My Fabric Rep Trek: Stitcher's Playhouse

As I continue on my Blank Quilting adventure, this visit was to the second shop in the childrenswear trilogy, Stitcher's Playhouse in Smyrna, Tennessee. (See the earlier post here.) The white crapemyrtle near the shop's entrance was in full bloom on the hot August day that I was there.

Stitcher's Playhouse in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Once inside this cute yellow house, however, the samples and displays of little girl jumpers and smocked bishop dresses were reflecting the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

Red and green holiday outfits and accessories crowed the shelves of colorful cotton fabrics.

The workmanship of the outfits on display was exquisite. From the hand-smocked yokes and appliqués to the lace, ruffled and rickrack trims, no detail was too small and each technique was lovingly and beautifully executed. There is lots of talent at this shop!

Elegant holiday outfits and festive holiday cotton prints.

Stitcher's Playhouse has a full selection of patterns for children's garments and accessories.

A rack of patterns for children's garments (left) and a lined jumper with an ice cream appliqué. 

Ann, the shop's owner, showed me one of the shop's most popular jumper patterns—with a reversible and detachable bib. This outfit can transform from one season to the next but putting a different appliqué motif on each side of the reversible bib.

The reversible bib on this jumper makes it very versatile.

In addition to children's clothing, the selection of brights, polka dots, stripes and graphic print fabrics were well served in projects such as wall hangings, lap quilts, table runners, doll clothes, tree skirts and patchwork pillows. Ann also likes to keep a bolt or two of Eclipse jet black, or "double black" as she refers to it, on hand in her shop as she indicates, "the solid black is perfect for accents and trims" on many projects.

One of the rooms with fabrics and a cutting table

Don't you love the asian feel of this handsome quilt? The solid red fabric contrasts with the monochromatic border and sets off the geometric and organic prints of the quilt blocks.

Quilts and patchwork pillows.

The novelty prints make these happy quilts perfect for toddlers.

Here is a great application for the"Two hour Tulip Bag" from Janice Pope's Anything But Boring pattern line.

A trick-or-treat bag just in time for Halloween.

Stitcher's Playhouse provides a diverse offering of classes (quilting, clothing, accessories, smocking and more) for both beginners and experienced sewers and quilters. Jeanne, one of the instructors, was conducting a garment class and students were learning how to face a peter pan collar on a little girl's dress.

Class samples include (left) paper pieced star table runner and a tree skirt (right).

Jeanne is also preparing for a paper piecing class this fall using a Judy Niemeyer pattern. Wait until you see the Sumatra batiks and other fabrics she's chosen for this project. Yum! (I was privy to her fabric selection while I was there.)

Ann (center) assists a customer with her project. 

Stitcher's Playhouse is a charming shop where the owner and staff go out of their way to make you feel welcome and provide top-notch service. They share their passion and expertise in sewing and quilting and create and offer a variety of classes that make learning fun.

My Fabric Rep Trek: Fabric Expressions

Children's clothes are popular DIY sewing projects for new moms, grandmoms, and those with new little ones in their lives (or the lives of their friends and family). Recently during my Blank Quilting fabric rep adventure, I visited three shops that specialize in children's garments, heirloom sewing and fabric projects to make for those people under the height of say, three feet tall.

Fabric Expressions and Childrens Creations in Cullman, Alabama.

The first shop is Fabric Expressions and Childrens Creations in Cullman, Alabama. This shop is a Brother sewing machine center that also offers fabric and boutique children's clothing. Arlinda, the owner, and Melissa, are the two delightful women who operate the store.

Fabric Expressions in Cullman, Alabama.

The store is spacious, airy and filled with a fabric selection that works well for little jumpers, rompers, sun dresses and bibbed overalls as well as quilts. Shoppers can purchase patterns, fabric, notions and trims for sewing childrenswear or ...

A selection of sdweing patterns for baby and children's garments.

the ready-made boutique outfits that are on display at the shop. Melissa, the seamstress who makes the majority of these darling little outfits, has two fabric fashionistas of her own, Bailey and McKenzie (around ages 4 and 6).

Ready-made jumpers and rompers are available for purchase.

