Epic Holiday Sale!

Just For You: An Epic Holiday Sale!! 

      Friday - Saturday, November 25-26, 2016

20% off all PDF's

15% off all Naturally Dyed Pre-Cuts

(Pre-Cuts include: FQ's, F8's, Charms, 2.5" strips)

$6.00 Scrap Bundles! A whopping value!!

20% off all yarns

No codes needed, prices have already been adjusted 

But wait! There's more: 

Our 1st Annual HOLIDAY GIVE AWAY!

These two meticulously sewn, festive project bags are up for grabs, and just in time for your holiday gift giving or your own crafting indulgence! Each bag comes with one skein of our naturally dyed, organic DK merino yarn, 100% made the USA!! One skein is indigo dyed and the other is dyed with fustic and cochineal. Super sqooshy and even more gorgeous in person, these yarns promise pure knitting enjoyment! 

You may recognize the fabulous Tulip bag pattern, which has long been one of my most favorite knitting project bags to sew. What's not to love with so many interior and exterior pockets, and just the right length bag handles for over-the-shoulder or hand-held, plus this bag easily holds a whole sweater and looks great whether its holding one skein or 10! You need one!

For a chance to win one of these amazing giveaways, simply follow Tierney Barden on Instagram, and tag 2 friends you think would enjoy my IG feed. That's it! The lucky winner will be announced here and on IG on Monday, November 28th!

As always, we love to see what you're stitching! Share what you're making with our fabrics and patterns on Instagram using #stitchingenchantment.

Thank you for your support, purchases and kind words on social media! Your creativity is what gets us excited to be in the studio and dye kitchen every day! 

Wishing everyone a beautiful and fun-filled holiday season!

No Man Is an Island

My mother and I have just returned from nine days on the island of Cuba. Led by a local tour guide, 43 year old Yarissa, we drove over mountains and along shorelines, exploring this historically rich and culturally exciting country. Arriving in Cuba with no expectations, I left feeling overwhelmed, and changed. 

Havana across the water, has been protected by this fort, Morro Castle, for over 500 years.

I admit I'm finding it difficult to describe all that I experienced and learned. The people, architecture, food, landmarks, daily life - all of it quite different than the life of this average American. For example, the Socialist government provides its people with a home, food, education, medical care, a job (or they may choose to work for a privately owned business), and if they're employed by the government, they do not pay taxes. 

Exquisite Art Deco, Havana, Cuba.

Our guide explained that if you're a farmer in Cuba, the government provides you with land, farm equipment, seeds and so on, and the farmer agrees to sell to the government the crops grown on 80% of the land, and is free to use the remaining 20% to farm for his own family. The farmer's house is essentially four walls of concrete block, a simple roof, a front door, back door and some window openings.

Walking through one such home I saw a dark, rudimentary kitchen outfitted with a small (Japanese) refrigerator and microwave, and a pieced-together countertop with a rigged up faucet and sink. Adjacent to the kitchen was a room with beds, simple and sparse. A partial bathroom was located outside, walled in by found materials such as concrete block and corrugated steel with a plastic cistern precariously balanced above. Just outside the home's front entry, fruits and vegetables were being prepared for sale at the roadside stand directly a few steps away.

Further into the mountains we stopped at a tiny village to visit a school. Again, built of concrete block, the school house consisted of three small rooms: the principal taught the youngest children in one room, a teacher taught the older children in the next room, and an old desktop computer sat on a desk in the third room, the computer room. Above each door I spied the most elegant, pink, hand-painted copperplate sweetly identifying the rooms in Spanish. 

There was no language barrier once we all took to the playground, and the children eagerly made silly faces and goofy poses for our cameras. They clearly adored and respected their principal and their teacher. The country proudly boasts 0.2% illiteracy. Stop and read that again.

Early morning in Havana. My camera couldn't keep up with this animated boy!

Here, we visited a printmaking workshop with a gallery attached. French Neoclassical and Spanish Colonial architecture dominate much of the country. 

At Calle Hammel, we took in a high-energy, fast-paced, traditional Afro-Cuban dance performance. Swirling kaleidoscopic colors, pounding bare feet on concrete, sweat-drenched faces, drumming and shouting, all made for a heady experience.

