In early 2012, purchased my HandiQuilter Avante longarm quilting machine from Donna Sontag at Whatever's Quilted. SHe came to my home, set it up and spent hours with us teaching the basics. When she left I COULD QUILT! She has provided excellent customer service to me, even emailing well into the night to help me with a problem that ended up being user (me!) ..and has done this on multiple occasions. She is always quickly responsive to any problem or need I have and provides whatever education and assistance I need to make my quilting a happy time for me. In 2018 I purchased the Pro-Stitcher, which computerizes my quilting. She also came to my home to set this up with my existing Avante machine and taught me how to use it. This is a learning curve for me and she has been with me every step, from the free day-long classes she provided, to the individual help I need at times. All this provided with humor and wit, she teaches by allowing you to figure it out yourself, while she gently nudges to the correct method or technique. This teaching ability (which really sticks with you, because she gives you "AHA! moments") is one of her strongest abilities. In the last few years Whatever's Quilted has expanded by offering precuts for easy quilt making and best of all -- 'Fat Backs'... 108" wide quilt backing fabric and this place has the most I have ever seen! There must be hundreds! And Donna knows them all -- I recently brought a non-quilting friend in for Donna to quilt 2 antique family quilt tops. My friend and I had wandered about, looking at the backings, but Donna looked at the tops and quickly brought out a few that were perfect. Two of these were strikingly pretty with the tops and we might not have even considered them had Donna not brought them out. We literally were struck silent when she set them on the quilt tops! PERFECT. So, let her help you! She knows what works! These quilts are quilted and are just beautiful and the backing Donna chose just MAKE them. Donna did the quilting on these also, and the pattern and thread colors she chose have made these 2, sort of faded and nondescript but very special, quilt tops into beautiful family heirlooms. I cannot say enough good things about this shop and this owner. I am not local to this area, I travel about 2 1/4 hours one way, passing many other shops, just to shop here. Donna is very loyal to her customers and nowadays that's a trait that can't be found often. She puts the CARE in Customer Care, and I am thankful for her. read more
