It has been roughly a year since QuiltWorks Northwest owner Stacie Baumeister relocated her shop to its new location at 107th Avenue Northeast in Bellevue.
In the short time, QuiltWorks Northwest has transformed itself from just another fabric store to a place of community. One-of-a-kind quilts color the walls around the perimeter of the store as thousands of beads captivate the attention in the center.
In 2006, Baumeister took over the local Bernina sewing machine dealership in conjunction with Quiltworks Northwest. Bernina is the only sewing machine company still owned by the same family that created it. QuiltWorks Northwest has ranked in the top five dealers of Berninas in the country two years in a row. A Bernina repair shop is located towards the back of the store with on-site repairs and a selection of machines for purchase.
In 2008, Beads and Beyond, the cherished bead shop in Bellevue, went up for sale and Baumeister jumped at the chance to combine the two businesses. The same year, she purchased Bohemian Buttons. All four businesses are now integrated into one, convenient shop.
“We all look up to Stacie and her uncanny business sense,” said quilt expert Susan Trent. “She saw an opportunity to expand her already successful business and has created a shop that is unlike any other in the area. She is truly inspirational.”
QuiltWorks Northwest has three large classrooms offering beginner to advance instruction on a variety of topics including wire work, seed beading, quilting and beginning children’s sewing classes. Instructors from across the country travel to QuiltWorks Northwest to teach a range of techniques and styles, from very traditional to cutting edge.
This summer classes include Decor & Gifts; Beading, Metalwork, and Wirework; Bernina Classes; Accessories, Clothing and Wearable Art for YOU; and Quilt Photography.
“You just won’t find this level of quality products and knowledgeable staff any where else,” said Nancy Nelson, a QuiltWorks Northwest Bead Expert. “There is a sense of community here that is undeniable.”
According to Trent and Nelson, the do-it-yourself movement has drawn a wave of new customers to the shop.
“You can walk out of here with a bag of beads for $15 and make a beautiful gift for someone and feel good about your purchase,” she said. “People are much more aware of where their money is being spent these days.”
To reach out to the community, QuiltWorks Northwest participates in Hearts & Hands. Together with Project Linus, QuiltWorks Northwest collects donated quilts to be delivered to local hospitals and shelters. Additionally, the quilt shop works with The Stone Soup Quilting Ministry to provide quilts for the adult patients of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
“I visit bead stores all across the country and this store is just remarkable,” said loyal customer and jewelry book author Ronna Sarvas Weltman. “This is a real community hub with a lot of heart.”
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425.453.4602.
For more information, visit www.quiltworksnw.com.
