About Us

Lori and Steve Clayton are the owners of Threads Run Thru It, Inc. TRTI is your full service quilt shop where Lori oversees Long Arm Quilting, Embroidery, Heat Transfers, Gammill Machine Sales and training, Baby Lock Machine Sales, and much much more.

In 1981, Lori enlisted in the United States Navy. In 1989, she applied for, and was accepted into the Navy’s “Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program”. Lori attended Hampton University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. She was commissioned in 1992 as a Navy Nurse (Ensign). Steve enlisted in the United States Navy in 1977. In 1990, he was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer. (Navy Deep Sea Diving Officer) In June 2001, they retired in a joint ceremony from Sub Base, Groton, Connecticut. In 2003, they moved to their farm in Phenix, Va, and built a log home.

Being type “A”, she could not “retire” as her husband would have wished. She was looking for ways to keep busy. In 2004 she purchased a commercial embroidery machine and started “Threads Run Thru It” from her home. Lori’s embroidery business was doing well, but she knew there was more she could be involved with to stay busy. In 2007, they purchased a Gammill Longarm Quilting machine. In 2008, they upgraded to the Statler Stitcher computerized version. By this time, her business had taken over their home. It had consumed nearly 1500 feet of a 3000 foot house. In March 2010, Steve said enough is enough and in April 2010, he started construction on their quilt shop.

"She wanted her shop built so bad that she helped me pour footings," said Steve.

Lori's mother had taught her to sew early in life and through the years she made hundreds of items such as shirts, dresses, valances, table cloths and runners, curtains, costumes.  "You name it, I tried to sew it," Lori shared.  In the mid 1980s, she learned to quilt.  In the back of her mind, she dreamed of owning her own quilt shop someday and now, her dream is reality.  On Nov 29th, 2010, they opened this quilt shop. 

Lori shares, "The good Lord has blessed us more than one can imagine. Our health is good, we have great friends, we are members of Midway Baptist Church and have four wonderful children.  Jessica  graduated from nursing school in Lynchburg, VA. and now works in Richmond. Gus (married to Grace) is a sailor in the United States Coast Guard stationed in NJ.  Andrea (married to James) is a Nurse in Fredericksburg, VA. And Casey (married to Matt) is a teacher in Arizona.  We have five grandsons, Eli, Silas, Will, Wes and Issac, and two granddaughters, Ella and Leah. What a treasure it is to have such beautiful grandchildren."