In July 2005, while current owner Julie Haymes was working as a nurse-midwife delivering babies in California, shop founder Joyce Hartley had recently left her career in the software industry to embark on an exciting Quilting Adventure in the Lakeside neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. Joyce wanted to bring something new to the local quilting scene: a friendly, modern shop for anyone who creates with fabric.
Over the next decade, the shop grew and relocated twice, first to the Willow Lawn shopping center in Richmond’s West End before returning home to Lakeside. It was then that Joyce sold the shop to Phyllis Mondak, a retired educator who was passionate about quilting and people. Phyllis shared Joyce’s goal of making quilting accessible and welcoming for all, offering job opportunities to many young quilters and hosting the Central Virginia Modern Quilt Guild in the classroom area.
In 2023, Phyllis faced declining health and made the difficult decision to sell the shop prior to her passing. Julie had retired from the medical field by then, and moved across the country to be closer to family. It was in Richmond that she met Heather Stocker, who ran a custom quilting business out of her home, and the two decided to team up to purchase the shop.
Julie and Heather brought fresh ideas and a longarm machine to the shop, completing a full remodel (including a major classroom expansion) and adding longarm quilting services to their list of offerings. Although Heather discovered owning a quilt shop was not the right path for her, Julie has continued to bring the best the quilting industry has to offer to the shop.
Today, as the shop’s 20th anniversary approaches on July 1, many things have changed, but one thing has not: Quilting Adventures remains committed to offering an inclusive, community-centered quilting experience for everyone. From books and toys at the front of the shop to entertain the youngest future quilters, to free beginner classes for high school and college students, to Free Sew Fridays in the classroom where anyone can bring a project and make new friends, the staff at Quilting Adventures is proud of the shop’s history and reputation as the friendliest shop in town.
We hope you’ll stop in to experience this for yourself. While you’re here, you’ll also find a wide selection of fabric including Ruby Star Society and Art Gallery Fabrics, bundles and kits curated by our talented employees, patterns and rulers galore, and plenty inspiration in the gorgeous sample quilts that line the walls as you browse the bright and spacious layout. We’d love to help you find your next Quilting Adventure!