Ground Floor: New fabric shop debuts in downtown Mount Vernon

Even on the grayest of days, there is a burst of color inside the newest fabric shop in downtown Mount Vernon.

Kevin Carpenter and Leland Turner, who moved to Mount Vernon in 2011, run Helios Stitches N Stuff on the second floor of the First Street Community Center, 221 First St. NE. After starting the business out of their home, they opened their shop Feb. 23.

“Our house was filling up with fabric,” Carpenter said. “We literally had rooms of it.”

Turner, who learned to sew just three years ago, makes mostly tote bags, aprons and pillowcases. The shop also sells fabrics from three other local designers and artwork.

Carpenter said they are committed to using materials - fabrics, buttons, beads - from Eastern Iowa.

Carpenter grew up in Coralville and met Turner during a 20-year stint in California. They returned to the area in 2008 and visited small towns in their spare time. They were surprised by the number of quilt and fabric shops they found.

Turner, an engineer by trade, was intrigued by the geometry involved in the process and, although he had never sewn, he was convinced he could do it.

The couple bought a sewing machine, and Turner's first project was a tote bag.

“I made the mistake of making it,” Leland said with a grin, “because then he said, ‘Oh, we can sell this.'”

Later, he tried his first apron at Carpenter's request.

“He cooks with gusto and was getting grease all over,” Carpenter said. “I said ‘You've got to do something about that.'”

Early on in the process, Turner visited the Pedestrian Mall in downtown Iowa City, asked women to try out the products. One suggested that he make the bag reversible.

All the bags are now reversible and include a string of beads from Beadology in Iowa City. Each one includes a button with a sun on it because the couple enjoyed collecting sun designs in California. Helios is considered the Titan god of the sun in Greek mythology.

Next, Carpenter and Turner hope to set up online purchasing from their website. Sewing classes also could be in the offing.

They plan to stick to their roots of using local vendors.

“We want to support the people that live and work here,” Carpenter said. “That's our whole mission.”

AT A GLANCE

Owners: Kevin Carpenter and Leland Turner

Company: Helios Stitches N Stuff

Address: 221 First St. NE, second floor

Phone: (319) 512-3323

Website: www.buytotesnow.com

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday