When Beverley Thompson of White Bear Resort decided to step down from the business she founded and spent 20 years building, she "knew it was the right time." Fortunately, she found the right person to take over Carlyle Sew & Sews fabric store when former customer and quilt club member Tanya Robertson of Carlyle became the new owner on July 1.
"Tanya was a customer and she belonged to my quilt club," says Thompson. "She came in and spent the month of June with me. She's put her own spin on the store and she's going to make it better and better. She's the perfect person at the perfect time in my life."
Robertson says she was "a little surprised" about Thompson's decision to sell. "I talked to her and talked to my husband. My biggest concern was my three school-age children, but I'm loving it."
Thompson also cites family as her primary reason for selling the store. "I absolutely loved what I did and I love the people. I have a large family, five kids and 12 grandkids and I know how quickly they reach an age ...I needed the freedom to come and go and spend more time with them."
"I wanted to get out when things were going well and Tanya is the perfect person in there in my mind. She will always put the customer first and I feel the same way."
"The customers are great," adds Robertson. "There are a lot of familiar faces and a lot of tourists. We're the only fabric store within a one-hour radius. There's nothing in Estevan or Weyburn."
Thompson first started the store in Carnduff in 1994. After 10 years, she moved the business to Carlyle, a decision that brought her an opportunity to make even more friends from across cultures and countries.
"I kept a guest book in the store and I don't know what it is about Carlyle, but I had people come in the store from Australia, England, Japan, New Zealand.They were either visiting someone here or touring Canada and somehow, they ended up in Carlyle," says Thompson.
"Of course, I send a big thank you to the community of Carlyle and the other communities in the area. I was supported well, by people from Arcola, Redvers, Wauchope, Kennedy, Kipling, White Bear. My customers come from such a wide distance."
Thompson credits having a business in the Carlyle area for helping her make a group of friends she would not have encountered otherwise.
"I got involved with First Nations when I carried the regalia products (used in making traditional garments), on the pow wow circuits," says Thompson. "The friendships I made out here at White Bear, I can't tell you the wonderful people I got to know. I learned some of their traditional ways and it's such a privilege to be involved with my First Nations friends. It's a very spiritual journey at the pow wows."
"That's something that Carlyle brought me," says Thompson. "If I would have kept the store in Carnduff, I probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet the First Nations community."
"In the last few years, stores in Estevan and Weyburn have closed. In the last three years, my store has boomed," says Thompson.
New owner Robertson says that she appreciates the support the store receives from people in the area, both as a customer, and now as the owner.
"I'm a firm believer in shopping locally as much as possible," Robertson says. "I like to, as much as I can."
"When there was the possibility that Bev might liquidate [the store] and sell everything, I was really scared. Like everybody else, I hate to see a business leave the community."
"I had some ladies from Estevan in the store his morning," adds Robertson. "They can't get what they need in their community. I'm hoping that I'm going to provide a service and I hope that people can take advantage of that."
"[Shopping locally] is a circle," says Robertson. "Supporting us helps us to support our community. We live here too."
An avid quilter, Robertson says Carlyle Sew & Sews is "not just a quilt store."
"It's now the only fabric store in the area," she says. "We do carry lots of fabric, but we also carry regalia supplies, vinyl, canvas and even truck cloth."
In addition to keeping the store's existing offerings, Robertson says she would like to expand, offering more craft supplies and classes.
"I've got lots of ideas," she says. "Quilting and crafting are real art forms, and I'd like to add some beginner quilting classes for adults and older kids in the new year. I've had quite a few requests. I'd also like to offer crafting classes, where [the participant] leaves with a completed item after one class. For example, I made a decorative, working clock out of an embroidery hoop and fabric in less than 45 minutes."
"I'd also like to be more active on Facebook," adds Robertson.
Thompson says that Robertson "has good ideas and has enthusiasm and youth. I can see her expanding it even wider."
"My store was such a gift to me," says Thompson. "It brought me such good stuff and it's time for me to move on to other good stuff. I'm very happy that Tanya is there."
Robertson is currently planning the store's grand opening, which will take place on Friday, September 19.
"The store will also be open that entire weekend, September 19, 20 and 21, for Homespun," says Robertson. "We're looking forward to welcoming our customers."
Carlyle Sew & Sews is located at 102 Souris Avenue and is open Monday-Friday 10-5. Phone (306)-453-2562. Find them on Facebook at Carlyle Sew & Sews.
