Two chicks share a love of quilting

By Chris Lundstrom
Publisher/Editor
    Memories are being cherished and preserved in a small building along the main street of Ganado. The sign reads “Two Chicks Quilting,” but it is about more than just quilts. 
    These two chicks, Julie Mercer and Missy Klimitchek, have turned their love of quilting and sewing and all things fabric into a successful business that fills a void some never new existed. Through them, the art of sewing has been discovered by men and women alike, young and old, and as a result, many have realized a talent and love for it.
    Both Mercer and Klimitchek were introduced to sewing by their mothers. Mercer’s mom, Gloria Alexander, had a business in Ganado called “The Sewing Box.”
    “It was a fabric store, mom made drapes and also sold sewing machines,” Mercer said. “My dad fixed the machines until they went out of business.”
    Mercer said she started sewing when she was just five years old and bought her first sewing machine in fourth grade.
    “I used my pig money from the fair to buy my first sewing machine,” she said. “I took sewing in 4-H, did all the projects. When I had kids I made my kids’ bedding, dance costumes, did altering for others.”
    Klimitchek’s mom, Francine Madden, was a quilter.
    “She tried to get me to love it as much as she did,” she said. “I was too busy having kids and with my life.”
    She said six months before her mom passed away she taught her how to hand quilt.
    “I got just enough of the basics,” she said. “When she passed she left a room full of projects in different stages. I knew I would have to learn to quilt or give it all away.”
    With the help of her friends, Klimitchek was able to finish the projects. She entered one of the quilts at the Jackson County Youth Fair and it won grand champion.
    Mercer works full time as office manager at BKB Oilfield in Ganado and Klimitchek is the curriculum director at Industrial ISD. Mercer had opened Sew Simple in the same location back in 20?. It was open evenings and weekends and Mercer offered basic sewing classes. 
    Mercer said she and Klimitchek began quilting together over a project for a teacher at school who had cancer. They discovered they had the same love for quilting.
    Last November Mercer made a decision that would change everything. 
    “I decided to buy a long arm quilting machine,” she said. “The company included a 2-day free class, but only my spouse or business partner could attend with me.”
    She said she called Klimitchek and within a few weeks they decided to be partners in a new venture – Two Chicks Quilting.
    The new machine changed the world of quilting as they knew it. It can take a quilt top, batting and backing fabric and quilt it in just a few hours. In no time there were more than two dozen quilt tops waiting to be quilted.
    “We still have sewing classes, but things mushroomed,” Mercer said. “The core of what we do is quilting.”
    For the first couple of months, Mercer and Klimitchek spent most of their free hours at the shop working on customer’s quilts.  Mercer’s niece, Nicole started working two days a week to get caught up, and that quickly turned into full time. Klimitchek’s son’s girlfriend, Stacy, joined her, working part time. 
    Mercer said customers can bring in their own quilt tops or they can produce the quilt from start to finish. Two Chicks Quilting also carries fabric, notions, and has an embroidery machine to personalize projects. They hold showers and parties that include making some type of fabric project that can proudly be taken home.
    She tells a heartwarming story of a woman whose husband passed away some years ago. She saved some of his favorite shirts and a pillowcase that he loved. She wanted to turn these items into keepsakes for her grandchildren. Mercer and Klimitchek took the shirts and pillowcase and turned them into one-of-a-kind pillows that will remind those grandkids of their grandpa forever.
    “It is such touching stuff,” Klimitchek said. “People trust us with their family keepsakes; we feel like we are making a difference.”
    The ladies also believe in giving back to the community, so as often as they can they donate quilts for raffles and giveaways. Recently they quilted more than a dozen quilt tops for a veterans support group.
    “It’s important to do these things,” Klimitchek said. “We both have deep roots in this community. We know how hard it is for these groups to raise money.” 
    Klimitchek said she and Mercer complement each other. 
    “We are different but complementary,” she said. “Julie jumps around from project to project and I will sit and work on one until it is finished.”
    But it works, because so far the business is self-sustaining. 
    They joke about it being their retirement plan, but judging by its success this first year, they may have invested in a future that will pay dividends to the community.
    Two Chicks Quilting is located at 204 S. Third St. in Ganado. The hours are M-F from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Other hours are available by appointment. The phone number to the store is 771-3978 and they also have a Facebook page.