Later, when we bought a
Coleman tent camper, we traveled all over the West from California to Canada
and Wisconsin to New Mexico for “camping” vacations. My wonderful hubby never begrudged my finding quilt shops to explore. For those of you that are familiar with it, “The Quilter’s Travel Companion”
was our tour guide.
You’re all familiar
with your children’s “Are we there yet!” We got used to Peter exclaiming “Not another quilt shop!!!”
along the way.
Many times I’d be
browsing the fabrics while Rick and Peter went behind the scenes to see and use the long-arm quilting machines of all different
makes. When we decided to start this shop, we had tried enough machines to know that the only brand we wanted was a Gammillä. We have two machines, both of which have been upgraded
to Statler Stitcher automation. One is 12’ and the other is 14’.
As
a result of our travels and experiences, we wanted to have a shop with the following
characteristics:
• Clean
• Well lit
• Well decorated
• Well laid out
• Well stocked
• Well trained
• Places to sit
• Places to quilt
• Places to peruse
• Friendly to our customers, their friends, and their family
• Meeting place
• Full Service
• Fabric
• Notions
• Long-Arm
• Books
• Patterns
• Classes
• Gifts
• Quality Everywhere
• Store
• People
•
Stock
•
In assisting our customers
More than a few people inquired
about the prior professions of Ruth & Rick Grihalva.
Prior to opening Forever In Stitches,
LLC, which had been planned for more than a decade, we were co-owners of Executive Insights, Inc. EI was a consulting firm
that specialized in international project accounting using software that we designed and developed to work with Microsoft’s
Solomon Edition, based in Findlay, Ohio.
In our final year, our client
APCO won Microsoft’s Pinnacle Award for Innovation.
Wouldn’t you know, we can’t
get away from computers! . . . Our automated long-arm Statler Stitcher uses Microsoft Windows xp. At least we don’t
have to worry about currency exchange rates and Intercompany billings!
Fabric
– First, and most importantly, FABRIC: 100% cotton quilting
fabric. I tried not to let my own personal likes and dislikes taint my bolt selections in order to provide a wide variety
of choices. We have over 1,500 bolts on order and by our grand opening we will have over 1,000 on hand.
We’ve mainly stocked
the shop from four major fabric companies, RJR Fabrics [Thimbleberries, Jinny Beyer, ...], Moda/United Notions
[Moda Marbles, Kathy Schmitz, Quilt Country, …], Hoffman Fabrics [Batiks, Kaleidoscope, …] and Benartex
[Meadowbrook, Happy Holidays, …].
Through our notions distributors
we also obtained Marcus Brothers [Aunt Grace’s Scrapbag, …], Andover Fabrics, Timeless Treasures,
South Seas Imports [Debbie Mumm, …], Indo-USA [Homespun,…] and others.
Thread
– Guttermann, Mettler and Signature.
Notions –
Quilting specific.
Batting
– Cotton and polyester and blended.
Books,
Patterns & Magazines – Many. Come browse, relax, have
a cup of coffee while you peruse them.
Gifts
– Wood quilts, candles, clocks, coasters,
note cards, puzzles, etc.
Gift
Certificates – Make a friend happy with a gift certificate
of any value, or drop a hint to someone that you’d appreciate one.
GammillÔ & Statler StitcherÔ Long-Arm Quilting Machines
– We have both machines available so that we can offer
superb long-arm quilting services to our clients.
To explain these services
we have published a tri-fold brochure which is available in the shop or on our web-site.
Please feel free to come
and watch the machines in use. However, we request that you don’t interrupt or talk to the operators while the machines
are operating.
Training
Area – We’ve equipped our classroom with 6 work areas
each having it’s own Pfaff sewing machine and cutting area.
Classes
- We’re starting with basic and introductory classes (e.g.
Rotary Cutting, Strip Quilting, Foundation / Paper Piecing). April’s calendar, with a complete listing of class
dates and times, is available in the shop or on our web-site.
Please give us suggestions
for classes you’d like to have.
Also, quilting has many different facets, please let us know if you are interested in teaching any particular
type of quilting!
SewSewNEWSä – Our monthly newsletter
to keep you up-to-date on class schedules and new fabric/notions arrivals.
Stop by and add your
name to our mailing list to receive your copy either via mail or e-mail.
Quilt
with a friend – Any time that we are open and a class is
not scheduled, use our training room and equipment to allow you to bring your own project(s) and a friend or five to spend
the day quilting together at no charge.
Remember space is limited
to 6 work areas so reserve your spots early.
How Did They Meet
After getting her degree she worked on technical
support, database repair, and “dealer/consultant training” for [Microsoft Business Solutions] Solomon Software
in Findlay,
OH. She
met Rick on the 800 hotline where he would call to report problems and get answers. Rick, at the time, as President of Grihalva
Associates, a California corporation, that was a consulting firm supporting Solomon.
She left Solomon in 1989 and joined Grihalva
Associates. Six months later they formed Executive Insights, a California corporation that was a Solomon dealer. He was head of consulting and she was head of development.
They had a son, Peter [her maiden name was Peter] in 1994. They spent their summers camping in the western states and Canada, visiting quilt
shops and gathering ideas for the ideal quilt shop.
In early 2000 they focused on international
project accounting and developed a Solomon add-on to facilitate that business and joined forces with Resource Corporation,
Ltd., London.
In 2003, they moved to Ohio and in 2004 opened their quilt
shop at the main intersection of “downtown” Bluffton OH. Which is
located 1.1 miles from I-75 and 5 miles from US30.
