I live in the Rochester, NY area and we have a couple of shops that rent long-arms. They DO have someone on staff who helps with the threading and checking tension and changing bobbins. Sometimes I keep her pretty busy! It's only $15/hr and a great bargain. It's part of a whole shop that also has classes and fabric and machines.

Another shop, much smaller, has a classroom that has open sewing on Fridays and Sundays and this seems to be a big hit. My guild has used this for projects and we always end up shopping for a bit of something, which is probably why it pays for them to allow people to be there. It helps promote a nice sense of community and gives the shop the reputation of being a fun place to be.

Nancy in lovely western, NY

Florence It is materal girl LaPlata Rt 301 and Rt 6 It is in a strip mall next to Burger King

Lynn,

I recently read exactly the same information about bamboo. And the same thing was said about the chemicals that the Chinese were using to hasten the growth of bamboo would also not be allowed in the USA. I will try to find the article if I can.

I have also read that they are cutting down forests to plant the bamboo crops.

Speaking of "green" - I had an interesting conversation with the guy from Hobbs batting about this very subject while strolling around the vendor booths at Quilt Festival last week.

We had discussed BAMBOO here recently and when I mentioned it to him all of his energy went to telling me what a real falsity the "green" of this product claims: the chemicals used to strip the fibers and make the batting are terribly caustic and would not even be ALLOWED in the USA so it's all made in China and parts thereof. He said there is a major article coming out about it in one of the quilting publications.

So, heads up quilters. I'd be interested in what others know or discover about this.

Lynn

Happy, tell me more about this shop?? I don't get across that bridge often, but a LQS would make another reason for me! That part of MD has a good-size Amish community, and I've heard they will hand-quilt for folks. Florence

Drew,
I think a "go green" type store would be a very good proposition. I'd include some quilting stuff also, just to see if it sells. You could keep an eye on how each one goes and promote that one more.
eileenkny

We have a great guilt shop here just over the state line in MD it is run by a family they opened about 5 years ago and 2 years moved in to a bigger place they have class and any thing you would need to quilt they are the greatest family so if the place by you or so so you should be ok just be friendly and have fun Happy

Hey Guys,

The SF Stitch Lounge that was mentioned earlier in this thread has closed (figures since I just moved back to San Francisco). I imagine the overhead was to high. Retail space is outrageous in SF. I thought about opening a similar operation in just across the golden gate bridge in Marin county but I am aprehensive because there are practically NO fabric or quilt stores and the sewing machine dealers here are just so-so. I just worry that I couldnt get enough support for this type of business.

What is big in this area is the "Go - Green" movement (natural products..recycled products". I have thought about having a craft/home decor store that tailors to the "greenies". Most of what we quilters already use is already green (cotten, wool, silk..). What do you guys think of that idea?

Drew

Sorry, but from a business point of view, I don't see how you could cover your rent/utilites. You must talk to someone NOT connected to quilting to get a true financial picture. Thinking about this from a participant's point of view, I would be more prone to organizing such a gathering at a full-service quilt shop that would be willing to rent out a room - then we could take a break and SHOP! And, if the meeting was charity related, I'm not sure you couldn't get a large quilt shop to donate use of the room for free. This would benefit the quilt shop in numerous ways, including getting new people in to see what they have to offer, while taking a tax break as well. But get some professional advice on this. Good luck. Paula

About renting out longarm use: I'm sure that would be a hit with a lot of quilters, but it would need somebody there who really knows that particular machine and can 'trouble-shot' when things go wrong. These machines need looking after or they won't work properly.

Lorchen

I'd love a place like that, too--my small condo just doesn't "cut" it!

It's been more than a year since this topic was started, and I'm curious -- did you go ahead with your plan? It's such a fantastic idea on so many levels.

My LQS has sit-n-stitch every Monday, but her space is SO limited that the tables are completely full with no room to spread out. I'd love a place to go where I can sandwich quilts, cut out garments, use a design wall, etc. Our home is way too small to accomplish any of that comfortably.

I look forward to hearing more!

'thann

Thank you all so much for the great advice and positive feedback. We are pounding away on the business plan now and hope to have it completed by January (those darn holidays get in the way).

Rentable lockers are a great idea - we had thought of a storage area but not for charging for space - I think it's a great idea.

You folks are all so darn smart - a big pat on the back to you all! Jan

Go for it! I think you can see we are all in agreement and wish we had one in our area's. Another thought - rentable lockers so customers would not have to haul stuff back and forth.
Jan p.