About Where We Create Quilting Studio

Hello! I am Donna Giard, the owner of Where We Create in Bernardston, MA. It had been my dream to have a quilting studio for several years now and dreams do come true, and then some! I'm also starting a quilt shop and carrying Janome sewing machines

I have been an entrepreneur since 1985 when I started doing artificial nails, a time when no one else was doing them in this area. I have sold real estate, owned and operated a storage unit facility, cared for both my parents and my brother.

I have a beautiful daughter, 2 fabulous standard poodles, a great family and friends. I'm active at the local senior center and have a strong faith in God. I not only love quilting but gardening, entertaining and encouraging others.

In 2019 I went to Billings, Montana to meet Laura Heine and take her certification course. I found a new passion! I originally started quilting at age 16 with a teacher at my local school, quilting on and off for years. I got back into quilting in 2011, I find it relaxing and rewarding. My house has always been a warm and welcoming place for friends and family. I bought my current home with the specific intention of sharing it with fellow quilters/crafters.

In 2023 I started to renovate my home to become a quilt retreat. It’s taken nearly a year to transform it into my vision. Making a space where people don’t have to tote their whole studio with them. My goal was to have it so all you bring is your projects and your sewing machine, plus any tools specific to your project (don’t forget your foot pedal and cords) with all the comforts of home. We strive to make it an extremely pleasant stay for you. If you don’t quilt we encourage all crafts. If you’d like to learn to quilt or sew, come and take a class. Something that we encourage and a reason I built this space, for you to have a place to get together with your friends or make new friends to quilt or craft with.

Come and enjoy over three thousand square feet of creating space! Our custom lighting provides plenty of light that won't make shadows (so there’s no need for lugging your own lights). I also designed the electrical so now there's plenty of outlets where we need them and we won't be tripping breakers either. We provide 10, 4'X8' tables, 3 large ironing station with high end steam irons, cutting mats at every table and small rolling ironing stations available for each table with iron (so no need to pack those either!). A large cutting station situated in the center of the room is for everyone to use with plenty of rulers both big and small. You will find design walls throughout the space for your creative needs or to show off all your hard work!

The fabric shop is conviently located right outside the door

The space I envisioned in my home was built with a lot of thought into giving you your time here spent creating, not lugging your favorite comforts with you The less things to pack up and try to remember the better. So, with my experiences in mind from going to other retreats, I tried to make things available for you to use right here!