Creative Styling
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Overview
3 Bedford St PO Box 118 Westport, Ontario K0G 1X0Creative Styling stocks a large assortment of fabrics for garment sewing and quilt making, and is an exclusive dealer for Baby Lock sewing machines and sergers.
t: view phone1-888-273-4465
w: http://www.creativestyling.com
Description
A perfect destination, the village of Westport is three hours from Toronto and Montreal, one hour south of Ottawa and one hour north of the US border. Where could you find a better location for a getaway? Situated on the Historic Rideau Canal, this vacation spot is the place where travellers have been coming for generations to relax, fish, cottage, camp and take in the many wonderful sites and year-round events. It is also a Mecca for all who enjoy sewing and quilting.
After moving from the Toronto area in 1995, with a diploma in fashion and business and a background teaching both topics at local colleges, Jo-Anne Coleman established Creative Styling as a home-based custom sewing business, specializing in formal attire.
Jo-Anne kept the business home-based, while looking for a retail environment suitable for a learning centre. Following a demographic study of the marketplace, it was discovered that customers that sew had to drive at least 40 minutes to get their supplies and, during the tourist season, travellers appreciated the convenience of having their needs available within the town limits. Who knew how many of those summer residents brought their sewing machines and sergers with them? “If the husbands bring their golf clubs, then the machines are coming tooâ€, say most of the women vacationers.
In the fall of 2004, Creative Styling found a home at 3 Bedford St. in the main shopping block of Westport. Classes in sewing and quilting were offered and it was not long before the demand for classes increased along with the need for a larger inventory of quilting cotton and the desire to expand the fashion fabric inventory.
Today, Creative Styling prides itself on stocking a large assortment of novelty cotton prints, batiks, and natural fibres such as silk, linen and wool. Fine Pima cotton and batiste are carried along with smocking patterns and supplies to satisfy the needlework customers. To compliment these products, Creative Styling became a Baby Lock sewing machine and serger dealer (for those ladies who forget their machines at home). They have demo models with in-store training and technical support. In less than three years, Creative Styling has grown to become a full-fledged fabric shop providing technologically advanced embroidery and sewing machines that take sewing to a new level.
The staff is a mixed group of enthusiasts who have extensive experience and each brings a special talent to the shop. Customers have come to know them and drop by on the days they are working for advice and sewing help.
Delcy Marchand has been with the shop since its inception teaching classes in “Hand Painting on Fabricâ€. Working with the Leeds & Grenville Health Unit, Delcy designed the Trillium Appliqué (a free pattern to be distributed shortly within the area) to create awareness about breast and cervical cancer.
Helen Bell is the resident quilter and store manager. Helen's method of teaching is well received as students constantly tell her how patient and helpful she is, whether they are seasoned quilters or beginners. Every Wednesday Helen hosts the “IQ†group, “Interested Quilters†who wish to learn and share their knowledge with others. We hope you enjoy the Beach Bag appliqué bag included in this magazine designed by this talented lady.
Jane Bradley is also a quilter and she has mastered the skill of digitizing and customizing with the latest Baby Lock sewing machines. Jane guides advanced sewers, leading the “All About ME Club†designed for Machine Embroiderers.
Janice Stenzl is the fast, faster, fastest sewer and serger expert. She has mastered the cover stitch machine and sews up many of the in-store garments, which showcase her ideas about style and ease of sewing.
Lorna Rae is the resident dressmaker while continuing to operate her own home-based business “Blue Heron Stitcheryâ€. Lorna leads the ‘Fashion Friday Café' each week and sews up fabulous garments for the shop. Even advanced sewers seek Lorna's expertise and knowledge in garment construction.
Many high calibre instructors are finding Creative Styling the place to teach; well known names such as Kathryn Brenne, Helen Metrakos, Judith Marquis and Angela Anastakis return each year to teach workshops on fashion sewing and needle crafts. In 2007, Creative Styling will be hosting classes with Jan Bones, Cathy Breedyk Law, Cheryl Wray, Catherine Bell, Loretta Moore, Susan Trott and many more. In addition, our talented staff will bring you the most up-to-date information in the world of sewing and needlework. Check out the web site for details, dates and sign-up information.
The staff at Creative Styling enjoys community projects and events. Every year the staff supports the Rideau Sewing Club, which makes Christmas stockings to raise funds for Palliative Care projects. Creative Styling sells these stockings in the shop and uses them to decorate a float for the Christmas Parade to increase awareness for this cause. For Christmas 2006, the staff handcrafted 250 candy cane mice to be handed out along the parade route. They also help support the efforts of the Kingston Sewing Connection's Canadian Aid to Chernobyl initiative, which supports orphanages, by supplying them with fabric, notions and patterns.
Participation in local quilt shows and festivals is planned for 2007, including the upcoming 2007 International Plowing Match scheduled for September 18 to 22 in Crosby Ontario, which is just up the road. Money has been donated for prizes under the “Wearable Art†category as Creative Styling joins with the Westport and Rideau Lakes Chamber of Commerce to support rural business.
What does the future hold for Creative Styling? With the valuable input of a growing client base, Creative Styling sees more courses being offered and continuous sourcing of new and unique fabrics and notions to keep all customers happily quilting and sewing for years to come.
Helen, Delcy, Jane, Janice, Lorna, and Jo-Anne invite you to visit their store or web site to check out the talented line-up of guest instructors booked for the upcoming year. Book early to reserve your space at this quaint and unique business nestled at the base of Foley Mountain in the beautiful picturesque village of Westport, Ontario.
Hours of work
Winter (January - April)
10am - 5pm Tues - Sat
Spring & Fall (May, June / September - December)
10am - 5pm Mon - Sat
Summer (July & August)
10am - 5pm 7 Days a Week
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