McMinnville resident Kathy Nesmith has worked some of the worst natural disasters our country has seen during her years with the American Red Cross and FEMA.
But she’s always taken comfort in quilting and now she’s turned that passion into a new business called Little Quilting Cottage. It’s located at 2414 S. Chancery Street in a charming house across from McMinnville Physical Therapy.
Quilts line the walls and are nestled next to an inviting fireplace, but the main thing that’s noticeable is a 14-foot, long-arm quilting machine that’s completely computerized for amazing stitch accuracy.
“I’ve sewn for nearly 50 years and it’s been a great outlet for me,” said Kathy. “Curtains, clothes, I’ve sewn just about anything. I started quilting about 20 years ago and have really devoted a lot of time to it the past two to three years.”
It’s a great form of expression with Kathy holding up an outhouse and toilet paper design quilt she made during the pandemic when toilet paper was scarce.
“I thought it was humorous so I made it during the toilet paper shortage,” said Kathy.
The quilting machine is a big time-saver, but it doesn’t do all the work. Kathy says people still need to furnish the quilt top and backing and her machine will do the rest.
“I can get it about 98% complete,” said Kathy. “You’ll still have to bind it around the edges.”
Kathy has an interesting life story as she’s devoted much time over the past three years traveling the United States in a motor home with her husband David and their two dogs. She says some places stick out more than others.
“I absolutely loved the fall colors in Maine,” said Kathy. “Florida was wonderful too with Key West, Cocoa Beach and St. Augustine. One of the best things we did in Florida was take a tour of NASA.”
In the western part of America she said Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is a must-see location. It’s one of the highest summits in the Rocky Mountains.
Kathy may be best known around these parts as the longtime director of our Red Cross chapter. She served in that capacity until Warren County lost its local chapter. She most recently worked for FEMA for five years before retiring at the beginning of the year.
“I’d go wherever there were disasters,” said Kathy. “We’d try to get the families back on their feet to where they could move forward with their life again.”
She said one of the services she helped provide was securing temporary mobile home housing for families who lost everything. She said the families could keep the mobile home for a term of 18 months and they could be set up on their property, if room permitted, while their new home was built.
For those who would like to learn more about the quilting services Kathy provides, she’s available by calling (931) 743-6928. Little Quilting Cottage is a great place to visit for quilting enthusiasts and is available by appointment only.