Needle Me This
Situated high in North Carolina’s Black Mountains, this shop encourages quilters to pass on traditions. Cherine Criste took a leap of faith in 2006 when she purchased a well-established quilt shop in this historic mountain region.
Mountain Makeover [1]
A welcoming porch greets customers and promotes lingering. “I wanted to keep the shop open to carry on the town’s quilting traditions,” Cherine says.
Meet the Staff [2]
Seated: Cherine Criste (owner); standing (from left): Sandy Reynolds, Joan Parlier, Marsha Woods, and Peggy Crowther; not pictured: Phyllis Duenas.
Awe Your Customers [3]
When Cherine built her new shop, she went for the wow! factor with 20-foot-high ceilings, big windows, and warm wooden floors—a perfect setting for plenty of samples to be displayed. “I want visitors to be overwhelmed,” she says.
Have a Seat [4]
A quaint sitting place allows customers to browse samples and look through books for inspiration. Cherine believes samples sell fabrics, so she features traditional fabrics as well as bold, new designs.
Cart Full of Fun [5]
A cart in the middle of the room makes it easy for customers to browse fat quarters.
All About Selection [6]
The reversible aspect of Paisley Pincushion’s Reversible Apron makes it one of the store’s most popular patterns. “We cater to different tastes because some quilters live here, some travel across several counties, and others have vacation homes here,” Cherine says.
Paint the Town [7]
In her spare time, Cherine adorns barns and buildings along the region’s Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina with quilt block patterns. “In our area, quilting just won’t go away, and we want to keep it that way,” she says.
For more information about Needle Me This, visit www.needle-me-this.com [8].