If you love quilting, look on news stands for the next issue of “McCall’s Quilting Magazine” which will highlight a local quilt shop with owners Debbie Olive and Gayle Cowdin as one of the “16 Top Quilt Shops” in the U.S.
The quilt that got them the honor is called “Spoolin’ Around” and has garnered local attention as well.
The feature will be called “Hometown Favorites” and is a huge honor, according to both owners of Quilt Lovers’ Hangout.
“It’s like the Gold Medal at the Olympics,” said Olive.
“We were also chosen as the favorite quilt shop for ‘The Country Register’ which is a state-wide quilting publication,” Olive said.
Owner Olive is from North Fort Myers and Cowdin from the Cape. Yet their business caters to people from around the globe.
“It is a proud feeling. Our dream was to have a quilt shop recognized as a place you could shop and feel at home, and we feel we have achieved that,” Olive said.
Quilter Susie Brown from Kansas City decided to make the shop one of her first stops when she arrived in town last week.
“It’s more than inspiration for me,” she said, when she visited with daughter Melissa.
Melissa told her about Garmin, a global navigation system that connects people with preferences via GPS. Quilt Lover’s Hangout was on top of her list.
Word got out about their different type of shop, they both said, hence the honor.
“McCall’s called us a premiere shop, to be featured in a special edition,” Olive added.
“We are so excited,” Cowdin said. “It is a dream come true.” She said the magazine picked them partly for design, partly for creativity.
The issue will hit stands May 18.
“We were very, very pleased. We hoped by our five-year mark we would make a goal, but this was exceptional,” said Cowdin.
They opened in January of 2005, and have since had a very,very busy business.
“I’m overwhelmed by the recognition,” Cowden said.
Their charity work has not gone unnoticed in the area.
They have given quilts to Susan G. Komen, the Shriners, Conkerr Cancer and more.
Locals and visitors like that, and support the shop because of it.
Quilt Lovers’ Hangout is at 13494 N. Cleveland Ave. in the Hancock Bridge Shopping Plaza.
For information call 995-0045.