Goffstown’s Mother-Daughter Duo Stitch Together Success

One of Goffstown, NH’s most successful small businesses is embarking on its next big adventure. The mother-daughter team behind the thriving quilt shop, Night Owl Quilting Studio, are a shining example of how passion, persistence, and community can come together to build lasting success.

Six years ago, Paula and her mom, Cathy, decided to turn Cathy’s love of quilting into a fun side project — a way to balance out their demanding full-time careers in healthcare and banking. With no formal business experience, they opened their doors just two nights a week, from 5 to 9 p.m., offering quilting classes to local enthusiasts.

From the start, it was a true labor of love and learning. Paula and Cathy figured things out as they went — adding inventory and equipment little by little. One of their biggest breakthroughs came when they invested in a long-arm quilting machine, which allows them to finish quilts by stitching together the three layers with custom designs and thread colors. The machine saves quilters countless hours and quickly became the heart of their business. As demand grew, they relocated from their original spot “across the river” to a prime location at the corner of Elm and Main Streets — a move that transformed their business. They attribute much of this growth to attending conferences and networking with quilt shop owners from across the country, gaining invaluable knowledge and best practices from the wider quilting community.

Their dedication and professionalism also opened the door to a major expansion: becoming an authorized dealer for BERNINA, the renowned Swiss sewing machine brand. Achieving this distinction required meeting high standards and demonstrating strong business operations — a challenge they embraced wholeheartedly. Today, BERNINA sales make up the second largest part of their business.

In just six years, what began as a small after-hours venture has grown into a true family enterprise — one built on creativity, community, and a shared love of the art of quilting. While their move leaves a big hole in the heart of the village, the Goffstown Main Street Program (GSMP) wishes Paula and Cathy continued success in their new location at 199 State Route 101 in Amherst, on the Bedford line across from the Black Forest Café — a space that better fits their growing business and bright future.

Before leaving, Paula and Cathy share these heartfelt words:

“Goffstown has been good to us and has been key to our success. The best advice we can leave for other business owners is something we’ve practiced all along: when things feel like they’re getting out of control, or you’re unsure if you’re taking the right next step, go back to the basics of helping and connecting with your customers. They’ll remind you why you started this business in the first place.”