Wrappers were the casual dresses the women wore for everyday activities. Made to suit the season in either cotton or wool, this comfortable dress was high necked with long sleeves and a free-flowing body. Less fitted than more formal dresses, the wrapper didn’t require hoops, corsets, or bustles, was easy to make, and could easily be adjusted for maternity wear. The style was practical and enduring in popularity and suited women of all ages, including young girls.

As with any dress goods, after the garment was completed, the leftover pieces went into a scrap basket, eventually joining other scraps to make quilts for the family.

When Betsy Chutchian created her Hot for Chocolate quilt to display in her shop for Valentine’s Day several years ago, she had no idea it would cause such a sensation! Her first Hot For Chocolate was an instant success and lucky for us, there were enough beautiful designs to create yet another collection - Hot For Chocolate II!

A big fan of reproduction fabrics, Betsy went through her stash and came up with the most interesting pinks, reds and browns she could find - her customers loved the fabrics and so will yours.  Betsy explains, two important reasons that folks will enthusiastically enjoy this collection: first, the colors are very dramatic and relate well to each other, and second, quilters will be able to use beautiful reproduction prints in a traditional OR contemporary setting.

As the pioneers of the Westward Expansion began to settle and make their homesteads in Texas, local merchantiles started to see more goods arriving in ever-increasing quantities.  Early on, inventory was shipped to Galveston and delivered by wagon. As the railroad made its way out west, it brought a variety of items, allowing store owners to offered an abundance of stock.

Cities like Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Galveston offered many merchants - and choices - for shopping. Smaller towns also had multiple dry goods stores. Although the more rural settlements resulted in fewer shopping opportunities, there were the peddlers who traveled the country, selling all kinds of wares.