A Quilter’s Dream

Life in a small town certainly has its advantages. And that is especially true if you are a customer of Margaret Mellett, owner of the Alley Fabric Nook in Bonners Ferry. With a sign on her store that encourages customers to call her in case of a “quilting emergency” after hours, Margaret vows to come to their rescue - and she is not kidding.

“I seriously mean that,” said Margaret. “My home is right next door, and I don’t want to have my customers wait until the next day to finish up their project. I love my business and especially my customers; I am here to serve them.”

It is that loyalty and willingness to help others in their crafting journey that has led to the success of the Alley Fabric Nook since it first opened in April of 2011.

Margaret stocks between 4,500 to 5,000 bolts of 100 percent top-quality cotton fabric, offering her customers a vast variety of fabric from which to choose. In addition, she has the largest selection of batiks (hand-dyed fabric) in the area.

“I also give my customers a choice of three different brands of thread as well as DMC (embroidery thread),” shared Margaret, who offers classes in her studio, except during the summer months when people are enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Margaret shares that the Alley Fabric Nook is a cozy little shop where she offers a little something for everyone. In addition to fabric and thread, she stocks notions, irons and puzzles. “And exclusive to only my shop in Bonners Ferry, seam rippers that a gentleman from Montana custom makes. They are absolutely beautiful; some have both a seam ripper and an awl in them. A gal’s best friend is her seam ripper to do the ‘un-sewing’ of items!” said Margaret.

Although her shop has been open just over four years, Margaret and her husband have lived in Bonners Ferry since January of 1978, owning and operating the Bonners Ferry Funeral Home since then. “I feel proud knowing that because of my fabric shop and how large it is, it brings more people to Bonners Ferry to shop at other businesses,” said Margaret, who is grateful to her mom who taught her much about quilting.

“When my mom was battling lung cancer, I moved in with her and cared for her. We quilted for five-and-a-half of her six months left on this earth. She taught me so much about quilting, so, of course, I fell in love with it all over again,” said Margaret.

Margaret said she enjoys the many Canadian customers who come across the border just to visit her shop. She is also grateful to her volunteers, Phyllis Collyer and Sharon Wilson, who give of their time contributing to the success of the Alley Fabric Nook.

It is important to Margaret to give back to the Bonners Ferry community that she loves dearly. In doing so, she makes valor quilts for the local veterans. “My father and three of my brothers served for this wonderful nation of ours, and I have always held them in a soft spot in my heart,” she said.

For the fifth straight year, Margaret will honor two local veterans on Veterans Day for their dedicated service to our country with a specially made quilt. On each one are the words, “honor, bravery, courage and valor.”

“It’s such a small token of appreciation, because they are all so deserving of our gratitude,” said Margaret. “But I feel blessed to have given away eight quilts so far.”

Alley Fabric Nook

6485 Harrison St., #102

Bonners Ferry, ID 83805

208.267.6665

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