Central Kansas Thread Benders enjoyed a program by Brandon Michaud from Happy Hollow Designs Inc. at the August meeting. Brandon told members how Happy Hollow began and how it has grown.

The company was begun by Tamara Carlson as a home-based business. Tamara began with a long-arm quilt machine, then decided to move to three-dimensional designs. Then she began packaging buttons, novelty trim and other embellishments so people could complete their projects from one vendor. The logical thing to do next was to make kits containing all the embellishments needed for each project. 

Happy Hollow Designs, located at 123 Yellow Brick Road in Bison, began with six items; now they have 1,200 items. Everything is made in-house: the printed pattern, folder, packaging, even the buttons. The buttons used to be made individually out of ceramic and are now made by laser. 

The kits are found in many quilt shops and show a finished design of each pattern for customers to see. These kits are shipped all over the world, Canada, England, Australia and to almost every U.S. state. Individuals can view the kits online at www.happyhollowdesigns.com and purchase directly from the company. 

One product that Brandon demonstrated is called Quick Grid where you simply join squares by the sheet. This makes quilting very easy. This is a product that the members appreciated. 

The Central Kansas Thread Benders meets the third Friday of each month at Heartland Community Church, 4907 10th Street, Great Bend. Guests are always welcome. Guests may attend two meetings and then are asked to join. For more information contact Guild President Pam Sweeney, 620-617-0205.