Creative quilt and candy shop ‘sewing’ strong after 20 years

By Correne Martin

After 20 years in the sewing, quilting and crafting business, The Pickett Fence is still “sewing” strong in the heart of downtown Prairie du Chien.

The Pickett Fence has changed its product line completely from the days of offering mostly crafts, giftwares and florals in Commerce Court Mall in 1998, to becoming a Creative Sewing Center, selling Janome sewing machines, running a candy shop and teaching an average of 120 new quilters each year in its historic building on the corner of Blackhawk and Beaumont. 

“It’s really been a blessing to be in this location. We really love it here and I hope we can keep going,” smiled Lou Davis, owner. “We’ve always looked for ways to provide for new customers and expand our business.”

Davis is clearly proud of the leaps and bounds her store has made over the years. However, it wasn’t always so easy going.

In the 1990s, she managed V&S Variety, owned by True Value, at Commerce Court. When True Value eliminated the V&S line and picked up Ben Franklin Crafts for a short period, she continued managing that. After 18 months, True Value moved on from Ben Franklin too. 

So Davis was faced with finding a different opportunity. It was then that she decided to start her own business. 

Together with her sister, Annette Johnson, she opened The Pickett Fence, also in the shopping mall. Two years later, she bought out Annette’s portion of the business. In 2005, she was asked by the landlord to move over one storefront to accommodate an expansion of the grocery store there. A year and a half later, she was asked to move again, due to growing Slumberland plans. 

“When I said no, I was given 30 days to move out,” she recalled. “So we had a huge moving sale to reduce our inventory and Roger and Marlene Dyer were kind enough to let us store our fixtures and shelving. We were closed for three months while looking for a location.”

By chance, the former Himrichs Snyder Drugs store in downtown Prairie du Chien was purchased by Hartig Drug (which had a new facility built up the street) and that meant a vacant retail space. It ended up being the perfect location for The Pickett Fence.

“We took possession on Oct. 1, 2006, repainted, reset and opened on Oct. 10,” Davis said. “It was insane. If it wouldn’t have been for my family and friends, even people I didn’t know helping out, we would’ve never opened.”

Since that move almost 12 years ago, The Pickett Fence has become one of the go-to Creative Sewing Centers in the region. Her shop employs three people in addition to herself, her husband Ken, and her best friend Donna Lincoln, “who bakes the most delicious desserts” enjoyed at the frequent classes and programs.

“We are always having a party here. I swear some of the women come just for the treats,” Davis added, laughing.

The 5,000-square-foot shop has become quite a destination these days. It’s now home to 4,000-plus bolts of top-brand fabrics, notions, tools, patterns, yarns, stitchery, hand-design sale items, and bulk candies, along with custom framing options, according to the store’s website (fencepostfabrics.com). As a certified Janome sewing/embroidery machine dealer, Davis has over a dozen Janome models on display, so customers can test out sewing machines before buying. She said she sells an average of two machines a week.

The Pickett Fence also rents sewing machines, and in recent years, the store stepped into the Janome long arm business as well. 

“If people come to a certification class, they can rent time on our long arm and do it themselves,” Davis noted. “A lot of sewers and quilters don’t have the space, or [the machines] can get pretty pricey.”

Bringing on sewing machine sales, for Davis, was “one of the best business decisions” she ever made.

In addition to products, The Pickett Fence’s most popular services are its nine-month Block of the Month and Project of the Month programs on Saturday mornings. 

“Every month, you get a different block. The goal is to go home and complete the block or the project and bring it back,” Davis stated. “Then we do a show and share of those items. It’s so inspirational. Participants get so many ideas by the sharing of knowledge through these programs. They’ve turned into very social events for the women who come.”

For the business’ 20th anniversary, it’s starting a new program at the end of March, called the Saturday Sampler. This monthly program will encourage quilters to buy their first block, which includes the pattern and fabric. 

“If you come back next month with it completed, your next block is free,” Davis explained. “So you could complete a total of 12 quilt blocks for [a small fee] if you sign up.”

She continued, “Programs like these are really good for beginners who need something to do each month to keep their skills in tune.” 

In addition to these classes, there are also Begin Quilting, Begin Sewing, purse and bag classes, and classes about free motion quilting with templates. There’s open sewing time every Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For a small price, enthusiasts can come and go all day. They need to simply bring their own machine and project and sew at their own pace.

“Or if you need help, we’re here,” she said. “We’re starting to see more women in their mid-30s who want to sew clothing for their little ones and create their own home decor. They see something on YouTube or Pinterest and they want to make it. That evolves into making quilts, wall hangings and other decor-type items. Quilting isn’t about just bed quilts anymore.”

While the focus is sewing and quilting, custom photo framing is also a longstanding portion of The Pickett Fence’s services. Davis herself does the work, which includes conservation mounting for signed and numbered prints, stitching, dry mounting and hundreds of mat and custom frame choices. She has a computerized mat cutter that allows for unique cuts for added distinction of the finished product. She also boasts using acid-free materials on everything.

Also flourishing inside The Pickett Fence is Davis’ candy shop. When the store opened downtown, she brought on the candy portion, but she only recently expanded its offerings, particularly the nostalgic goodies such as candy cigarettes, rock candy, Astro pops, lemon drops, Jelly Bellys, etc. At present, there are over 60 delectable varieties of bulk candies: specialty chocolates, gummies, hard candies and nostalgic sweets.

“What more could you ask for than fabric and chocolate all in one shop,” she declared. “If you’re a non-crafter, you gotta come in for the chocolate and nostalgic candy. Everyone has a sweet tooth.  It’s so wonderful to hear people laugh and say ‘remember this.’ We have something for everyone.” 

Davis mentioned the shop can put together gift boxes, gift trays and filled jars—paired with a greeting card—for every occasion. She’s excited about Easter coming up, because it means the speckled malted milk chocolates will be arriving soon.

Reflecting on her two decades in business, Davis said, “It’s been a long journey. I really love our shop.”

The Pickett Fence’s 20-year birthday bash will be Saturday, March 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be free gifts, door prizes, candy samples, a trunk show and lecture presentations and a grand prize Janome sewing machine.

For more information on events, classes and fabrics, find The Pickett Fence on Facebook or Etsy.