Every where we travelled, original art and creativity were openly expressed. We enjoyed a world-class choral performance by Cantores de Cienfuegos, as well as locals serenading us with traditional songs at almost every meal. In the photo above, an Afro-Cuban dance performance was so alive it vibrated the concrete floor beneath our feet. In the mountains, we saw hand work, usually wood carvings, curiosities made with recycled materials and a variety of embroidered linens. In cities and towns, prints and paintings dominated - framed and hung on museum walls, splashed over recycled cardboard tacked up as both decoration and sound absorption (photo below), or sprawled across large canvases of alley walls. To be surrounded by the culture and history of the Cuban people in such a diverse yet personal way was inspiring. 

At Havana Compass Dance, these energetic, very talented young ladies (who never stopped smiling!) learn a traditional style of Cuban drumming on hide-covered chairs. These chairs have long been used by farmers all over the island and have become a symbol of Cuban pride. Privately owned, this dance company provides free instruction to all. The center is supported by performances, selling original art made by their founder, and accepting donations.

Majestic views from atop a terraced hillside in Las Terrazas.

One can hardly describe the island without mentioning sugar cane, tobacco and coffee. We were fortunate to visit the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Las Terrazas, where a portion of an old coffee plantation has been preserved, including the haunting remains of its slaves' quarters. The self-sustaining community currently living at Las Terrazas is devoted to reforestation of the terraced hillsides that once served as some of the island's coffee plantations. The above photo was taken at the top of one such plot, and not a building in site for hundreds of miles.

Coral-like rock used to construct ancient forts holds up to both hurricanes and lichen.

Teens on a school field trip. Uniforms yield to individuality by way of socks, shoes and back packs. 

An example of Spanish Colonial ironwork, this one set in front of stained glass in one of Havana's four main plazas. Cienfuegos, Trinidad and Havana are brimming with 19th century ironwork, Neoclassical architecture, and cobblestone streets. A step back in time!

Our guide lead us through this market where folks use their own money to purchase produce, rice, beans, meats, spices and herbs to supplement their government-issued rations. I can still smell fresh chives, mint and parsley.

I debated writing about our visit to the Bay of Pigs Museum, mostly because I don't have any photos, but since it fueled what became our country's 54 year embargo against Cuba, I decided to briefly write about my experience. First, let me say that I was born seven years after the conflict took place, and have only a vague memory of discussing it in high school history class. Traveling from Cienfuegos to Havana, our group stopped at the Bay of Pigs, "where the Cuban government maintains a memorial and museum at the spot where forces under command of Fidel Castro successfully repelled a 1961 invasion force made up of Cuban exiles trained and financed by the CIA." *  

Inside the museum, we first watched the Cuban government's film presentation, which left me feeling stunned. It also left me with the unanswered question, why were we involved? (Once back at the hotel with google at my fingertips, answers surfaced.) After the film, our guide took us through the rest of the museum, explaining the displays. Case after case, my eyes and my heart took in personal affects retrieved from the site such as clothing, silver flasks, pocket watches, uniform patches, wool berets, leather boots, handwritten letters - relics belonging to both soldiers and civilians.

Presently, I don't know if this experience will find its way into my art work, but as they say, eventually, all that you are ends up on the canvas.

* Excerpt from our itinerary provided by Vantage tour company.

My mom and I on a tour of Embassy Row in what we were told is a '41 Plymouth.

Just a few of the iconic "Yank tanks" still running in Havana, complete with musical horns and diesel fuel.

My eyes were opened to the many vibrant colors of Cuba, and I'm grateful to have experienced it with my mom. 

This post shares only a portion of our experience, so if you have questions, I'd be happy to discuss them on IG or FB, links below. 

The Ondowa Wrap

While at Squam Art Workshops this past June, I took Sarah Waldo Jagger's class sewing her Ondowa Wrap. Sarah recently released her pattern to the public, and what a beauty it is! This modern take a classic wrap dress flatters many figures, looks great in both prints and solids, and is easily modified for your personal style. Wear it as a studio smock, beach cover up, office attire or for a night on the town - truly a wardrobe staple!

