Patchwork Dreamer {Bodmin, United Kingdom}

Mary Norman IS Patchwork Dreamer and in 2025 she dreamed big and won the Grand Prize for the United Kingdom in the 2025 Local Quilt Shop Contest.

Mary started her online business in 2013. Back then, she had to rely on her husband to make cupboards big enough to fill her growing collection.

Despite struggling with all the intricacies of running a digital shop without a technology background, Mary managed to keep the shop alive and well until November 2019 when Mary bought a cute little cabin for her first physical storefront.

Soon after buying this cabin, the COVID Pandemic hit and Mary turned to delivering products locally or through the postal service.

All the while, she reorganized the shop to accommodate safe distancing.

During this time, the cabin got its signature smile painted on the exterior — both to bring joy to passersbys and to cover the back of bookshelves that had to be moved in front of the windows for more space!

Mary loved her little cabin, but eventually outgrew it and, in April 2024, moved to her current location.

The shop is now in a two story unit in the middle of the Market House Arcade in Bodmin.

The Market House is a grade two listed building with a rich history. The top floor of the shop is a bright and airy sewing space. The first floor is the retail side, measuring 7.5 meters by 6 meters.

While Mary is “chief cook and bottle washer” at Patchwork Dreamer, her fellow tenants and landlord provide plenty of friendship and community.

Mary’s fellow tenants and landlord in the Market House Arcade

Community and a Cuppa

Mary spreads joy wherever she goes and her customers certainly appreciate it. Hundreds of comments came in sharing how welcomed they feel when entering Patchwork Dreamer.

“The shop is filled with of everything you could possibly need and Mary is always on hand to give advice! The formal classes and informal meetings are at the heart of the community giving like-minded experienced and novice patchworkers a place to meet and learn.” — Marie

“Mary gives a huge amount back to the community, coordinating quilts for care leavers, providing a space for people to come together and craft, and teaching the next generation of quilters.” — Jenny

Whether its her special events, eclectic selection, or vast knowledge of sewing, customers know they can always come to Patchwork Dreamer for a good time.

Of course, the “patchwork dreamer” loves hand patchwork, but Mary also offers a variety of classes from quilting, dress making, knitting, to crochet.

Mary works with students at their speed to make sure they are satisfied with the final product.

When You Visit

Patchwork Dreamer is located in Bodmin, a historic town in Cornwall with an interesting past.

The Bodmin Jail (said to be one of the most haunted buildings in the UK) is a stone’s throw away from Patchwork Dreamer. It’s a luxury hotel and visitor attraction.

Visit Lanhydrock, one of Cornwall’s many National Trust Houses, complete with an amazing EPP quilt.

Visitors can also take a stroll along one of Cornwall’s famous beaches or see an artist exhibit like Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture garden.

And, of course, no visit to Bodmin would be complete until you stop into Patchwork Dreamer and have a cuppa with Mary.

“I am absolutely delighted that my little one-woman shop has won the UK LQS competition. Pictures below of me doing a little dance in celebration. As you can see I am quite the mover! At the point of writing this, I am having to keep it quiet, but I hope this will bring my little business to a wider audience and I get to meet lots more sewers. I have scheduled some ByAnnie making days and hope to introduce more people to the ByAnnie products and patterns.” — Mary on the impact of the contest