Quilting Shop Stitches New Thread in Local Business

Collingswood resident and longtime quilter Robin Laino is putting the finishing touches on her most intricate pattern yet.

Laino will thread the final stitches into her masterpiece on Friday, April 8—the tentative date her project will be unveiled.

If all goes as planned, Laino will spend April 8 hosting the grand opening of her very first quilting business, The Quilted Nest.

Opening at 709 Haddon Ave.—in the space that formerly housed Mineralistic—The Quilted Nest will be Collingswood’s only store dedicated to the art of quilting.

“We’ll offer in-store merchandise like fabrics, textiles, notions and other quilting supplies,” said Laino. “And we’ll also offer a steady schedule of classes, which will be available for quilters of any level.”

Laino said a precise class schedule will be posted in the store within a month. 

“I haven’t come up with a schedule yet, but we’ll offer a Beginner Class, a monthly Apron-Quilting Series—which will be a series of six apron-making classes, using a different pattern each class—and I’d also like to have a Children’s Quilting class in the summer,” said Laino, adding that for now, she'll be teaching all classes.

Collingswood is currently home to similar stores—like Jubili Beads & Yarns, a shop that offers merchandise and classes spanning a variety of arts-and-crafts. But Laino said nothing in the borough will quite compare to The Quilted Nest.

“What makes us stand out from other shops is we’re geared specifically toward quilting. We don’t cater to any other hobby,” she said. “Collingswood is an arts-friendly community. So our opening here, coupled with the timing—the economy has really forced people to learn new skills and make things themselves—I think we're going to be a great local resource.

“Regardless of the economy, though, I think everybody is ripe to do things with their hands right now,” said Laino. “And for those find their passion—who buy new fabrics and supplies for enjoyment, not to save money—quilting is still beneficial. You gain a sense of satisfaction by creating something by yourself.”

Laino said her own passion was ignited some 16 years ago.

“I’ve been quilting for….forever,” said Laino with a laugh. “I’ve always sewed, and when my children were small, I made all their clothes. Then, when quilting became popular, I tried it. And never stopped.”

In the past, Laino's donated her quilts to local fundraisers, like Collingswood High School Band Boosters. She’s taught classes at various quilting stores in the region, and has sold her own designs on Etsy.com.

And while opening The Quilted Nest is the biggest endeavor of her entire quilting career, it’s also one Laino says she’s ready for.

 “I’ve worked in finance, at a leasing company, for the last 20 years,” said Laino, who left the industry to open her shop. “Finance is what I’m good at. So I thought, ‘What could be better than doing what I’m good at—dealing in finances—while doing what I love the most—quilting?’ Opening this business lets me do both.”

Opening a quilting store has been an idea in the back of Laino’s mind for five years. But her decision to act on the idea came just two months ago.

“Eight weeks ago I decided for certain to open a store, and I’ve been barreling full-speed ahead ever since,” she said. “I came home from work that day and told my husband. And, later that same night, when he heard me on the phone with a Realtor, he said, ‘I guess you’re really serious about this, huh?’”

It became official when Laino found a prime piece of real estate to set-up shop.

“I specifically wanted really great window-space, and (709 Haddon Ave.) has the best windows,” she said, pointing to two, huge front windows—both already filled with antique items like trucks and carriages, all of them draped in quilts.

Laino said "vintage" is why The Quilted Nest stands apart from other quilters-only stores nearby—with The Little Shop, in Haddonfield, being the closest.

“I’ve always been interested in and have used vintage materials in my quilts. I also collect vintage fabrics, textiles and notions—which will also be available for sale here,” she said. “We'll have new stuff, for tried-and-true quilters—as does every quilting store—but we also have the rare, old materials that no one else does. We have the kinds of fabrics (Collingswood’s) local fiber arts guild might want."

The rarest item found in The Quilted Nest’s current inventory? According to Laino, that would be 1950s Barkcloth.

Vintage appeal extends even further than fabric, though. Most of the shop’s antique décor is also available to purchase.

And Thursday, March 31—eight days before the store is set to open—Laino finally finished rearranging an endless supply of vintage furniture and props, and moved on to peeling tape off freshly-painted walls and sweeping the floors.

“It’s been quite a process,” said Laino of moving. “Mineralistic (the shop's former inhabitant) had a unique design scheme; it was very dark. We had to lighten it up.”

Laino and husband James have been working to cast out old vibes and add their stamp to the space. Walls have been painted, ceilings were redone—leaving behind almost no reminder of Mineralistic's presence.

“Painting was tough. Mineralistic used this glaze on their walls, and every time we painted a coat over it, it kept coming through,” said Laino of the new, light blue-and-white color scheme.

"We painted the main walls white, because all the bolts of fabric will be mounted   to them. There are so many colors of fabric, and loud designs, and I wanted all those options to pop—and white walls won't take away from the vibrance," said Laino. "And because of my first name (Robin), we specifically chose Robin’s Egg Blue as the accent paint. It kind of lets me put my personal mark on the store, in a less-obvious way than naming the shop after me. It's more personal and private." 

For the next eight days, Laino will put down the paint brush and pick up other tools. Cabinetry, arriving this week, will be installed. The classroom area will be arranged, and work on the fabric station—a long table in the center of the shop where customers can cut fabric—will be completed.

If all goes well, The Quilted Nest will officially open at 10 a.m. Friday, April 8. And when asked whether she felt nervous or excited, Laino was honest.

“It depends on what time of day it is,” she said, scratching her wrist. “Most times, I feel confident that this is all going to work. And then I wake up at 2 a.m., so nervous I feel sick. I’ve sunk everything I have into opening this shop.”

But deep down, underneath the nerves, Laino believes it’s a risk worth taking.

“Everyone knows it's restaurants that draw people to Collingswood. But I don’t think the community wants to only ever be known as ‘A Restaurant Town,’” said Laino. “I think this shop will bring a fresh, unique appeal to Collingswood.

"We're offering more than just a hobby. Quilting brings people a sense of accomplishment, of creativity. It offers an escape, an expression, an outlet.”

Hours of Operation—

• Mondays through Saturdays—10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sundays—noon to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday and Thursday Evenings—7 p.m. to 9 p.m., while classes are in session  (Whenever evening classes are being held, the store will also be open to the public for shopping)

 Payments Accepted—

• Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, personal checks accepted when accompanied by proper identification