About Us

I learned to sew in grade 8, making my own clothes throughout school with an old singer machine. In the 90’s I worked full time as an insurance adjuster, with a small sewing business on the side.  In 2001 I left my insurance job and began manufacturing a few products I had developed, initially at home. In 2003  I added a fitness franchise, bought a building, and moved in Discovery Trekking and the franchise. As the business grew I started selling fabric as well as manufacturing. I bought another franchise, a Jenny Craig diet center.

Covid hit hard, our two main products basically stopped selling. The SOSecure swim diaper for those with special needs and a fast-dry swim and travel towel. Pools were closed and nobody was travelling!  I decided to sell two, and focus on the one I really loved…Discovery Trekking.  I rebranded the fabric division under Discovery Fabrics, expanded, and added the new fabric website.

Our business is like no other. Selling technical fabrics used by manufactures is challenging…as most sewists can’t determine the technologies that major brands are using.  Our goal is to teach you about fabrics that are not just fashionable but functional, so your me-made garments are better than ready to wear!

I spend winters in my home in Mexico, where I continue to monitor our social media. I love travelling with my daughters Jackie and Laurie, both whom work in the business along with Jackie's son Hunter. I also love kayaking and gardening…I even have a garden at work!

I started working here, way back before we were a fabric store, in 2008 when we were manufacturing custom outerwear, travel towels and special needs products. My job morphed from planning, sourcing and purchasing fabrics, to learning how to build and manage our website. Our team of co-workers are amazing, and it is such a pleasure to work in such a fun and pleasant atmosphere.  

When I’m not working, I love spending time with my husband and two boys, enjoying the outdoors on our ATV’s, fishing or walking my dogs. I love to spend time in my garden, growing vegetables and storing them for winter. I enjoy reading and love a good historical fiction novel.

I’ve been working at Discovery Trekking (Discovery Fabrics) since 2017… but I also worked here over a decade ago! I'm the bookkeeper/majordomo of the company, and do the buying for many of our fabrics (I’m an excellent shopper). If I resemble our Fearless Leader Leslie, that’s because I’m her daughter.  I share an office with Jackie (our website guru/my big sister).  Our work environment is pretty special, full of laughter, sarcasm, teasing and lots of shenanigans.

When I’m not working, you will find me at the barn (or out on an adventure) with my awesome little mare Luna or hanging at home with my 2 ginger cats, Prince Hairy and Sir Winston.  I love to travel and eat donuts… preferably at the same time.

I have worked at Discovery Fabrics since July 2021.  My favourite things about working here are my wonderful co-workers, the relaxed environment, the beautiful fabrics and our great customers!  

When I'm not working, in the winter I’m mostly found in my sewing room although I’m not sewing the beautiful Discovery Fabrics because I’m quilting. I keep wanting to learn to make clothing but then I have so many quilting things on the go that I never have enough time. In the summer I’m too busy to sew because I’m playing in the dirt. My passions in the garden at the moment are dahlias and hydrangea although I’m practical too so grow lots of veggies.

I have been working at Discovery Trekking and Discovery Fabrics for 14 years.  My favourite things about working here are making the custom jackets for our customers and my own technical clothes on our amazing machines!

When I'm not working I spend time in the mountains biking, skiing, and climbing.  I have recently started bike packing and I love it!  The Vancouver Island wilderness is the best playground.  Making my own clothes from our incredible fabrics keeps me comfortable no matter what Mother Nature throws at me.  When I'm not outside, I enjoy reading in my spare time.

I have worked at Discovery Fabrics since 2019, packing and shipping orders, lending some muscle to move big rolls of fabric, bolting and even learning to sew. I love bright colors, and make some pretty awesome rash guards and biking jerseys! Since my grandma is the owner, I get to try out new fabrics all the time!!

In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors and I love to mountain bike. My favorite place is on the mountain, careening down the slope and hitting big jumps, drops and gaps. I also enjoy ATV’s, camping, paddle boarding and woodworking. I am artistic and love to be creative whether I am drawing, woodworking or sewing something cool.

I joined the Discovery Fabric team in the spring of 2022 and I really enjoy my place among the warm, welcoming staff and the lovely customers.

I have always worn performance fabrics as a hiker, paddler, climber, caver, mountain biker, yogin and gardener. I learned to sew as a kid. I have quilted, sewn various crafts and clothing for fun. Professionally I have sewn costumes for Uvic Phoenix Theatre and worked as a stitcher for an alteration and repair shop. Now I am happy to have the opportunity to sew some fun projects for myself with our incredible fabrics and help our lovely customers do the same.

I have worked at Discovery Fabrics since December 2017.  What I love about working here is I'm always learning and laughing with my co-workers and customers!

When I'm not working I can be found on the water, on a mountain, or on a trail with my family and friends.  My current favourite pastimes are mountain biking and paddle boarding and thinking about all the amazing things I can make to wear (no time to sew)!  In my former life, I owned a wilderness lodge in the Yukon and was a canoeing, rafting, hiking and dog sledding guide. Dressing for the weather was a daily occurrence.  I was a lover of technical fabric before I ever set foot in a fabric store! If you have questions about staying warm in extreme cold, let's talk!