Mopite Lake is a pristine, clear lake with jaunty fish, soft ripples lapping at the beige sand beaches, and mallards, geese, and herons swooping down on occasion for a juicy fish lunch. Sunnyridge lies across the northern and eastern shores of the lake. With a population of 349 permanent residents, it sounds like it would be an idyllic existence. And it was for about seven months of the year. But come May every year, the tourists, crowds, families, and backpacking international students flooded the town.

The locals ran the log cabins to rent, the large Lakeside Inn, the seven eateries around town, the gift shops, markets, and the specialty craft stores. Sounds like a typical tourist, cutesy town, right? So why did the crowds unfailingly swarm this town in particular without fail from May through September every year?

If you asked one of the tourists, they would be hard-pressed to explain it articulately. It was just....something special was there. Most of the visitors left Sunnyridge just a little happier, a little more proud, a little more loved, or a little more at peace than when they arrived.

One special person could explain this if someone actually asked and was willing to expand their mind when Ms. Hattie Stictchwick told her story.

Ms. Hattie, as she likes to be called, moved to Sunnyridge when she was a small girl. She helped her mom open a quilt shop in Sunnyridge. After disappearing for a few years to find herself in the world, Ms. Hattie realized that her best self was back in Sunnyridge right behind the quilt shop counter. Her mother told her upon her return that she was going to share the magic of quilt-making with her, now that she has devoted her heart and spirit to the shop, the residents, and the visitors to the town.

Ms. Hattie learned much indeed. It all started with an old quilt, stitched with love, on display in the store window. Except this old quilt has a vibrancy, a spirit, and a voice! It speaks to Ms. Hattie and whispers to her the secret wishes and dreams of the passersby. Ms. Hattie channels these hidden secrets to her endless stitching and quilt-making.

For example, one day two international students from Asia stopped in the shop. They browsed and then left thanking the owner for her time. Ms. Hattie nodded back with a smile. Her spunky window quilt whispered to her the sad tale of these two sisters who lost their parents at a young age and yearned for an extended loving family. A quilt block with some tulips and hearts comes to life on Ms. Hattie's old sewing machine. Before the vacation is over, the sisters made friends with European travelers. They exchanged numbers and that was the start of a lifelong friendship and many future vacations and holidays together. Coincidence??

Wait until you hear who came in next to browse in the quilt shop....!