| Country Cousins, a craft/quilt store located at 27 North Main Street in Manti, got its start in the corner of an upholstery store. During the annual Mormon Miracle Pageant, Erma Young, Norma Prestwich, Dawna Vee Bown, Brenda Bailey and others would bring their hand-made wares to an upholstery shop owned by Young's husband. They'd clear out a corner and set up a temporary quilt/craft store, selling items to people in town for the big show. After a couple of years, the women decided to leave their crafts in the "corner store" year round. Various craft makers would bring in items throughout tile year, and Young's husband would sell them from his upholstery shop. "It ended up being so much fun, we decided to stay," Young says. The corner store grew into what is now Country Cousins, which officially opened in its own location in 1987. The store sells hundreds of handmade items, ranging from quilts, blankets, dolls and stuffed critters to woodworking and crocheted items. At one time, as many as 15 women who had part ownership in the store. Many went on to open their own businesses. Country Cousins is now owned and run by Young, Prestwich, Bailey and Bown. There are more than 60 consignors. The four owners come from the comers of Sanpete County. Young is from Stirling, Prestwich from Moroni, Bown from Manti and Bailey from Fountain Green. Each woman also specializes in one or two crafts which are sold in the store. Young is the quilter, creating beautiful quilts which are displayed and sold in the store. Prestwich makes dolls and stuffed critters, Bailey sews hand-made dish bags and aprons and is the shop's book keeper, and Bown does crochet items and wood working. Country Cousins is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The exception is during the Mormon Miracle Pageant, when the store is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The pageant that helped make the comer store a thriving business still warrants the extra hours. "People come and go, they drop in for 12 hours a day," Prestwich says. |
