For Chelce Detert, her love of quilting has expanded to owning a business where she works to give those who want it, a relaxing place to let their creative juices flow while they learn and work on their own unique designs.

Starting off in her home for a few years, she worked on custom quilts for people. After awhile she wanted to expand and first moved to a different studio before finally moving to her new building in the last days of January, opening the doors on Feb. 15.

Creative Dimensions is now at home at 405 16th Street NW where it is able to do so much more than before.

With her new larger building, Detert is able to offer so much more as well as classes. She offers a variety of them, with them open to almost all ages.

Shyanne Belzer/MDN Creative Dimensions offers a variety of things from different fabrics and quilting or sewing items to classes to help people of the community learn.

“I asked people what they wanted in Minot and they said we want classes. We are starving for classes,” Detert said about why she started them.

With two classrooms, Detert is able to offer four to five classes a month. The classes range from beginners to more advanced and there are even youth classes offered. The only prerequisite for youth classes is those who want to attend take a sewing 101 class with her so she can be sure they know how to do the basics. Age range is typically 10 and up. She tries to keep class sizes from three to eight students so she can keep it more personal and be able to help others easier in a more relaxed environment.

She also offers quilters an opportunity to rent the longarm quilt machine for their own use to sew their quilts. After she certifies a person, that person can rent it hourly. It is a good idea to call in advanced to ensure availability and to reserve a time space. Those interested can even bring their own sewing machines and set it up for a small fee and use the space to have what Detert and her employees call “Stitch Therapy” time, where you can work along and let your creativity flow.

Detert works to offer some options that are usually harder for quilters to find, such as wide back fabrics, while keeping a smaller inventory so when shoppers or quilters come in they aren’t overwhelmed with all the choices.

“If I’ve got options that aren’t easy to find, then it makes me a little different and I can still encourage people to go to one of the great quilt shops we have here in town for other ideas or fabric choices,” she said.

She sells batting by the roll or by the bolt, something that typically can only be purchased at Jo-Ann Fabrics, according to Detert. She sells a special pink batting that 10 percent goes toward breast cancer research. She also sells supplies needed for longarm machines such as thread, oiling, bobbin casing, bobbins, needles, pantographs and more.

“I have some kits and bold colors because I like to think that I’m modern,” Detert joked. “It’s all a little hodgepodge of numerous things.”

People are able to call ahead and reserve the space for a variety of things, even a birthday party or just a little get together of friends to sew and quilt.

Detert has been sewing since she was eight and around the time she moved out, her mom began piecing quilts, becoming a quilter herself. It interested Detert so she tried out her mother’s machine for quilting and thought it was great. She was always a fast learner and it was easy and she loved it.

While running her new business, Detert still works on her custom quilts. People can come to her with fabrics and ideas and she will create their quilt for them whether it is for show or anything else. As the semester reaches the end, special graduation quilts are able to be made, though it is a short list and people have to call to be placed on it months in advance to ensure that the quilt is done in time.

Typically for custom quilts, it can take two to three months from fabric drop off to pick up for the quilts. Her quilting takes time, typically a month to two to finish a quilt.

“My goal in life is to love on people,” said Detert, “and God has blessed me with so many things. This is an opportunity to love people in a different way.”

She works to make Creative Dimensions a unique place for quilters, with fun classes and upcoming events for all to enjoy and join in on.

Creative Dimensions is open Tuesday through Saturday, opening at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Detert said a big question people have is where to park. The parking lot for Creative Dimensions is behind the building in the alley. It is all packed down dirt, but concrete will be laid to create the parking lot and give customers more precise parking spots.