Las Vegan’s shop honored by Quilt Sampler magazine

Persistence pays, Las Vegan Nancy Laussade has decided. Since she opened her quilt shop in 2002, Laussade has applied to be listed among the top 10 shops in the country in Quilt Sampler magazine.

In this fall and winter's edition, Nancy's Quilt Shop will be among the top recommendations of the magazine, which is part of the Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection.

The shop at 3290 N. Buffalo Drive is a dream come true for Laussade. Her goal was to create a shop that is a welcoming and inspiring place for her and her employees to work. She believes she has succeeded.

"After five years, it is really starting to be what I have hoped," Laussade says.

More than 3,000 shops applied to be considered by the magazine, which uses a committee to make the selections. The issue also contains a quilt design by Nancy's Quilt Shop employees, and the patterns appear in the magazine.

One reason her shop was selected probably has to do with its location, says Laussade, 51.

"I think it was just that they wanted something from this part of the country that would fit with the mix that they have chosen," says Laussade.

"People are fascinated with Las Vegas," Laussade adds. "And wouldn't you know, the day of the photo shoot a limo pulled up with a customer."

Laussade, with her husband, Mark, looked into opening the quilt shop after their youngest son went off to college.

"I wondered how I would spend my time," says Laussade. "I've been dabbling in crafts for years. In both quilting and with fabrics."

The majority of quilts she has made over the years have been given away, but some hang in her shop along with those done by the shop's staff and visiting teachers.

Once she finishes a quilt, Laussade says she is ready to begin another. But, she does have one long-term project, a quilt she has been working on off and on for the past 10 years.

"The fabric is awful, but I'm determined to finish it," she says, noting this one she will keep.

Quilters, Laussade says, are "artists in themselves." As proof, her shop features more than 100 quilts on display. And she considers each one of them her favorite.

"They are all so different," she says, noting that the quilts reflect the individual. "We take pride in what we do."

Although the shop caters to locals and tourists, for the most part Laussade says she shies away from carrying fabrics that would appeal mainly to tourists, such as gambling-themed fabric. However, Laussade does fess up to carrying Elvis Presley fabric.

"I have to admit I did carry it once, and it sold out immediately. Not to locals, but tourists," she says.

Quilts can be made by hand or with the long-arm quilting machine that enables projects to be completed faster.

"Beginners just need to know how to work a sewing machine and know rotary cutting." A rotary cutter is similar to a pizza cutter and helps cut through many layers of fabric at one time.

In addition to fabrics and quilting materials, Nancy's Quilt Shop offers quilting, knitting and crocheting classes. Beginners classes also are offered. Laussade currently has 13 part-time employees.

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