One of the greatest challenges I’m facing as a small (as in, teeny tiny) business is the challenge of imports.

You have probably noticed that most of the needlework goods that I use for my own work aren’t necessarily made in the US. Of course it would be nice if they were. But they aren’t, and the fact is, there’s no infrastructure in the country at this time to produce, for example, high quality linen or beautiful silk threads for embroidery. There used to be. But there isn’t now. And so, if we want those goods, we import them.

I’m sure we’ve heard much commotion lately about imports, and I want to assure you that this is not any kind of political rant or anything like that. You know me, and you know that’s not my M.O. (modus operandi). The purpose of this article is not to invite political commentary.

You see, the problem of imports and business and how such things affect the little person at the bottom of the business heap is not new.

For this weekend’s delve, here’s an interesting bit of textile history in the US – and who knows? Maybe a place to stop if you happen to be driving through Petaluma in Sonoma County, California.