‘Quiet Mouse’ sneaks up on 30 years
Sarah Day — Staff WriterArticle Photos
BLUE EARTH - The rhythmic hum of a sewing machine floats through the air as bolts of fabric become a useful creation.
The woman behind the sewing machine on a country farm is Pam Kolstad. She sews for her business, Quiet Mouse.
Quiet Mouse was founded about 27 years ago when Kolstad was eight months pregnant with her son. She was living in the Cities, looking for a little extra income. She began making mostly crocheted items, such as dolls and doll clothing, which led into Cabbage Patch dolls during the height of their popularity. She started selling through consignment shops and distributors.
She makes a "Quiet Book," which is a book made of fabric. Some are activity books that match colors or shapes. Kolstad also had made a 15-inch tall mouse. She combined the two to craft "Quiet Mouse."
Then the 1973 Elmore High School graduate moved back to the area.
"I got away from the dolls," Kolstad said. "That kind of died. A friend of mine encouraged me to get into clothing. I've been making and selling the clothing probably a good 10 to 12 years. I enjoy doing it."
The clothing turns out to be a cardigan sweater. She takes a normal sweatshirt and cuts it open down the middle of the front. From there she adds different patches, buttons and decor. Most of the designs are with hearts, bird houses and the "North Woods" themes.
"A lot of people like those," she said. "A lot of older women like the sweatshirts so they don't have to pull them over their heads."
Her mainstay, however, probably always will be the Quiet Books.
"The kids can chew on them and you can throw them in the washing machine," she said.
The books tell a wide variety of tales, from Peter Rabbit to Care Bears.
For the past five or six years, Kolstad has been making quilted place mats and table runners in addition to clothing. Valances joined the lineup and, for about two years, beaded magnetic jewelry was added.
"Because I just wanted to do something different than sewing," she said.
So from the time she wakes up until she goes to bed, she's in her sewing room, a few breaks in between. The sewing room was one of her children's, but all three are grown up and moved out. Kolstad sits at one of two sewing machines near the window, and has a TV for added entertainment.
"I like my job," she said. "I'm always looking for new fabric and new stuff all the time. Some people do enjoy their jobs. Some of them don't, but I do enjoy my job."
One thing she really likes is that she can take time off as needed to help her husband on the farm. She also can take time off for vacation whenever she likes.
Instead of wholesaling and distributing like she used to, Kolstad now goes to craft shows and essentially has a mobile shop. Everything is loaded in a trailer and gets unpacked weekend after weekend all around the region. She sets up shop at some of the bigger shows, such as in Shakopee, Little Falls, Algona and Omaha, Neb. She also attends smaller shows and finds them to be just as fun.
"I do between 40-45 shows a year," she said. "I do pretty well. Sometimes the times are tough. Most of them I do very well at."
Kolstad's wares can be found at a show she's attending. She tries to keep her calendar of events up to date at www.quietmouse.net
