Cast your ballots for Annie's Quilt Shoppe

Quilters, seamstresses and garment makers who adore the offerings at Annie's Quilt Shoppe in Shelton can share their love by voting for the business in an annual international contest.

Last year, the business at 2505 Olympic Highway North finished among the top 100 stores in the fourth ByAnnie Local Quilt Shop Contest. According to a news release from ByAnnie.com, the contest is "dedicated to supporting local economies and the timeless tradition of sewing." ByAnnie states that 4,100 quilt shops competed last year.

Feb. 28 is the deadline to vote in the contest by going to the link at http://www.byannie.com/lqs-contest.

Annie Gajadhar and Janice Easton own the business. The business opened in 2009 at 927 W. Railroad Ave., and moved to its current location in 2013.

Annie's Quilt Shoppe customers live in Mason, Thurston, Kitsap and Grays Harbor counties, Gajadhar said.

"We're probably the largest quilt shop in all of those four counties," she said. Most of the customers are women 40 and older, Gajadhar said.

The store is expanding to the second half of its building, including a new room for classes. The business sells and services Janomes sewing machines. It also sells products from ByAnnie.com.

"We're only brick and mortar," Gajadhar said. "We don't sell anything online."

As for the international contest, "The coolest thing is reading the reviews of what the shop has done for them," she said.

Gajadhar shared some of the comments the business has received for the contest so far this year.

"My ladies Bible study group goes and makes a day of visiting Annie's. We meet, drive the 40 minutes to the shop, enjoy shopping for an hour or more. The service is great! Once we're exhausted, we go on to lunch and play with all our finds, discuss each one, and what we'll do with it. We chatter all the way back and can't wait to do it again in a few weeks!"

Another customer wrote about "the friendly helpful staff, bright cheery atmosphere and all the fabric goodies and notions. Love that they carry and service Janomes machines! Also love the many classes that give my mom meaningful and fun projects to make."