Along Main Street, between all the various boutique stores and essential shopping places is the storefront of Caroline's Homespun Seasons.
It has been seven years since owner Caroline Tokarchik took over the shop, Stettler Fabrics and given it a distinct character and warmth, all of its own.
"We had moved to the area a couple years prior, and my youngest two children were going to be in school soon," Tokarchik recalled.
Owner of Stettler Fabrics, Harriet Hudson was retiring and closing the store, and the quilt shop was up for sale.
"I was disappointed that with all my kids in school I would finally have a little more time to sew, and now there would be no place to buy fabric and supplies," Tokarchik said.
But one day, when she stopped by the quilt shop with her eight-year-old daughter and heard her say "Mommy you should buy this place," Tokarchik knew it was a sign.
"She had no idea it was closing, and of course no understanding of the logistics behind it, but I took it as a sign, and started making inquiries," Tokarchik added.
As a child Tokarchik had been knitting and sewing, and with no real opportunity in the area to work in her field, she felt the timing could be perfect, and it was.
"At the time there was no good source for yarn and knitting notions in Stettler, and as it was another of my loves I decided to bring that in so we didn't have to send people out of town for their supplies," Tokarchik explained.
When she was a small girl, she recalled sneaking into her mum's sewing room, cutting up some sheer curtain material and working her way into making a wedding dress for her doll.
"I was afraid to tell mom I used her fabric and sewing machine, so I didn't tell her until a neighbour was over visiting and I couldn't wait to show off my work," Tokarchik added laughing. "I even made a hat and veil with a bottle lid, cardboard, fabric and trim."
Tokarchik has memories of her mum sewing a lot when she was a child, and thinks that it stuck with her too.
"One of my daughters was forever cutting up her nice clothes to make stuff for her bears and dolls when she was little, so much so that we had to hide the scissors," Tokarchik exclaimed.
"There were many years that life was busy and sewing was just mending and altering, but I never stopped loving it," she said.
When 15 years ago she found a 'Mom's Time-out' group in Calgary that had a quilting instructor, she was hooked.
"With three kids I still didn't have a lot of time to sew or knit, but I never lost my love of it, and have returned to it whenever time and space allowed," Tokarchik said.
"Technology has had a huge impact on the creative arts, and sewing and knitting is no exception, it has also had a huge impact on the tools we use."
Tokarchik explained that while some choose to hand quilt their projects, others send them out to be long-arm quilted.
"Some of these systems are computerized allowing for amazing and intricate designs and others rely on the years of experience of the operator," Tokarchik said. "We have sewing machines that can do beautiful embroidery, and software that allows us to design quilts, embroideries, and stitch patterns."
A lot of Tokarchik's merchandise and other items are inventoried and stocked online through her website, besides her store having a web presence.
"We also have a program that rewards our regular customers with reward points," said Tokarchik. "For every $250 they spend, they receive a $25 discount coupon and they don't need to worry about a card or stamps, it is all tracked in the computer against their names. Our customers love collecting their rewards and often use them to pick up a new tool or book that they wouldn't have otherwise."
What still delights Tokarchik is the when her customers or community members stop by to show her what they are working on.
"When they show us the latest thing they have seen on Pinterest and want advice or supplies so they can try it too, that's kind of gratifying," said Tokarchik. "I wish I had the time to try more of the things I see, but sometimes I feel I live vicariously through them, so I guess it is okay in the end."
According to Tokarchik, everyone should have a creative outlet.
"It is good for the soul and your mind. I have watched many women bear incredible sorrow by turning to these time-honoured art forms as a way of dealing with grief, depression, anxiety, addiction and much more," Tokarchik added. "If you don't have a creative outlet get one. Take a class, go to a demo, learn from a friend, surf the web, find something you love. It will be good for you, and then share it with others."