Fabrics lines the wall at quilt shop A Joyful Thread in Bullard. The business is owned by mother-daughter duo Jessica and Abby Culbertson. 

Jessica Culbertson, who owns A Joyful Thread in Bullard with daughter Abby, wasn’t always into sewing. It wasn’t until a chance encounter while volunteering that her interest into the world of fabrics began.

Culbertson was volunteering as an election poll worker in 2010 when she and her daughter were invited to sew with a local charity organization.

“I met a sweet quilter who invited my daughter and I to come sew with the ‘Quilts for Kids’ charity in Whitehouse. Although I had never used a sewing machine, she said it didn’t matter, come anyway for the fellowship,” Culbertson said. “It took three years and a difficult time in life for my daughter, who was 11 years old at the time, and I to visit on a Tuesday morning.”

“We loved it,” she said. “The ladies taught us how to sew, freely sharing their decades of quilting experience along with their love, generosity, and encouragement, which gave us a sense of belonging.”

Not long after, the mother-daughter duo met a longarm quilter at her small quilt shop in Mixon who had a group of quilters that met once a week to sew, eat, and enjoy good company.

Culbertson said she and her daughter ended up taking over the shop when the owner, who was retired, decided to keep the shop open only one day a week.

“She was retired, so eventually she wound down to only opening on Tuesdays so the group could come together because it meant so much to everyone,” she said. “When we wanted to open full-time, she encouraged us wholeheartedly and is still our biggest supporter, wonderful mentor, and best friend today. Without her, we would not have our quilt shop.”

Within the year of deciding to open, the Culbertsons found a space in Bullard and filled it with as much fabric as they could find.

“Most of the fabric was consigned from our dear friend Verena,” Culbertson said. “All the ladies made the transition to meeting at our shop on Tuesdays, which we still continue today with many new quilters over the years and we are always welcoming more.”

Culbertson said A Joyful Thread goes far beyond a business and that she and her daughter find true joy from “sewing a community” together.

“The relationships we cultivate with our customers when they come in the shop truly make A Joyful Thread unique. We get to know someone through the quilt they are making and love the story of a quilt,” she said. Will the quilt be for a new baby, a ‘therapy’ project, a graduation gift, a wedding, a friend dealing with a loss, or for a comforting donation quilt?”

“Once we find out the unique purpose of their quilt, the creative process begins, helping to choose the colors, pattern, and style that will best express their love and care for the recipient,” Culbertson said.

Culbertson went on to say quilting is a very social hobby and a real passion.

“The quilt shop is a place many retired ladies tell us is their happy place, for some it is their only outing during the week other than the grocery store,” she said. “For all of us it fills a need of connection and understanding. The quilters we know come from many different backgrounds, religions, and political views, but none of that gets in the way of the shared love of quilting and shared life struggles to which no one is immune.”

“Many ladies are in the stage of life of being caretakers and some have lost children or spouses. There is nothing as wonderful as when there is a need, the ladies step up in full force with compassion and love,” Culbertson said. “That is humbling to watch and be a part of.”

An online review agreed stating: “Don’t be fooled by the seemingly small size of this shop. It’s packed with fresh, bright fabrics to excite any quilter. The best perk, though, comes with the enthusiasm of the mother daughter owners.”

Culbertson expressed gratitude for everyone she has met and what led her to the quilting community saying she believes God knew at the time what she and her daughter needed.

‘The passion comes from what quilting and the women have meant and still mean to us through the difficult times and the joyful times,” she said. “This is true for all quilters. It is a kind of therapy, combining creativity, working with your hands, giving quilts, and most importantly, finding friendships with kindred spirits.”

“I believe God knew what we would need for the trial that was coming when He put quilting in our path, changing our future in a way we never could have imagined and are so grateful for that,” Culbertson said. “We love what we do and are grateful to be able to share all this with each other and are so thankful for our family, friends, and customers who continue to support us. It is a true gift from above.

A Joyful Thread offers all the necessities for quilt-makers and fabric lovers with over 750 bolts of 100% cotton fabric which is quilt shop quality, fat quarters, thread, batting, books, patterns, rulers, notions, interfacings, and 108” quilt backings. Fabric lines include Moda, Wilmington Prints, Timeless Treasures, Northcott, 3 Wishes, Studio E, Robert Kaufman, Benartex, Maywood Studios, and more.

The shop also offers classes such as Sew-Ins and Longarm Quilting Services by Abby.

A Joyful Thread is located at 51397 US Highway 69 South, Suite B in Bullard and can be reached at 903-630-5673. Hours of operation are Mon. through Wed. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thurs. from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Fri. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, visit www.ajoyfulthread.com.