Portland was getting too hot and I was starting to feel the itch to get home. Not seriously, because I love driving down the Oregon coast and looking at the ocean. It is such a beautiful color and the scenery is amazing.
We stopped in McMinnville after I saw the sign and told Friend Julie about Boerma’s. I remember it from when Amanda and I visited back in the beforetimes. Back then I thought the shop was awesome. It was even better this time.
AND they have a super cool sign. That windmill was moving when I took the photo.
The shop is housed in an old department store space. The store was three stories. The third story was an apartment. There were also classrooms, offices and staff areas on the second story. We didn’t go up there. The basement floor was all sale fabric. They had quite a lot and I found a good canvas for a bag there.
The street level floor was full of fabric, sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. The aisles were narrow and full, but the place was scrupulously clean and did not seem disorganized. I could have bought a lot more than I did, but I made quite a dent in their stock. They had a wide selection of fabric styles – from Tilde and Tula to Pacific Northwest forest and tree fabrics. I didn’t see many, if any, Civil War, etc repros. I wasn’t looking for those, so they may have been somewhere and I didn’t see them.
They have upgraded their technology and have a cool kiosk you can sign up to be on their mailing list and get rewards. Rewards are accumulated through online and in person sales.
The online shop is good. I love their ‘What’s New’ section. It is called ‘What’s New Woo Hoo’! Isn’t that fun and hilarious? I am glad they have a sense of humor.
You know I love notions. I think I escaped this trip with no new rulers, but I did do a good survey of various notions selections in the shops. This shop had a nice selection including a lot of zippers.
This time I found the interfacings nook. I didn’t buy any interfacing, but they had a good selection.
This trip I seemed to be looking at ‘good ideas in quilt shops’. I am not sure why. Perhaps I will win the lottery and open the ideal quilt shop?
Boersma’s had patterns hanging in the aisles with fabrics. These seemed to be the free patterns that were released with the fabrics by the fabric company. I thought that was a great idea.
They had new sales and repair sections for both sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. I did not look at the vacuum cleaners, though I did see a long line of them in the basement. Perhaps they were repairs?
In the sewing machine department, I just took a quick look. Julie said they sold Janomes. Julie liked the chairs they had, which were also available for sale.
This shop is definitely worth a visit. It isn’t that far out of Portland, though it is a trek and you would need a car. If you are only able to visit one quilt shop, this should be it.
There is a McMeniman’s nearby where you can eat lunch, which would be a good break.
Boersma’s Sewing Center Inc
203 NE 3rd Street
McMinnville , OR 97128
Main: (503) 472-4611
Toll Free: (800) 822-7397
Fax: (503) 472-1831
info@boersmas.com
