Betty S Sunset Threads

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A Tribute to Betty Cauthen Betty Cauthen of Betty ’s Sunset Threads first began digitizing to offset the cost of designs for personal use. My dad, Bill, had bought her an embroidery machine for Christmas along with a few design cards. However, she quickly became frustrated with prices being charged by the larger companies and the lack of “good ” designs for sale. A natural artist, she decided to see if she could learn how to digitize some of her artwork. Her first set, the Monthly Sunbonnets , was originally a free design complete with free mistakes and was posted on Ann-the-Gran ’s website. Many people from around the world downloaded her design and she quickly completed all twelve months so others could finish quilts or other projects they had started. In 1999 after much deliberation over a name for the company and the potential success for starting one, the first design of Betty ’s Sunset Threads was posted for sale. The success of her designs came quickly, but to understand why you need to know some history. Betty was born in 1937, the youngest of four children. An Arizona native, Betty ’s artistic talent was evident early on. Even as a child, school teachers would use pictures she drew or painted to show others how it “should be done ”. She had an innate sense of color and design that most people can ’t understand or even recognize. She could tell just by looking at something if the shade of color used was wrong. Additionally, there wasn ’t a project or idea that she couldn ’t accomplish. It was during high school at Phoenix Union that she met the love of her life, Bill Cauthen. They were married in November 1957. Betty & Bill both attended Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education with a minor in Art. After Bill ’s service in the military, they both began teaching in Phoenix. Betty taught in the Scottsdale school system for 30 years; teaching mostly the fourth and fifth grades. Even while teaching, art was still a major part of her life. The bulletin boards in her classroom reflected her artistic talent. While other teachers used store bought items to decorate their rooms, Betty created all of hers. Even outside the classroom, art was a major part of her life. For years, Betty painted oil paintings and sewed clothing for her family. Her paintings were often featured at art shows and hung in local galleries around the Southwest. In the seventies, some of her paintings were even made into Christmas cards. Additionally, their home became a showplace for her artwork. She painted murals on walls and her oil paintings decorated their home. In 1966 their first daughter, Vicki was born. Two years later, Melissa joined the family. Growing up, the girls benefited from their mother ’s love of art. While other kids colored with crayons, they learned to paint with oils. While other kids learned how to cut and paste, they learned how to paper mache or work with clay. Even their bedrooms became a work of art. Betty helped them redecorate their rooms every few years to match their growing personalities. While doing so, she was teaching them how to coordinate color and fabric selection.

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