The Ondowa Wrap, designed by Sarah Waldo Jagger

Shown here in Robert Kaufman Brussels Washer Linen, Plum, 55% Linen 45% Rayon

Pattern modifications: I chose to sew this garment without the shoulder caps. Check out Sarah's IG feed for the original design and options!  #sarahwaldopatterns #ondowawrap

Sarah's teaching style is relaxed and easy-going. She moved effortlessly from one student to the next, helping each of us where ever we were in the sewing process, and always with a smile. While we benefitted from her in-person tips and tricks, the pattern itself is very well written, clear and with many helpful photos. The garment has beautiful details, especially the collar. For me, the pocket construction was a fun surprise. What a wonderful teacher, designer, sewer and mom (follow Sarah's IG feed @starfishing). 

You can purchase The Ondowa Wrap at Sarah's shop: http://sarahwaldo.bigcartel.com/  

Find plenty of inspiration and options for making this pattern your own: #sarahwaldopatterns  #ondowawrap

Collar detail with contrasting batik binding, also used at the pockets. 

Loving the double tie at the side, perfectly positioned for a flattering fit. Here, I used jersey strings.

This view shows the two vertical darts at the back. While they're not difficult to sew, Sarah had great tips for us to ensure accuracy. 

The wrap shown in these photos is actually my second one. Not only was the first one so enjoyable to make, but my friend Angela Hoffman surprised me by modeling my first wrap throughout the Squam dining hall, looking amazing!!, so I had to make one especially for her. Thank you @angelalynn114! 

Of all of the splendid details this pattern holds, I felt the collar was the most satisfactory to make. 

First Annual Labor Day Sale!

It's on! Our first Annual Labor Day Sale

      Now through Monday, September 5th, 2016!

20% off all PDF's

10% off all Pre-Cuts

(Pre-Cuts include: FQ's, F8's, Charms, 2.5" strips, 1/4 yard Complete set of colors)

$5.00 Scrap Bundles! A whopping value!!

10% off Organic Jersey Crib Sheet kits (Best price online!!)

Follow on Instagram for daily listings of our Sample Sale!

Our samples include hand sewn and hand knit garments, bags and quilts. All are beautifully made and will brighten your life or that of someone you love! 

LABOR DAY GIVE AWAY!

For a chance to win a $25.00 Gift Certificate (good for anything in the the shop) simply follow Tierney Barden on Instagram, leave a comment telling us one project (any!) that you'd like to finish by the year's end, and tag 2 friends. That's it! The lucky winner will be announced on September 6th!

As always, we love to see what you're stitching! Share what you're making with our fabrics and patterns on Instagram using #stitchingenchantment.

Thank you for your support, purchases and kind words on social media! Your creativity is what gets us excited to be in the studio and dye kitchen every day! If you have a suggestion for items you'd like us to carry, please tell us in the comments below. 

Wishing everyone a safe and fun-filled holiday weekend!

#MakeDo Progress and a Sale!

Last week, I posted about Sherri Lynn Wood's #MakeDoQuilt Challenge. Today, I'm sharing my progress. I spent days researching antique red and white quilts from the American Folk Art Museum's book, Red & White Quilts, Infinite Variety. I needed to find a quilt design that was roughly 2/3 white and 1/3 red, determined by the amounts of each fabric I had available. After much deliberation, I decided on the Railroad Quilt (Cups and Saucers Variation). 

Work in progress on the design wall. I like how the feed sack instantly ages this quilt.

Next, I'll sew the border (not shown) and prepare a red binding. Once the border is on, I will have officially used up every bit of the feed sack/white fabric I allowed myself for the challenge. I'm anticipating the finished piece to measure about 30" x 30". 

I'm enjoying every bit of this process, and am learning more about myself as quilter.  I'll continue to post updates. Leave a commentor tell me about your #MakeDoQuilt!

The typographer in me is loving the feed sack fragments! 

My first Annual Labor Day Sale! 

The sale runs from September 1st - 5th, 2016, and all pre-cuts and PDF patterns will be on sale! it's the first time fabrics will be on sale - you don't want to miss out! No codes needed, just visit the online shop and fill your cart with gorgeous fabrics and sweet quilt patterns! Surprise items may be added, so keep an eye on Instagram!

#MakeDoQuilt Challenge

In the spirit of the challenge, I've pulled from my fabric stash two feed sacks and some left over hand dyed silk noil. From my closet, I've pulled one dark teal blouse and a pair of red pants, both past their prime. 

If you're a quilter and are on Facebook or Instagram, you likely know about Sherri Lynn Wood's #MakeDoQuilt Challenge. I'm joining the challenge, and sincerely hope you will, too! 

