Shibori presentation at Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild meeting

I've been asked by the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild to do a presentation on Shibori. I'll be presenting it at the July guild meeting, tomorrow, July 7. Shibori is a shaped resist dye method that is practiced all over the world by artists, dyers, fiber and quilt artists.

Shibori fabrics.

My presentation includes a bit of history about shibori and the characteristics that make it unique and appealing. I'll also have some fabric examples of various shibori techniques, my bog jacket that was published in Belle Armoire, and my entry in The Power of the Pocket exhibit that won Judge's Choice Best of Show at the 2010 Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild Challenge.

Visitors are invited! The guild meeting is held at Sr. Neighbors, downtown Chattanooga, and it starts at 11 am.

My Fabric Rep Trek: The Dancing Bobbin and Silver Threads and Golden Needles

The Dancing Bobbin quilt shop.

The rolling countryside of the plateau of middle Tennessee provides a beautiful backdrop for two, relatively new quilt shops in the area. One of them, located in Spring Hill, is The Dancing Bobbin. 

The owner of The Dancing Bobbin, Cathy Renaldo, has been in this location since April of this year (it's still got that wonderful "new shop" smell), and offers a delightful selection of fabrics, patterns and books. Her passion for long arm quilting was the impetus for the business and you can see her beautiful machine-quilted work on the completed quilts as well as works-in-progress right there in the shop.

I met one of the staff members during my visit, Beth, who was telling me about the projects she teaches in the beginning sewing classes. Beth is full of ideas and energy and I can tell from her friendly personality that her classes are sure to be lots of fun. Cathy mentioned that the other staff members all have their specialty, and as a group, cover all areas of the quilting and sewing experience.

The shop was decked out with patriotic displays for the July 4th holiday while I was there. A more permanent display featured a quilt made from 20s and 30s reproduction fabrics that was machine quilted by Cathy.

20s and 30s fabrics in an Irish chain variation. Red, white and blue table runner and kits.

Here is the detail of the quilting... great work! 

Detail of machine quilting.

Long arm quilting machine at The Dancing Bobbin.

Here is Cathy, the owner, with an "almost Amish" basket quilt top made with batiks. This top is next in line for the long arm. What a stunning quilt top! And, don't you love the red sawtooth border?? Cathy will have more batiks coming in soon, so ask her or her staff about making a scrappy batik basket quilt of your own.

Cathy with a batik basket quilt.

When you see the sign out front on Main Street, pull in the side drive to the back where you'll find other offices and The Dancing Bobbin. Use the ramp or walk up the stairs and you'll be greeted by a friendly staff member inside.

The Dancing Bobbin quilt shop.

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Traveling southeast from Spring Hill is Chapel Hill, Tennessee, home to Silver Threads and Golden Needles Quilt Shop.

Silver Threads and Golden Needles is located at 130 N. Horton Parkway in Chapel Hill, TN.

Cindy Palazzolo purchased this 1870s farm house that was in major disrepair. It is now refurbished, with most of the work done by Cindy herself, and her husband. It's a most charming and spacious building for a quilt shop.

A refurbished 1870s farm house is the home to Silver Threads and Golden Needles quilt shop.

Each room of this old house, of which there are many, is organized by fabric theme—children's prints, reproductions, brights, 20s and 30s. There is also a selection wide backings and batiks, threads, notions and quilting related items such as zippered tote bags. The walls are painted with lively period colors set off by the white trim and warm wooden floors.

Front room of the shop.

Cindy moved the shop from a previous downtown location into this location in May. (So be sure you go to the 130 Horton Parkway address.)

Brights, stripes and juvenile prints.

Cindy also started off offering long arms quilting services and grew her business to include quilting fabrics and accouterments. Her long arm machine is located in a former living room, complete with an old fireplace. 

Long arm quilting services are offered at Silver Threads and Golden Needles.

The large classroom has ample space for students or quilters that just want to get together for a sew-in. Contact Cindy at (931) 364-2886, to make sure the classroom is available.

Large, roomy classroom space is available for classes and sew-ins.

With all the rooms and additions that were made to this old house throughout its 140+ year lifetime, it might be easy to get lost as you wander from fabric room to fabric room. Cindy is very gracious and is quick to offer you a tour so you get the lay of the land. However, if you do get turned around, just call out and someone will come to your rescue.

