Alice Essinger couldn’t find out-of-print fabric she needed for several quilting projects, so she started her own business.

The story of her Bluffton-based business, Fresh Modern Fabric, is more complicated than that, but it’s close.

Essinger operates an Etsy-based fabric business above the Bluffton Karate Center. The shop’s address is 103 ½ Vine St. (Across Main Street from Greg's Pharmacy.)

Fresh Modern Fabric invites Icon viewers to the shop’s first-ever open house. It is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24. Essinger said that in addition to viewing over 1,500 bolts of fabric there will be refreshments and door prizes.

“Most of my customers are not from Ohio,” she said. “I thought an open house would be a great way to introduce my business to Bluffton residents. This way I can show the community what I have to sell.”

Her customers are primarily quilters, but she also has supplies for persons who create their own bags and pillows and she offers some apparel fabrics.

On Saturday, open house visitors will find a large assortment of fabrics in solids, prints and low volume (neutrals). Essinger also offers over 150 fabric bolts of organic material.

Selling on Etsy, Essinger’s business is located in the “supplies” section. She describes Etsy as an on-line marketplace for sellers of handmade items, vintage items and supplies for those creations.

Her customers come from 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, England, France and several nations in Africa.

Although Fresh Modern Fabric does not have regular hours for customers, Essinger says that it is open by appointment. The shops phone number is 419-358-0233.

Fresh Modern Fabric is a member of the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce, and Essinger is the second place winner in the 2015 Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs Ropp Triplett Business Plan Competition.

She and her husband, Dave, are parents of two children, June, 8, and Levin, 5.

Persons who miss Saturday's open house will have more opportunities to visit the shop, as plans are in the works for the shop to be open at least once a month.

Fresh Modern Fabric
2nd Floor
103 1/2 Vine St.
Bluffton
419-358-0233
freshmodernfabric.etsy.com