Fabric Expressions has a great selection of Splash blenders, Fusion Illusion, florals and prints in both bright colors and softer color palettes. Batiks are also a favorite.

Splash, Fusion Illusion and other blenders.

A collection of bright prints, whimsical florals and coordinating stripes.

Several quilts were on display at the shop, including this colorful one (below left) featuring Blank Quilting's Big Bloom, a whimsical floral with large flowers and coordinating bubble dots and stripe fabrics. Pre-cut Fabrications packs are a preferred choice for quick lap-size or child-size quilts.

Fabrications strips are great for quick quilt projects.

A collection of black-and-whites, neutrals, collegiate themed fabrics and solids can also be found at this shop.

Black/white prints, neutrals and baskets of fat quarters.

Arlinda purchased this store from the previous owner and has been open for about a year and a half. Under her ownership, she has added the Floriani line of machine embroidery threads and stabilizers and recently held a very successful event in her store.

The large Floriani thread collection.

Through the doorway from the main room is a large space for sewing machine guide classes and classes for sewing and quilting. The owner and staff of Fabric Expressions have a deep joy and love for sewing and fabric and it comes through in their friendly personalities and exceptional customer service. Drop in for a visit and you will see for yourself.

Fun prints, stipes, chevrons and plaids for children's garments and quilts.

Stay tuned to my FiberAntics blog for more quilt and fabric shops in the Tennessee and northern Alabama area that focus on childrenswear and heirloom sewing projects.

My Fabric Rep Trek: The Quilters Path

The Quilters Path, Mt. Juliet, TN

A lovely new quilt shop that has been open for just about a year is The Quilters Path, located in Mt. Juliet (east of Nashville), Tennessee. The building's "Plain Jane" facade is quiet and unassuming, but once inside the front door, a magical world of fabric inspiration and childlike playfulness opens up to you like a trip down Alice's rabbit hole.

Marita, the shop's owner, has transformed what used to be a hair salon, into a fabulous quilt shop with a mix of contemporary fabrics, reproductions, 20s and 30s prints, and quilting projects with a focus on appliqué, hand stitchery and embroidery. Fabrics, patterns, threads, quilts and notions mingle with pieces of pottery, potted plants, vintage prints, boxes and other collectibles.

A double wedding ring quilt—a traditional classic pattern—hangs behind the glass counter at the entrance. The color scheme and the fabrics, however, give it a fresh, modern feel.

The front counter in the entrance of The Quilters Path.

A selection of reproduction fabrics, shirtings and traditional prints are near the front of the store.

Reproductions and traditional prints.

To the right of the front counter are sample blocks for the current Block of the Month (BOM) program.

Block of the Month sampler blocks.

Then you walk into the main area and move among more rows of fabrics. The high ceilings and recessed lighting provide an openness to the space while two chandeliers add a touch of easy elegance. 

20s, 30s and other sweet and whimsical fabrics.

A bolt graphic pieced quilt hangs beside a holiday appliqué quilt (left).
A scrappy string quilt, hanging caddywhompus (right), adds to the shop's charm.

Directly behind the front counter is the classroom area where two women were working on projects during my visit. Marita offers the space for sit-and-sew sessions. Candice and Shirley introduced themselves and invited me to sit down with them while Marita tended to business. I felt very welcome.

The classroom space is available for sit and sew sessions.

Marita often helps her customers choose just the right fabrics for their projects. The ladies at the sit-and-sew were extremely complimentary of Marita's eye for color and pattern as well as her exemplary customer service.

Marita spends time with customers to answer their questions.

The Quilters Path offers supplies and patterns for hand stitchery. The quilt blocks in the beautiful quilt pictured below has hand embroidered flower baskets. The workmanship is exquisite!

The blocks are hand embroidered in this 1920s style quilt

Beneath this embroidered quilt is a selection of embroidery threads in a full color gamut. The Quilters Path also has a nice selection of hand embroidery kits and hand stitching patterns in addition to quilt patterns.

Patterns and kits for hand stitchery projects.

 Another specialty of this shop is appliqué.

Applique is a specialty.

