Business & Tech

Christie's Quilting Boutique: A Destination for Crafty Types

A Norwalk mom has set up shop on Main Street in Norwalk with quilting supplies, appliqués, and appealing fabrics that include colorful batiks and Sis Boom's Lucky Girl prints by the yard.


Sometimes the best therapy for the work-weary is to make something.  

ChristiesQuiltingBoutique.com
 has everything an avid quilter needs, but you don't even need to know how to thread a needle to plan a project in Christie Ruiz's new shop at 176 Main Street in Norwalk.

Love the fabrics but have no sewing ability? Ruiz will do the sewing for you. Anything from a quilt to pajama pants, just ask. In fact, Ruiz is already taking orders for girls' custom made Easter dresses. Customers can even order a matching dress to fit an 18" American Girl doll.

Ruiz said that her best sellers since opening earlier this month are the batik prints, which she stocks in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

Devotees of Wilton's Jennifer Paganelli and her Sis Boom operation will be thrilled to learn of her collaboration with Ruiz.

The day of Patch's visit, Paganelli's Lucky Girl line of fabrics arrived in the shop. Customers can buy the fabrics by the yard or select and place custom sewing orders with Ruiz.

"Jennifer gave me the patterns," said Ruiz, showing off her own Sis Boom tunic. "I can make them for customers."

Ruiz, who has always loved to sew dresses and handbags and whose mother was a quilter, left behind a full-time job she held for six years at New Canaan Public Schools to open her quilting boutique.

"I can finally be the mom I never got to be," said Ruiz who closes her shop for 20 minutes every afternoon to collect her children from the bus stop. The spacious retail space has plenty of room for the three Ruiz children to relax or do homework after school. 

Ruiz, who enjoys doing projects with her children, likes to brainstorm sewing and no-sew projects alike. Her wheels turned as she described an idea for brushing "chalk board paint" on plastic hearts that children will, in turn, decorate with colorful chalk for Valentine's Day. As one idea begets another, Ruiz has ideas for children's birthday parties in her spacious store. She would also like to collaborate with PTAs and PTOs for school fundraisers where a percentage of proceeds funnel back to a particular school.

Ruiz is equally enthusiastic to help her quilting customers as she is to help "no-sew" crafters looking for a project. 

On the counter are pens decorated with duct tape florettes made by children. There are also iron-on fabric appliqués in a variety of "die press" shapes Ruiz cuts with a special machine.

"This is called a penny rug because you weigh it down by sewing a penny inside," Ruiz said as she held up a small rug fashioned from concentric fabric circles. 

There is also a variety of items on consignment from local crafters that benefit from the heavy foot traffic along the busy section of Main Street. There are crocheted animal-themed hats that Ruiz's aunt made, as well as crocheted baby rattles. There are also racks of handmade children's dresses and handbags for sale.

Christie's Quilting Boutique is located at 176 Main Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10:00 am - 5:00 p.m., Sunday: 12:00-5:00p.m. Tel. (203) 807-8458
Website:  ChristiesQuiltingBoutique.com 
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Related Story:
Wilton's "Sis Boom" Sale is a Jackpot for Holiday Gifts


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