You can’t help but soak up the positive energy radiating from the corner of Blanken Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard this summer. It began the first weekend June, when the San Francisco Sewing and Quilting Collaborative held a Soft-Grand Opening of their two storefronts at 2189 Bayshore Blvd. The delightfully vibrant interiors of this multi-unit collaborative are a powerful economic force that has the potential to spur shopping activity along the block up to Teddy Avenue. But the woman behind the storefronts is quick to point out the collaborative’s non-profit status and the fact she is thinking beyond the boutique’s revenue.
Linda Hannawalt has been collecting equipment such as sewing machines, shelves and cutting tables from various quilting stores that have closed in San Francisco over the past few years. She used to quilt professionally for Black Cat Quilts, a neighborhood shop on Ocean Avenue that had to close its doors and has now set her sights on expanding San Francisco Sewing and Quilting Collaborative right here in Visitacion Valley.
The Collaborative already has relationships with three nonprofits in San Francisco including St. Anthony Foundation - Madonna Senior Residence, the Homeless Prenatal Program and Metropolitan Fresh Start here in Visitacion Valley. Linda bounces between all three organizations, managing to keep the classroom doors open at 2189 Bayshore Blvd. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00am until 5:00pm. What services does this nonprofit provide? They’ve already donated over 120 community quilts since the first of the year to baby showers at the Homeless Prenatal Program, wheelchair quilts for veterans as well as patients at Laguna Honda Hospital.
San Francisco Sewing and Quilting Collaborative doesn’t just make quilts for charitable causes, they’re dedicated to teaching the art of quilting and clothing alteration. Starting in September, they will develop a curriculum and schedule, where professionals will instruct classes ranging from basic sewing and quilting to advanced clothing alterations. Linda wants to teach job seekers looking for employment how to repair their own clothes so they look sharp for interviews. One of the reasons she located to Visitacion Valley was to be close to Metropolitan Fresh Start and her friend Kinwood DeVore. She also notes the good public transportation access to her location via the T-Third Muni line as well as the sheer attractiveness of the commercial spaces as reasons to open up shop on Bayshore Blvd.
The shop - Consignment Boutique boasts a stunning floor display of items including jewelry, handbags, pillows, clothing items (hats, scarves, purses) as well as multitude of home accessories. Many of the items for sale are from local artists and 100% of the proceeds benefit the San Francisco Sewing and Quilting Collaborative. Linda has been pleasantly surprised by the foot traffic and visitors who walk in curious to see what is inside. The eye-catching window display can be seen at 2189 Bayshore Blvd., while the boutique is open for business Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00am – 5:00pm and Tuesdays by appointment.
