Just up the road a couple of miles from Conn is the spectacular new Creekbank Sewing Centre. Having known this operation when it was a few quilts displayed in their farmhouse living room, though its expansion into two portable class rooms, still on the farm, this blew us away.
First of all, it's huge, like warehouse size! I've been in a lot of quilt and fabric stores around this part of Ontario, and they are all small stores squeezing in as much display space as possible. This is just the opposite.
When you walk in, the store is huge, open and spacious, with both sewing machines and fabrics (and everything else) on display. Note the second level balcony for quilt hangings.
The store specializes in Bernina sewing machines, a top of the line brand. There would be $200k worth of sewing machines on this table.
An entire wall of thread, especially for those who do machine embroidery.
I had to search for it, but there are some bright coloured fabrics. Most are more muted, in keeping with the Mennonite tradition.
Stacks and stacks of wool patches, for piecing.
Among the several large quilts on display, this design struck me as interesting.
This is a computerized long arm quilting machine. Mrs. F.G. had one of these (before they were computerized), and loved it. Once you set up the pattern and the borders, the machine will sew the entire quilt while you stand back and watch!
And did you know you could get a Bernina chair - guaranteed to leave you comfortable after hours at your sewing machine.
I rolled out the front door and had to remember we were out in the middle of nowhere, in farm country. That farm across the road raises cattle and tomatoes, the latter in a greenhouse that's out of sight behind the barn. It's a remarkable store to find in the middle of farm country!
They built it and you did visit.
ReplyDeleteMy mother would have been in heaven in that store. She loved to quilt; one year I recall she made 13 quilts! They were pieced quilts so lots of sewing before that actual quilting happened.
ReplyDeleteThe quilt on the wall almost looks 3D in the photo. Gorgeous!
Be still my heart! I know I wouldn't get out of there without dropping a bunch of $$$$!
ReplyDeleteInterestingly the two best quilting shops (or in my case patchwork because I don’t actually quilt) I ever visited were both in very rural areas. One in a tiny village in Scotland, and the other in a tiny village in Dorset. So maybe yours, in the middle of farming country, is just another example.
ReplyDeleteThe place to visit and dream. I have a Bernina, my Mum had a Bernina, so that brand has been in our family for some 74 years !!! They last a lifetime with regular servicing.What a wonderful shop, room to stroll or wheelchair through, and displayed so beautifully. Ditto to Rosalea's comment.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to visit. Love all the colors of thread!!!
ReplyDeleteThat sewing/quilting store is so huge. I think we're down to a single such a store here. Just a small one in an old building in an almost dead shopping area. That tells me that sewing isn't happening or people are finding a better store in a different town.
ReplyDelete