In a nutshell, Sherri Lynn's challenge to quilt makers is to make at least one quilt in a year's time using only found textiles; for example, discarded clothing and household linens, garage sale and thrift shop finds, clothing swaps with friends, etc.. She states that you get extra points for salvaging the batting and backing, too! Read Sherri Lynn's post for all the details and thoughtful back story: http://daintytime.net/2016/08/11/make-do-challenge/

Her challenge resonates with me on a few levels: as a quilter who loves a challenge; as a dyer who is seeking best practices for our health and the earth's health; as a textile artist who wants to leave as small a footprint as possible. I'm both compelled and excited to participate! Plus, there's tons of inspiration already happening on Instagram, #MakeDoQuilt, by other talented quilters joining in. What a great idea - thank you Sherri Lynn Wood!

This challenge already has me approaching the quilt process in a new way. I'm keenly aware of the variety of textures and weights of the fabrics I've pulled (photo above). The quantity of each fabric now plays an integral and critical part of the design process, designing according to what I have. Quilt strategy at its best!  

Pursuing my interest in feeling closer to our quilting heritage, I'm looking to antique quilts for design inspiration. Here are three from "The American Quilt" by Roderick Kiracofe: 

Since making letters for a special commissioned quilt in December 2015, I've wanted to do more with words - perhaps piecing a beautiful quote or poem.  This challenge might be the perfect opportunity to get going! 

Inscription, 1874-1876, made by Cornelia Catharine Vosburgh, Red Hook, NY

As a natural dyer, indigo quilts and Turkey Red quilts always steal my heart. From this challenge, I'd like to learn a new technique or a new block. The feathered star might be the ticket!

Feathered Star, c.1840-1860, found in eastern Ohio; cottons, pieced, with stuffed work and cording, 82 1/2" x 91". Collection of Gail Binney.

Hawaiian Quilts make me weak in the knees. They're always stunning, and they certainly speak to my love of paper cutting. What I'm most curious to try is echo hand quilting. So beautiful.

Unnamed pattern, c. 1940, Hawaii; cottons, appliqued, 81" x 85". Robert and Ardis James Collection.

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/feb/23/marie-kondo-joy-decluttering-waste-recycling-clothes-peak-stuff

In addition to pushing one's own creative limits, there's a second element to Sherri Lynn's challenge, and that is increasing one's awareness of the huge problem the world is facing regarding fabric, landfills and our soil and water supply.

Overconsumption is a problem for us all. As a quilter, if the making of even one quilt can begin to affect change, then I'm all in. Every effort counts! Recently, I posted about how each piece of cloth is handled here in the studio, and the truth is, every scrap is accounted for. None of it goes in the trash. 

100% of my quilt making scraps over the past 22 months, and all of it is safe for my compost bin.

I'll post my #MakeDoQuilt updates here and on my IG feed. Do you have any questions for me? Are you participating, too? Let's get some conversation going, and I'd love to hear and see how you're meeting the #MakeDoQuilt Challenge!

Sublime Exploration

A few years ago, while on Pinterest, I remember coming across a most exquisite quilt unlike those we tend to see from American, European and Australian quilters. The quilt's remarkable design, palette and textures were unusual and sublime. Soon after, I saw a few more quilts executed in this same fashion and I needed to know the story behind these quilts and their makers.

My "awakening" to the world of Japanese quilts continued with the purchase of two Yoko Saito books: Japanese Quilting Piece By Piece and Yoko Saito's Japanese Taupe Color Theory, A Study Guide. Books, museums and the internet only go so far to inspire, and I knew it was time to start stitching. Just as drawing from life is the best way to get to know an object or a place, so too, stitching is the best way to get to know construction techniques, the integrity of the cloth, and explore the mysteries of color. Before I could stitch, I needed the proper fabrics - the real deal. I scoured the internet for several months only to come up empty handed....

That is, until two weeks ago when a friend and I attended the AQS Quilt Show in Syracuse, NY, where I found Maria, the owner of Pinwheels. She explained how she is the only person in America authorized by a particular Japanese fabric company to bring these fabrics into America. Needless to say, I scooped up her business card and a gorgeous armful of fat quarters, and then headed home to the sewing machine.

Resolving to spend time getting to know these fabrics, I committed to sewing a block a day for one week from Yoko Saito's Color Theory book. Each day was filled with excitement, potential and a growing pile of very small scraps! While these photos document my blocks, the results are even richer and more textural in person. 

My initial experience working with these Japanese fabrics is so unlike working with American fabrics. Each square inch of fabric offers its own range of possibilities that affect color, texture and the overall design aesthetic. It's like sitting in Design class at college all over again, studying the magnificent color studies of Josef Albers, only now it's with fabric. Suffice it to say, learning to speak a new language is an exciting adventure! My mind is chock full of ideas. I feel a connection with these fabrics, and will continue to share what I make and learn, right here. 

The Westwater Tunic

My tunic is linen with my own eco-dyed silk at the back yoke (detail, right). Do you see a butterfly/ moth? The drape and weight of linen makes it a nice choice for this garment. The tunic can be worn so many ways, it's a real wardrobe work horse! Sam gives options for handling View A's front closure. I chose the one-button closure.

While at Squam, my tunic didn't actually have a button. At home, I tried both antler and horn buttons from my stash, but they all felt too masculine. Who saved the day? Sarah Waldo Jagger! While sewing in her class at Squam, she came over to my side and held out the perfect button, explaining that she found it at the bottom of her sewing basket. That's Squam love right there. Thank you Sarah! 

In the months leading up to Squam Art Workshops, Elizabeth Duvivier announced the release of the Westwater Tunic pattern co-designed by herself and Samantha Lamb. I bought my copy, chose my fabrics and eagerly set to work. 

I loved the process and the end result so much that I decided to bring my finished tunic to Squam and show Elizabeth and Samantha.

They were both so kind, and made me feel good about my work. Personally, I credit Sam for her exceptional technical writing, not to mention loads of helpful photos. The collar (which I had been fearing) was actually a breeze! I would definitely make this garment again, and would try View B, which is a pull over rather than button front.

In this time of indie designers, social media and movements like #whomadeyourclothes, being able to connect one-on-one with the designer is important. For me personally, meeting the designer makes the process and the finished piece even more meaningful, bringing me closer to the garment.        

I'm especially grateful to Elizabeth Duvivier for creating Squam Art Workshops, a most magical, soul-filling experience deep in the woods of New Hampshire. 

Summer Summary

What a fly-by-summer this has been, whew! Let me catch you up on the fantastic goings-on over the past several weeks. 

Sharing a morning at Squam Art Workshops (SAW) with fellow paper-cutters was a thrill! Reading "Instructions" by Neil Gaiman set the enchantment dial on high. Most everyone made paper cuttings of their name and/or inspiring word. Beautiful work was being cut and then unfolded around the room, and the joy was contagious!  See below for big smiles and stunning paper cuts, Squam Art Workshop style! Thanks to all who came out to play with paper and scissors.

Speaking of teaching, I'm developing a few new workshops for upcoming events. In September, I'll have a booth at the event hosted by the NYS Quilters Consortium. If your quilt guild is looking for teachers and speakers, this is the place to come!

The date for speaking at the Thumbstall Quilt Guild has been set: April 18, 2017. I'm honored to have been invited to speak to this special group, and am greatly looking forward to meeting them in person. 

Contact me at tierneybarden@gmail.com to discuss how I can tailor a workshop for your quilt guild or youth group.

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While I was at SAW, I vended at the Art Fair. I'm beside myself at the outpouring of love and support so freely given, and now weeks later, I'm blown away by the magic such talented artists are creating with my fabrics! I've posted some of these amazingly talented people and their work on IG and FB, in case you want to have a look. They're worth it! @tierneybarden

SAW 2016 was as love-filled, fun-filled and inspiring as ever, and for that I thank Elizabeth Duviver, Forrest Elliott and Mindy Tsonas. Thank you for making magic happen. 

On the heels of my trip to NH, I turned around and traveled to VT for the 40th annual Vermont Quilt Festival. I wouldn't have missed the opportunity to meet my new friend Trista Dufresne, @trista_deee, and newest member of the festival's Board of Directors! Congratulations Trista!!

The show was a huge success, filled with color, pattern and texture so that I laid awake for hours in my hotel bed trying to process it all. Currently, on IG, FB and the festival's website, you can see the award winning quilts and learn about their makers. Such talent! My favorite part, other than meeting Trista and her beautiful mom, was standing before the large and impressive private collection of antique quilts. These are the quilts that have stayed with me. They will undoubtedly influence the direction in which I move with my own work. In fact, as soon as I returned home from the festival, I set to work reproducing the Strippy Crib Quilt housed at the International Quilt Study & Museum. My finished version is shown below.

My self-imposed challenges were to use only commercial fabrics (yes, I still have stacks!) and to match colors as closely as possible. Mine probably could use a soak in a tea bath just to knock down some of the whiteness, but overall, I'm very satisfied with the results. I couldn't help but notice that I was filled with joy while working on this little gem. Whether that was because of the colors and the design, the knowledge I was using up more of my stash, or the fact that I could relax and just make (afforded when sewing someone else's pattern!) is hard to determine, but the whole experience left me wanting to make more of my own versions of antique quilts. 

Ideas are forming, the sewing machine is humming and the dye pots are brewing. Between traveling, teaching, stitching, dyeing and meeting new friends, I'm enjoying every single day this gorgeous summer has had to offer, and it's far from over! 

Say hello to my new SAW friends, Angela, Nancy and Jessica! Love you all!

Hello July!

June was a whirlwind month! I'll return soon with a recap because there are exciting things to share. In the mean time, we're celebrating Independence Day with a sale!

Enjoy 20% off all PDF quilt patterns from July 1-4, 2016. Detailed instructions, plenty of helpful photos and charming quilt designs appropriate your fabrics or ours...all are waiting for you in the shop! 

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Lazy summer days on the Facets quilt. Sigh. 

Whether your favorite part about making a quilt is choosing the fabrics, assembling patchwork, stitching applique or quilting, our quilt designs have your enjoyment in mind. Ease into some lovely stitching time with sweet woodland friends and fauna with Foxy Folk or Flock Together. Try a new quilting design included with Traveler's Pass. Whip up the perfect outdoor quilt with Facets, or stitch graceful swans inspired by paper cutting. Get in the free-motion zone with our whole cloth design, Flock Together. All promise beautiful results and an enchanting look that will be cherished for years to come.

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These quilting templates are included in the Traveler's Pass PDF! 

Sign up for the newsletter to be the first to know about new patterns, sales and studio happenings. Share it with your friends! We don't share your information or bombard your inbox. Let's stay connected - follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Squam Art Workshops approach!

Immersed in preparations for Squam Art Workshops, (SAW), the studio is bustling! I'm coming up for air to say hello, and to offer a sneak peek at some of the pre-cut fabric bundles coming out of the studio. Each bundle yields just under one yard of fabric, and would be ideal for small projects of all kinds! This year at SAW, I'm not only a student, I'm offering Enchanted Paper Cutting (see my Workshops), as well as vending. June 1st is fast-approaching, and soon the car will be packed and on the road, #squamwardbound. 

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Each of these gems equals just under one yard of fabric!

What excites me most about vending is meeting the lovely folks who attend Squam Art Fair. Hearing what fellow creatives imagine they'll make with my fabrics, seeing the other treasures they've picked up that night, and experiencing the lively, loving buzz that is Saturday night at Squam - well, I suspect it will be an amazing evening as only Squam Art Workshops can deliver. 

Now, I'll get back to work - there's plenty more to do! 

Zero Waste

Every bit of fabric is accounted for in the cutting process.

Zero waste has been a guiding force since the inception of my dye business. To be able to follow my fabrics as much as possible from field to compost is important to me. I feel closer to my fabrics by handling much of the process myself, and the work is rewarding and satisfying.

Living in this high-speed, high-tech modern world, I depend on hand work (and books and movies!) for balance. My personal pursuits are mainly quilting for charity, sewing bags and garments, spinning yarn and knitting. Wow, that sounds like I have mounds of spare time. Trust me, I don't, because the bulk of my time is happily spent between the dye house and studio. 

Because I imagine most of you purchase fabric and dive right in to your projects, I thought describing the cutting process for each yard, once dyed and pressed, might be interesting.  

We hand cut for three reasons:  

• We're small. No fancy commercial equipment here.
• We can control and monitor each and every piece of fabric going into your hands. 
• We get the most from every piece; minimizing waste & maximizing goodness for you!

Pre-cuts are so convenient. We hand cut and inspect each and every one!

First up on the cutting table are yardage, fat quarters, fat eighths, charms and strips. These cuts use up most of the yard, and make my heart skip a beat considering the possibilities. So often I wonder, "What will you become?" "Who's heart will you melt?"

Looking at a pile of scraps is like looking at a jar of candy - they're irresistible!

The next category to be cut is scraps. Neatly cut scraps, shown above, are weighed and then carefully bundled into 4.5 oz. bags. My Type-A personality won't let an untidy piece make it into the pile! Treating every step in the process with respect matters. The scraps are useful sized pieces for quilters, doll makers, sewers, miniaturists and fabric artists. Our scrap bags feel like a party in a bag - a joyful surprise!

Calling all EPPers, miniaturists and doll artists! Our "smalls" are waiting for you.

The next category to be cut is "smalls". Pieces that are too small for the scrap bag, but are just the right size for EPP, postage stamp quilts, miniature quilts, doll artists and the like. Handled with the same respect as the previous cuts, each piece is visually inspected, neatly cut and ensured to be a useful size. Shown above is a pile of "smalls" beneath a few EPP stars (top right) and a stack of gray and yellow pieced blocks for hexis. 

A lovely mess, and not a twinge of guilt as it's taken to the compost pile. 

The final stop for every yard of fabric is the trimmings. They perform a variety of jobs from doll stuffing to tying wrapped packages, and are eventually added to the compost pile. Because our fabrics are certified organic cotton and free of harmful mordants, they're completely safe for the compost pile. 

To appreciate every last bit of beautiful cloth is a responsibility we easily accept. You can find our hand dyed fabrics and quilt patterns in the shop. Patterns are offered as both PDF's and kits. In future posts, I'll describe my dye process and quilt design process. In the mean time, I'd love to hear your thoughts and questions about our organic, naturally dyed fabrics. 

A Breath of Fresh Air

For me, spring time brings a renewed sense of energy and creativity. Last week, I gave in to trying a technique I'd been putting off for some time, English Paper Piecing. I'm smitten! I knew that would happen, which is why I was putting it off - thinking of it as a distraction rather than what it is, a floodgate to beautiful new ideas. Hours spent stitching lovely shapes together to form new, more intricate shapes have given way to some exciting quilt ideas, which I can't wait to share with you as they blossom. 

Fabrics used for these EPP's are, left to right, Journey and Tobacco; Lagoon, Natural and Golden Age; and finally, Lagoon and Lake.

I made this Pinterest board for our inspiration, yours and mine. In the photo above, the center EPP is one of eight diamonds that make up the Flying Swallows block. It's an old pattern that I've actually had in my collection for years, (all the while, completely unfamiliar with EPP!), so when I found it the other day, I immediately made templates, chose fabrics and glued up all the pieces for one block. Positively addictive. The two stars in the above photo don't have a specific used yet, but will likely make their way into a piece at some point. The jewel and hexi shapes are so relaxing to stitch, they effortlessly come together as stars in about an hour.

If you're feeling inspired to give EPP a try, or to expand your skills, many beautiful books are available today.  All Points Patchwork by Diane Gilleland gave me the confidence to start EPP, providing excellent instruction, helpful photos and templates. The sheen and hand of our gorgeous sateen fabrics beg for EPP. Our colors work well together, and the Fat Quarters and Charms would be an especially handy way to begin your next EPP or applique.

Debut

Your holiday sewing is about to become a decadent experience! Coming to the shop this Monday is a lovely addition to our organic offerings: Fat Quarter bundles! 

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A bundle has four naturally dyed, certified organic cotton FQ's. Each bundle is truly one of a kind, saturated with earthly hues. Indigo bundles will also be available. We're anxious to reveal our first wave of colorful bundles to enhance and inspire your sewing projects, or give as gifts to your best friends. How ever you'll use them, you don't want to miss Monday's big debut!

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the blog's inaugural post! 

This is the place for inspiration, news, quilting, sewing and dyeing tips, useful information and many other surprises!      

YOU are the reason we come to work every day, and we encourage you to visit here regularly, leave us comments, pin images that inspire, and otherwise kick back and enjoy all the good stuff to come.

Tierney Barden is an eco-company that specializes in naturally dyed certified organic cotton fabrics and charming quilt kits. Yardage will soon be available for sewing enthusiasts, quilters and any artist working with fiber. 

Thanks again, and we'll see you here soon!

                                   Wander into the woods.