This wall hanging is in the classroom area. The machine quilting on this piece was gorgeous.

Pieced and appliquéd wall hanging and detail of the quilting.

Notice all the details in the blocks and the border of this appliquéd quilt!

This appliqué quilt had a winter theme.

Pieced and appliqué quilts, large and small. 

An antique seing machine sits on an antique quilt top.

The Quilters Path successfully blends traditional and contemporary elegance. The shop offers a warm inviting atmosphere where you can go and lose yourself in a world of simple stitching pleasures.

My Fabric Rep Trek: MidSouth Sewing Center

All quilt shops have their own personality, flavor and taste in fabrics, and a flare for ... brights/ contemporary/ Civil War reproductions/ embellishments/ embroidery or ____ (fill in the "blank"—no pun intended). Several shops also have a mascot or "shop kitty," as does MidSouth Sewing Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Meet Rascal!

Rascal, Chief Furry Officer, at MidSouth Sewing in Knoxville, TN.

Rascal is the CFO (Chief Furry Officer) who greeted me at the door—with tail wagging—sporting a cotton knit monogrammed shirt. In addition to his job as store manager, Rascal was overseeing the Sun Bonnet Sue machine appliqué-in-the-hoop class that was in session while I was there.

Rascal checks on the progress of the students attending class.

The spacious open classroom area at Mid South Sewing is surrounded by walls of notions, machine accessories, displays of quilts and sewing projects, patterns and designs (paper and digital) and myriad embroidery appurtenances.

Sun Bonnet Sue appliqué class project.

MidSouth Sewing carries Brother and Juki sewing, embroidery and serger machines for every skill level and project requirement.

Brother and Juki sewing machines and sergers.

The fabric selection includes a wonderful array of blenders, whimsical prints, brights, stripes, and novelty prints as well as softer florals and contemporary paisley, swirl and vine designs.

Fabric and cutting area at MidSouth Sewing.

Dots, stripes and geometers fill the shelves.

The Disney family watches from atop the fabric shelves.

Novelty, animal and other 100% cotton fabrics. 

Machine accessories and patterns abound.

Sewing machine accessories, feet and patterns.

And, there is plenty of inspiration and examples of embroidery, sewing and home dec projects throughout the store.

Embroidery, quilting and sewing projects are displayed on wall boards.

These 3-dimensional wall art pieces were made by one of their regular customers. Aren't they fabulous?!

Three-dimentional fabric flowers.

Here is a display of mini quilts that portray different holidays and seasons of the year... Halloween, fall, Thanksgiving, winter, birthdays, spring...

Mini quilts with turkeys, pumpkins, santas, a birthday cake and more...

One of Rascal's favorite quick-sew projects is the Christmas stocking in the shape of a Milkbone dog treat. The fabric has pictures of man's best friend on it, of course. Or, you can make a similar project for your favorite feline, too.

More project inspiration! Take note of the Milkbone Christmas stocking.

Oh, did I mention thread? Karen, the shop's owner, and I had a engaging conversation about one of my favorite lines of thread that she carries— Wonderfil Thread.

Wonderfil and other quilting and embroidery threads.

I'm very fond of Tutti and Konfetti 50 wt. cotton for machine quilting and piecing. And, after my tete-a-tete with Karen, I couldn't leave without some Razzle and Deco-Bob to experiment with machine couching, bobbin work and free-motion stippling. Yum, yum!

Wonderfil Razzle, Dazzle, Tutti, Konfetti, Spotlite (metallic) and Dec-Bob threads.

A vase of threadwork flowers (left) brightened the front counter and complemented the 3D fabric art hanging above.

Thread and fabric flowers in three dimensions!

I am mulling a quilt design in my head using the Joy Basket Fat Quarter bundles. The selection of sumptuous nutmeg and jewel tone bluegrass green Razzle (8 wt.), a spool of soft gold Deco-Bob (80 wt.) and the subtly variegated beiges and creams of Tutti (50 wt. cotton) should provide some snap and contrast to the composition. Don't you think?

A Joy Basket fat quarter bundle and Wonderfil threads
slated for an upcoming quilt project.

MidSouth Sewing Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.