A different collection of fabrics are located in every room.

Cindy added personality to the shop with a vintage jukebox and a yellow, black and white color scheme (complete with checkered curtains) in the farmhouse style kitchen. What a warm and comfy atmosphere to work in every day.

A vintage jukebox and perky kitchen color scheme add to the charm of the shop.

My Fabric Rep Trek: Mammaw's Thimble, Memories and More

One of the many great things about my position as a fabric rep is reconnecting with old friends. One of them is Vivian Ann Wright, the owner of Mammaw's Thimble. Vivian and I go back to the days [2001] when she had her shop in the basement of her home in Knoxville. Now, she is in her third (even bigger and better) commercial location at 4319 Papermill Drive.

Mammaw's Thimble, 4319 Papermill Drive in Knoxville, TN.

Mammaw's Thimble moved into this newly renovated location (just up the street from the previous "Sweet [Suite] 16" storefront) this year. The renovations include an archway and ramp from the main part of the store to rooms devoted to reproductions, 20s and 30s prints and a great classroom with lots of natural light. The grand re-opening to celebrate the new location was held this June.

The check-out and cutting table at Mammaw's Thimble.

Among the 8000+ bolts of fabrics and the glorious 30k selection of Fat Quarters, are threads, kits, patterns, books and even "quilty" things for the quilter and non-quilter such as these greeting cards. Some of the fabric prints on the borders of these cards are from actual fabric collections.

Quilting-related greeting cards.

It was great to see Vivian again and I was so happy and proud for her that her business is doing well in her new location. She was one of my cheerleaders when I won Best of Show at the 10th annual "A Mountain Quiltfest" in 2004. Upon hearing the announcement of my winning, she ran (hiking up her long calico civil war reproduction skirt above her knees) from her booth at the show into the exhibit hall to congratulate me. She is a great friend and we share in each other's successes.

"The Chef's Dilemma" 2004 Best of Show, A Mountain Quiltfest.
1st Place, Large Wall, 2004 McMinn County Heritage Museum quilt show; 2nd Place, Wall/Mixed Techniques
2005 Smoky Mt. /Dogwoods Art Festival; juried into Quilts For Change, 2006 Zonta exhibit.

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Going south from Chattanooga to the historic downtown of Chickamauga, Georgia, is Memories and More. This little shop offers a bit of everything, as their tagline says, "fabric and frills to create a memory."

Memories and More is near the corner of Lee and Gordon.

Due to a newly remodeled store front, the sign has not been installed yet. So, if you see the sign with a photo of General Lee, the shop is the second door from this corner at 121 Gordon Street.

Quilting books.

Eleanor Burns books are popular at the shop. A previous BOM (Block of the Month) program was from her Underground Railroad book. Vicki, one of the staff, is the sewing and quilting instructor and is planning a beginning quilting class in August.

Pam, the owner, offers alteration services at the store as well as some vintage sewing patterns, scrapbooking papers and consignment items.

Cconsignment items (left) and scrapbook papers (right).

 These little crocheted sheep greet you from the front window.

On the 100-degree day that I stopped by, the Jamocha Bean Coffee House (right next door at 119 Gordon St.) was a welcome oasis. Betty, the proprietor, offers an extensive menu of hot and cold coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, steamers, pastries, bottled juices, floats, ice cream and sundaes. The free Wi-Fi was also a very convenient service.

Jamocha Bean Coffee House at 119 Gordon Street.

Knitting the Sky—June skies

2012 January through June skies.

This is the 6-month halfway point for my 2012 Sky Scarf project. It's 49 inches long. If it continues through the end of December, it will be 98 inches (+ 2 rows). Hmmmm... do I need it to be that long?

"Seduce" a rayon/linen/silk/nylon yarn by Berroco for fringe.

Through my travels as a Blank Quilting fabric rep, some of the quilt shops I visit also carry yarn. I picked up 3 hanks of Berroco Seduce at Quilting Squares. I knew the colors were perfect for the sky scarf as soon as I saw them, and they were reduced 50%, too. The fiber content of Seduce is slightly different from the wool blends I've used on the body of the scarf, but I plan to use it for fringe. I think the weight of the new yarn will provide good draping characteristics and the slippery quality will also minimize tangling. Besides that, the colors were just too perfect!