Main Sections

Rita Glidden Life At The Sewing Machine

photo provided

Tuesday July 8, 2008

By Rebecca K. Fay

    Rita Glidden has been sewing since she was nine years old, and on September 1, 2008, she is retiring.  Rita is the owner of Thread Connections on Creek Road in Middlebury.   Thread Connections offers many services including but not limited to alterations, quilting classes, and retail sales of fabric and threads.  

    Rita was born and raised in Cornwall.   She learned how to sew at an early age.   Rita explained, “I was making garments at the age of nine.”   Rita also received encouragement to develop her skill with sewing from her high school sewing teacher Bobbi Kennedy.

    In 1980, Rita began to do alterations from her home on a part-time basis.  As that business expanded, Rita decided to open up her own store.  In 1995, she opened up her first storefront on Elm Street.  In 2000, she moved to her current location on Creek Road.  And in 2007, Thread Connections expanded to the Internet at www.threadconnectionsinc.com.

    Rita explains her favorite part of owning Thread Connections is “meeting people-helping people.  Quilting is therapy.  It helps you through many problems…. It doesn't matter where you are in life, you can be a doctor or a lawyer or a housewife, there is a common thread.  You come in here to quilt…and you have made new friends.”

    Although Rita is retiring, she is not leaving the business behind.  On September 1, 2008, Thread Connections will have a new location-same building, but in the back.   Rita and Mary Ann Francis will be doing alterations and some website sales. Rita explains, that “I am just shutting down the retail part of the shop.”   Rita will be available at her new location, in the same building, but a smaller space on a more limited basis.  She will be available to help with alterations and to help people with their quilts.     

    Rita currently resides in Cornwall with her husband.  They have two children, who currently live and work in Vermont.  When she retires, Rita is looking forward to traveling to Florida to visit her sister and do some quilting of her own.        

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives