Category: Awesome People

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Debbie Maddy is coming to Madison!

Debby Maddy teaching a class in Madison WI

 

Debbie Maddy is coming to town to teach an Indigo and Shibori Intensive!

I’ve been following Debbie Maddy for a while and whenever she posts class photos, I DROOL!  I want to learn those gorgeous and detailed shibori skills!  

So I got this kooky idea: What if I asked real nice and found her an awesome place to teach.  Would she be willing to travel this far north? 

Answer: YES!  She is totally game and The Electric Needle was thrilled to offer their gorgeous dye studio space.  All the parts just came together!

The details are on the Electric Needle’s website.  If you’re interested, please sign up ASAP because this class is going to fill. I’m already signed up!  

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Great Class at Mill House Quilts

I taught another just fabulous class at Mill House Quilts last weekend!

Arashi Indigo Dyed Fat Quarter

The students were very interested in trying out new techniques.  Lots had experience with dyeing but not with indigo, which was super cool.

Stitched embroidery fabric

Chopsticks were very popular in this class.  It’s funny how different patterns will trend in different classes.  But the Mandala is always a popular pattern.

Mandala patterned Fat Quarter

You can still see lots of green in this one.  The indigo is still oxidizing.

It was a chopstick heavy day. They are so lovely!

As I always end up doing there, I tied the lines between two cars. 

Fortunately, this student’s car not only had a roof rack, but was also the right color.

Here’s the other end of the line

And that sky! 

It was hot and buggy but everyone left happy. I love teaching classes and try to get to Mill House at least once a year.  It’s not easy to travel with indigo but the back of the shop is pretty ideal for indigo: breezy and just shady enough in the afternoon.  

 

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Sponsor: Suite 101

Get to know the Deep Into Indigo Retreat Sponsors!

We have a few and really want to thank them and ask you to check them out.  They are all super awesome and have so much to offer!

I met Teresa Kim of Suite 101, a couple of years ago. She’s a calming, authentic and very talented enabler of creativity.  Her paintings are beautiful and really thoughtfully made.

She offers classes – I’ve been to some and they are the bomb diggity.  She’s super warm and generous and supportive.

Teresa is painting a series of her gorgeous etegami paintings for us and there will be one in every gift bag at The Deep Into Indigo Retreat.

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Sponsor: Quilt Basket n’ Creations

Get to know the Deep Into Indigo Retreat Sponsors!

We have a few and really want to thank them and ask for you to check them out.  They are all super awesome and have so much to offer!

We are huge fans of Quilt Basket n’ Creations.  It’s local to Viroqua and we hope everyone joining is stops by to shop. We just walked in off the street last year and asked Carol, the owner, to sponsor the retreat and she was super open and welcoming.

QBNC has loads of fabric and notions..I’m a sucker for notions and pick something up every time we stop by.

They have sponsored the Deep Into Indigo Retreat with a bolt of sexy linen-cotton blend.  It was the belle of the ball at last year’s retreat.

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Sponsor: Botanical Colors

Get to know the Deep Into Indigo Retreat Sponsors!

We have a few and really want to thank them and ask for you to check them out.  They are all super awesome and have so much to offer!

I was lucky enough to go out to Seattle to learn from Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors last spring. My luggage never arrived and she was especially nice to me considering  I stunk and wore the same clothes for three days straight.

I’ve been aware of her and have shopped from her for years.  They carry many different kinds of natural dyes in addition to indigo. Check them out and tell them Jennifer sent you.  🙂

Kathy publishes Feedback Friday on their blog when they answer customer’s questions and also share many tutorials for free on how to use their various dyes.

She’s incredibly generous (both in person and online) with her knowledge and resources.  Also with the Deep Into Indigo Retreat, she is sharing chemicals for us to experiment with three different kinds of organic vats!  Thank you, Kathy and Botanical Colors.  They are awesome!

 

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Sponsor: Lynn’s of Madison

Get to know the Deep Into Indigo Retreat Sponsors!

We have a few and really want to thank them and ask for you to check them out.  They are all super awesome and have so much to offer!

The first time I walked in to Lynn’s in Madison WI, I fell in love.  It’s like a store made for textile loving, multi media, stitching artists.  There’s a fabulous supply of perle cotton, wool, linen and every kind of fancy pants thread you would want, painting supplies, gelli plates, print making stuff, books and many, many things that I’m not thinking of tight now to fuel your creativity.  Also, they frame art for you.  I just really dig it there.

The people who work there are lovely too.  They are sponsoring the Deep Into Indigo Retreat with a tasty bag of threads and beads for us to play with.

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Sponsor: Blue Bar Quilts

Get to know the Deep Into Indigo Retreat Sponsors!

We have a few and really want to thank them and ask for you to check them out.  They are all super awesome and have so much to offer!

Blue Bar Quilts is a brand spanking new and totally awesome quilt shop in Middleton WI.  They have a huuuuuge variety of fabrics, a giant classroom and (get ready for it) A DYE STUDIO!!!!!!!

They also carry my indigo dyed batiked and shibori-ed fat quarters and half yards in the front of the store.  They have my tunics, dresses and shirts in their consignment gallery.  They let me teach classes there too.  They just do everything right.  🙂

They have a super busy class schedule with a huge variety of classes and just…everything a quilter or sewing person could need.  They also happen to be super friendly, open, supportive people.

They’ve been kind enough to sponsor the Deep Into Indigo Retreat with my favorite quilting cotton to dye with: Moda Bella PFD.

And, yes, they do have an online store so you can order from them where ever you happen to be.

 

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Sponsor: The Regal Find

Get to know the Deep Into Indigo Retreat Sponsors!

We have a few and really want to thank them and ask for you to check them out.  They are all super awesome and have so much to offer!

The Regal Find in downtown Middleton, WI is a cute, charming, welcoming, warm, delightful, sweet, gift shop (There are truly not enough descriptors in the sentence…it’s a really awesome spot).

They happen to carry some of my indigo dyed pieces there.  Specifically, they have my cute little dainty things like baby stuff (hats, sockies, onseies), ‘kerchiefs and dishtowels, scarves and doggies shirts.

They also carry lots of fabulous gifty things with WI themes, sassy sayings and great taste and humor.  They offer creative workshops for kids and adults.  We really have many of the same priorities: creativity, fun and good food; they are attached to Bloom Bake Shop!

The sweet owner, Jessica Regele, is sending us gifts for our gift baskets: every retreat attendee gets one!

You really need to check this place out.

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Sponsor: Mill House Quilts

Get to know the Deep Into Indigo Retreat Sponsors!

We have a few and really want to thank them and ask for you to check them out.  They are all super awesome and have so much to offer!

Mill House Quilts in Waunakee WI is a gorgeous and very well stocked quilt shop in a giant restored feel mill.

I’ve both taken and taught classes there.  They have great classrooms, tons of quilting fabrics, tons of notions and sewing machines, which they even repair.

They do sell online but if you go in, you get to meet their friendly, well behaved shop dog Chester.

Thanks to Kim and Kerry, the super friendly owners for sponsoring the Deep Into Indigo Retreat with the generous gift of a Bernette Sew N Go Retreat Ready Sewing Machine.

One of our lucky participants will win it as a door prize!

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Indigo Update!

Shy daughter-model showing off these loverly indigo dyed, shibori-ed dress and socks. #blog | May 22, 2017 at 12:57PM
Shy daughter-model showing off these loverly indigo dyed, shibori-ed dress and socks. #blog