Editor’s note: This post was published in 2018 when ABQ Sewing Studio first opened in Strathroy, Ontario. As of April 25, 2022, we’ve moved to 15 Centre Street West, a few blocks from our original location.
79 Thomas Street, Strathroy, Ontario
I’m excited to announce a new phase for Among Brenda’s Quilts & Bags. Like many small businesses, I’ve experienced growing pains and have found that it’s time to move out of my home studio.
It’s been comfortable to have a great office and sewing area in my basement but things are getting super crowded down there with office, sewing, photography etc., and the business is taking over more and more of our living space in the rest of the house as well.
If you think my head is getting bigger, that’s because I’ve been bumping it on the heating ducts in our crawl space practically every day. It currently houses cases and cases of my ABQ Bag Zippers. The bedrooms are filled with my bag samples, the living room with trunk show suitcases, the garage has extra stock on skids and even the chicken coop holds my tradeshow fixtures!
The New Studio Space
The last tenant was a chalk-painting studio. Every color they sold was displayed on several walls along with black paint everywhere else. There are also walls covered with wooden slats. All that is going… as well as the shower stall from a former Curves business. All in all, lots to do.
We’ve been renovating our new space these past two weeks and should be done the grunt work and be ready to move in by May, with an open house sometime after that. Being an old hand with a paintbrush and putty knife, I’ve been put in charge of repairing and painting the walls. Who knew walls could have so many paint colors and nail holes in them?
This new space will have room for my zipper, hardware and pattern stock, a printing area for the patterns, shipping area, office, sewing space and most importantly, teaching space for 8 students!
Because this is going to be working studio, I’ll be open by chance or appointment or when classes are running. I’ll still be traveling to shops to offer classes and present my trunk shows. It’s a different concept, but I’m pretty sure it’ll work well for me.
Keep an eye on our events calendar to find out when our open house is happening.
Congratulations! Look forward to seeing the new digs.
I’ll have an open house and hope to see you there. No date as yet, we have lots of work to do yet!
Thanks Heather, watch for our Open House that will take place some time this summer. We also have our first grandchildren coming around June, twins, so the summer is going to be a bit choppy, travelling back and forth!
Congrats girl! I knew you could do it! Looking forward to seeing your new space!!
Thanks Lisa! We’ve got a bit of work to do first!
Congratulations Brenda!
That is super exciting and I can’t wait to see your new space ! Or pictures of it 🙂
There will be pictures, thanks Annette!
So glad you’re expanding. Best wishes.
Thanks so much Alison!
Congratulations Brenda! Looking forward to seeing your new space!
It’s coming along nicely Michelle!
Congratulations! I’m looking forward to meeting you in person next time I travel to the area.
That will be great Karen!
Wow! Can’t wait to come visit!
Congratulations!
Till then!
Congratulations Brenda, well done!
Thanks Linda!
Congrats to you. Looks great!
Thank you Janet!
All the best in your new space.
Thanks Linda.
Wow such wonderful news. Congratulations on following your dreams and working to make it all happen. From your left coast fans ♥️????
Thanks lefties!