Sewing in Circles

We drive from Edmonton to Calgary on a regular basis.  And along the way we often stop in Red Deer - to grab a tea for me, coffee for Fred.  Sometimes we top up the tank with fuel and if we have a bit of time I love to pop into another one of my favourite shops - The Red Deer Sewing Centre.

That brings me to add to my list of "things I love in a quilt shop"!  Okay so it isn't really a quilt shop - it's a sewing machine and supply shop.  First of all - they know my name.  I feel like I have a connection there, like I'm important to Karen (the owner).  She's patient and knowledgeable.  She spends time in helping me find what I'm looking for or takes the time to show me something new.

As I've continued to add feet and attachments for my sewing machine this is the place that I keep returning to - they have an excellent selection and if it isn't in they will order it for me.  I've even taken a class or two here.  This week I spent some Christmas money in acquiring a circular sewing attachment.... hmmm, never thought I would want to sew in circles!!

There's a couple of quilt shops I've decided I'm not returning to - they have hurried me out or given every indication that I'm in their way.  I've never had that feeling at The Red Deer Sewing Centre.  Customer service is what's at hand here...and for me it makes the difference.  In this day of on-line ordering I could probably be a quilter and never enter a store.  However quilting has a community element to it, a sense of working in a world where people share a particular passion.  Finding a store that understands that is both satisfying and adds to the joy of the journey.

Did I ever mention she got me hooked on an embroidery machine?  More on that another time.

What does it take to be a favourite quilt shop?

I've mentioned before that I like to seek out quilt shops as we travel. Last year when we were in Spokane, for example, I had a list of quilt shops I wanted to visit and one day we put them into our TomTom and set out to find them. We did find them all - except one that turned out to be an internet only store that was out of some one's home...but that's a blog entry for another day. If I am travelling for work I often try to allow an extra 15 - 20 minutes on the journey to make a quick stop if I know of, or come across, a quilt store en route.

Once I've found the shop, I soon know whether I am going to want to come back. How so? Here are a few of my thoughts...

I consider the fabric - does the store have a good variety?

• do they carry fabric collections?
• does the colour selection connect with the what I like to use?
• how are the fabrics displayed and organized

Does the store inspire me? - I must admit, I like to see samples of inspiration hanging on the walls, from the ceiling and other shelves or tables around the store.

• I do find that a good selection of patterns along with fabric pre-packaged in kits very enticing.

How am I treated? - is the staff friendly, helpful, available. If I am looking around or ask for something, do they tell me they are closing in 10 minutes?

 When I am in my 'quilting mode' I am looking to enter a quilting community, one where I feel like I fit. This is my hobby, where I get to spend some time doing something I can get lost in and be creative, even if only for a short period of time.

You'll will be able to follow a few more of my favourite quilt shops along the way.