Pam

Quilter's Trading Post opened 1st June 2007 with Pam and Emma - the mother & daughter team at the helm. The shop has gone from strength to strength while Pam and Emma learnt the business. Many a time did they feel like women overboard struggling to keep their heads above water. With 10 years under the belt, the future looks good, Pam and Emma have all sorts of plans to take Quilter's Trading Post in new directions.

Looking back, the original shop in Green End, Whitchurch was like an Aladdins Cave that held a huge amount of fabric as well as thier original long-arm gammill quilting machine. But after 5 very cramped years they had the opportunity to move to the current premises.

It took almost 2 years to buy Buerton County Primary School (since re-named 'Buerton Old School'), and then some drastic cosmetic work and a whole new heating system to make it fit for use before opening in January 2011. The new premises consists of a hall of fabrics, notions and gifts, a classroom for 10 students, a quilting studio housing two computer guided long-arm gammill quilting machines and a fabric printing machine, an office, kitchen and toilet.

In 2019 Pam and Emma made the difficult but necessary decision to discontinue selling ranges of fabric. The main hall is now a large work space where Pam and Emma are able to design and create.

Fluffers - the Cat

Fluffs can be found wondering around outside (or making a nusance of herself inside - she's a dab paw at hopping in through the windows). Her important role is to begrudgingly be hugged when so needed.

Emma

Emma grew up watching Pam sew and remembers fondly her first sewing set made by pam. Emma left college at 17 having completed a GNVQ in Art but with no idea where to go from there. She found herself working in retail and banking for almost 10 years before going back to college part-time to study Graphic Design. Pam's purchase of the Gammill quilting machine and an idea to open a patchwork and quilting shop was an opportunity Emma couldn't pass up, she finished her course a year early and recieved a HNC in Graphic Design which has given her the ability to design and produce quilts, projects, patterns and promotional materials herself.

Emma tries to spend her time split between office work and designing/making samples, kits and patterns.

She remembers the day when at about 18 years old and leaving a quilting shop with a couple of christmas patterns and quite possibly some fat quarters in her carrier bag, she turned to Pam and said 'wouldn't it be lovely to own a quilt shop, but that'll never happen'. Pam - ever the optomist - replied with something along the lines of 'you never know, maybe we will' which Emma did not take at all seriously. The moral is - be careful what you wish for, cause your mum'll make it happen!

Tim

Pam's son (Emma's big brother) is a not so silent partner. He's good at everything he tries including Satin Stitching around applique - he has the samples to prove it!

Tim can usually be found in Cambridge with his family and his 'proper' job, but pops up to give Pam and Emma a hand around the school with all sorts of technical or man type jobs when he can.

You'll also spot him at Fesitval of Quilts manning the stand (if you think it looks bright and well layed out - that'll be his doing).

Jayne

Jayne started working at Quilter's Trading Post a couple months after they opened in Buerton. Having had her own shop with a couple friends before and been sewing, patchwork and quilting, and crafting for years

She is a wealth of knowledge and ability and has a great eye for choosing fabrics. Ask her about her own current projects, she's bound to have more than a few on the go at any one time.

Jayne has taken over running the Long-Arm Quilting machines on a day to day basis (on the day's she's in that is) now Pam is busy designing and sewing. She is always happy to book in your quilts to be quilted, or answer questions on... well almost everything Patchwork & Quilting.