After spending 24 years as an elementary school teacher (in both Canada and Japan), Michelle Peters suspected it was time for a career change. “My passion had really shifted to quilting,” she explains. “It was all I thought about!” Today, Michelle is the force behind Watergirl Quilt Co., a quilt shop based in Prescott, Ontario.

Michelle herself is the “Watergirl” in her shop’s name. Having spent summers boating along the majestic St. Lawrence River, she is grateful to still live near the water. This quilter has her two grandmothers to thank for raising her among the warmth and comfort of their handmade creations—knitted socks, crocheted blankets, and crazy quilts. “I always looked forward to sitting on my Nanny Williams’ veranda, looking at the ocean and eating homemade bread fresh out of the old wood stove,” she says. “Nights would get chilly even in the summer and we would sleep under her handmade quilts. Those were the best sleeps ever!”

When Michelle first got interested in quilting herself, she reached into that Canadian family history and started labeling her creations as “made by Watergirl Quilter.” She loved the idea of following her passion for quilting to create her own family legacy, and she feels honored to help other people along in their creative journeys. “I wanted to create a welcoming community for quilters at my shop by offering classes online, on weekends, or during evenings that would allow working people to participate,” she says.

During the early days of her shop, Michelle worked out of her house during the first Covid-19 lockdown. Since then, the business has expanded three times, moving to a bigger store location each time. And people took notice of their successes! “In our first year of business, we were the Second Runner-up in the By Annie Local Quilt Shop Contest,” Michelle explains. “Our fans noted that we are friendly, knowledgeable, and fun! They always feel welcome and supported to create. We are very proud of that accomplishment. Our nickname, "The Small but Mighty Quilt Shop,” came from that contest.

Michelle and her staff have built their quilting community through offering in-person retreats and classes as well as virtual options. “Customers like the option to choose,” she explains. “Our ‘sleep in your own bed’ 3-day in-person retreats are always waitlisted because the food and fun are fabulous!” The virtual retreats are popular as well, as they provide a way for quilters from all over the world to meet each other. “Our shop really focuses on including and welcoming all makers and we work hard to foster personal relationships with our customers. We like to welcome them like part of our family.” Michelle is also a proud member of the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild and the Thousand Islands Quilters' Guild, which is another way to stay in touch with the local quilting community.

One of the ways Michelle has attracted new and beginner sewists is by offering the SIY – Sew It Yourself classes. They have also participated in SIY-TV, a monthly live virtual class that shop owners participating in the program can offer their customers for instant community building. “It has been challenging to get it off the ground, but we are slowly getting people interested,” she says. “A challenge is that new sewists aren't always on our mailing list or socials yet. But it is picking up speed and it's an easy program to use as it just involves emailing participants some information. We also offer an annual beginner quilting class, and I would like to step that up in frequency.”

Watergirl Quilt Co. is frequented by diverse customers of all skill levels. “We have sewists and quilters who only began to learn during the pandemic and others who have decades of experience,” Michelle says. “Recently, we have seen an upswing in parents asking us for kids sewing classes. We’ve also noticed a trend of younger people asking for apparel sewing classes, which is something we may look into offering.”

Charity sewing is another opportunity to link arms with their customers and build upon the community they’ve created. For instance, the shop has invited customers to come make quilts for Ukrainian families that are new to the local area. “We have worked with our local Rotary Club and Quilts of Valor to donate supplies and our time to make quilts for veterans,” Michelle adds.

Known for being a friendly, bubble store filled with inspiration, Watergirl Quilt Co. is a “happy place” for customers. “We love our sewing community for their willingness to try new things and how they encourage each other to create and have fun! Whether you quilt to feel joy, to heal from sadness, or to express your love for family and friends, we at Watergirl Quilt Co. are honored to be part of your creative journey.” Customers all over the world can catch Watergirl Quilt Co. Facebook Live videos each Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to laugh and learn together.

Watergirl Quilt Co.
Unit 302 - 235 Water St. W,
Prescott, Ontario
K0E 1T0
(833) 224-1008

www.watergirlquiltco.com
info@watergirlquiltco.com

Learn more about author Lindsay here.