We're open for Pick-up & Walk-In M-F 10a-5:30p & Sat 10a-5p PST
Let’s meet your staff:
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Carie McGhie, Owner |
I began quilting many years ago to do something for myself. I had 4 kids, two of whom had special needs. I loved it, but never finished my quilts – all I had were tops! So I began trying different forms of finishing, from tieing quilts, to hand quilting, and finally found the method I liked the best – long arm quilting. I began quilting for others and teaching classes in my home until one day I decided I should just open up a shop. So in May of 2003, we opened Going Batty Quilt Shop on Victorian Avenue in Sparks in the old Gazin’s building. We were located there for 2 years before moving to our current location.
In the meantime, I have won awards for my long arm quilting. Recently I also fell in love with heirloom sewing and became licensed as a Martha Pullen instructor for heirloom sewing, heirloom teaching, heirloom serging, and teaching beginning sewing.
We became the local Bernina dealer in 2005, a company I fell in love with. They are the last family- owned sewing machine maker, and have many of the same ideals that we have – selling the highest quality products with great service and education. I was a Rookie of the Year candidate with Bernina of America in 2006, District Dealer of the Year in 2007, Century Award Winner in 2007, and one of five featured shops by Bernina in 2009.
I love to teach others this craft that I fell in love with myself. I saw a need to teach basic techniques, not only to beginners but to those that never learned some of the fundamentals. So I developed a curriculum that has been used around the area in other stores for Quilting 101 and a series of classes for long arm quilters, from beginning to advanced classes, including how to turn your long arm quilting into a business.
I also write my own patterns for quilting and garment sewing under the private label “Simply Adorable”.
Some fun facts about me are that I was a ballroom dancer in college, and have taught groups and individuals ballroom and country western dancing. I love animals. When I was a little girl I nursed a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest back to health. I have two birds now, a conure and a cockatiel. I also have a Maltese named Rosie. I’ve been in sales since at least the third grade, raising money for girl scouts and even to save the whales. We have been Foster Parents and took care of special needs children.