been development into a retreat center where sewists and quilters can come, stay over-night and sew in the company of friends.

The first wing of Threads and Beds Retreat Center opened on October 6th, 2009. Phase One could sleep 21 people and had two sewing rooms that accommodated 20 people, but it soon became apparent that it was not big enough!  The retreat concept was a rousing success and necessitated the renovation of the other side of the building.

The South side was gutted and remodeled resulting in a large, spacious sewing area that can house workshops and such well known guest speakers as Judy Martin, Carol Doak, Marti Michell, and Joe Cunningham. In a lecture format, Threads of Time can seat 110 people comfortably. The South Sewing Room can seat 30 sewists, and the North Sewing Room can hosts 12 allowing 42 people to quilting and crafting simultaneously – each sitting on a leather chair at a custom-made table.

Threads of Time offers a full line of Janome sewing machines, thousands of bolts of fabric, a spacious showroom with artful displays, and an expert staff who strive to give the kind of personal attention you can’t find anywhere else.

We’re proud of the dynamic, creative community we serve and hope to offer a place of inspiration and encouragement to all who enter our doors.

“For the times of your life and the fabric of the times….”

Bill and Missi