About Us

Mary Beth Hayes (MB) and Patrick Mullen are the owners of Thangles.  MB started Thangles in 1996 in Poolesville, MD.  Patrick joined her in 1997.   We are grateful for the opportunity to own our own business in the quilting industry.   This industry is filled with happy, thoughtful, creative people.  While there are challenges, there are also many many tremendously rewarding moments.  

We have a deeply shared interest in Science.  Both of us have degrees in science and both of us worked for many years in science related fields.  MB used to work at the Wisconsin State Crime Lab and also as science teacher.   Patrick used to be director of Research and Development for a Biotech firm.  We also share a common interest in the arts.  MB graduated from North Central College in Naperville, IL with a double major in art and chemistry, so she has been thinking art and science for a long time.  Patrick is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh with a double major in chemistry and microbiology.   Patrick is an accomplished wood turner and he is passionate about scratch building remotely controlled model airplanes. 

In July 2001 we moved from Poolesville, MD to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  We wanted to return to the Midwest.  We are both natives of Wisconsin.  With that move we realized one of our dreams.  We remodeled the barn that is the current home of Thangles.  The barn is on the farm where MB's mother was born.  Our barn is not open to the public on a regular basis, but from time to time, we hold open house days.

We also wanted to help MB's parents, Stanley and Vallanee, fulfill their wish to stay on their farm.  Val was an accomplished quilter.  We like to say she earned her PhD in quilting by completing a Baltimore Album quilt.  It was a great pleasure to have her in our office every day helping with sewing and cleaning and most of all, keeping us centered.  Val died peacefully of Alzheimers in January 2007 in the same house on the farm where she was born in 1921.  Stanley stayed on the farm as well until his death in May of 2013, one month after his 92nd birthday. 

In the picture above, you will see MB's talented sister, Wanda Hayes Eichler.  Wanda is an accomplished quilt and knit designer.  From the very beginning, she was the most dedicated backer of Thangles.  For years, her store, Pigeon River Mercantile, sold more Thangles than any other store in the US.  Today, Wanda runs an internet knitting shop.  Click here to visit her store.

 Photo by Peter Eichler.  From left to right, Peter, MB, Patrick, Wanda, Ed Eichler and Will Eichler.  Taken Sept 2016 outside the Eichler Barn in Pigeon, MI