Victory Patterns are Here!

We are thrilled to be stocking Victory Patterns! Victory Patterns are designed by Kristiann from Toronto Canada. These patterns have been available for a while as pdf downloads from Kristiann's website and are now available in print form! The packaging is lovely and the best part is no more taping together pages. Victory Patterns are sophisticated, fashion-forward designs. Victory Patterns feature an instruction booklet with step by step instructions with diagrams. We can't wait to start sewing with these! Stay tuned to see all our creations.

Makerie Summer Series Recap!

-jaime

Last weekend, Amber and I had the pleasure of teaching at the Makerie Summer Series! This was the first ever day retreat put on by the Makerie, known for their spring-time weekend creative retreats held every year at Chautauqua.

Our beautiful setting at Lyons Farmette

The Makerie Summer Series is held at the idyllic Lyons Farmette. This working farm was the perfect setting for our day of teaching spinning for the June theme, On the Farm. The farm houses goats, chickens, one llama, and includes a large vegetable garden. We could not ask for a better day with perfect temperatures and a cloudless Colorado sky.

Amber and I taught "Farm Fresh Yarn", a class we developed for the Makerie Summer Series to teach participants how to spin yarn from a freshly sheared sheep fleece. We purchased two Shetland fleeces from our friends Peg and Woody at Pinon Woods Ranch in Norwood Colorado. Shetland sheep Belle Star and Butch Cassidy lent their woolly locks for our class. 

Spinning fiber and tools are all ready for class

Our class was held outside right next to a stream of water - it was so peaceful! This was the perfect place to spend the day spinning yarn. We demonstrated how to wash a fleece on a small scale, using a salad spinner as our "washing machine". Amber then taught students the ways of hand-carding rolags from fleece that we had previously washed and dried.

Amber looks on as students learn to spin

I taught students how to spin from their rolags on a drop spindle from local company Schacht. Finally we let students use the drum carder to finish carding the remainder of their fleece. It was a great day and our two groups of students left with new skills and a new appreciation for the work that goes into processing a fleece.

Jaime shows Kim how to use the drum carder

Students were able to take two classes during the day and we loved seeing the other items that were produced on our day on the farm.

Canned foods from a Makerie class taught by Ben of MMLocal

At the end of the day, we were treated to a local farm dinner catered by Eat and Crust. It was an amazing meal and a great way to end the day chatting with all the Makerie teachers and participants.

Our chefs tell us about the awesome food we are about to eat.

If you are inspired by our day, check out the other Makerie Summer Series events in July and August - so many great classes to take and foods to eat!

Meadow is here from The Fibre Company!

--amber

Meadow is here from The Fibre Company!

This beautiful lace weight has the best of both worlds: a luxurious soft feel and a rustic texture. Merino wool, baby llama and silk give it a buttery softness, while the addition of linen gives Meadow it's strength and character.

Meadow comes in 12 classic Fibre Company hand-dyed tones. Its just a little bit on the heavier side of lace-weight, so it can work in a range of patterns from lace to fingering weight.

The lovely folks at Fibre Company are just starting a Mystery Knit-a-long Summer Shawl for Meadow, so now's the perfect time to pick up this pretty yarn and join in the fun!

Me Made May 2013: Week 4

--amber 

We did it!! Me Made May was a month of handmade style around here and I'm so impressed with all the talented crafters that work at Fancy T!

Many new garments were made this month, and many projects are now in the works from all the inspiration we got from our fellow crafty peeps. Check out the full size pictures for the entire month on our Flickr page. Now, here is week four of May...

Row 1: Miranda-Burdastyle Theresa Dress  |  Amber-Colette Peony in Denyse Schmidt fabric  |  Allison-Aestlight shawl by Gudrun Johnston in Hot Pink Jade Sapphire Cashmere  |  Caitlin-Wiksten Tova  |  Amber-Deer and Doe Datura Tank  |  Allison-Circle Skirt of Miranda's design + Mobius Scarf  |  Jaime-Colette Violet and Coraline Cardigan by Ysolda  |  Miranda-Colette Macaron

Row 2: Jaime-Saple Dress by April Rhodes in Brussels Washer  |  Amber-Colette Laurel  |  Allison-Earth and Sky shawl by Stephen West in Madelintosh Light  |  Jaime-Cap Sleeve Lattice Top from Purlbee in Road to China Light  |  Miranda-Colette Macaron  |  Erikia-Rad Handmade Necklace Pendant  |  Emily-Guillemet Hat of her design and Nani Iro Skirt

Row 3: Amber-Colette Hazel Dress  |  Caitlin-Skirt of her own design  |  Miranda-Dirndl Dress in monster fabric  |  Allison-Mobius Scarf  |  Melissa-Colette Violet Blouse and Colette Iris Shorts  |  Caitlin-Simplicity Pattern Tank  |  Erikia-Skirt of her own design  |  Jaime-Painted Portrait blouse from Anna Maria Horner in Nanin Iro fabric

Row 4: Jaime-Wiksten Tank in Liberty Tana Lawn |  Melissa-Anna Maria Horner Painted Portrait with Anna Maria's fabric  |  Caitlin-Anna Maria Horner Socialite Top  |  Tina-Dress of her own design with Birdcages print  |  Amber-Wiksten Tank in organic Cotton Voile  |  Miranda- Circle skirt of her own design  |  Allison-Hendreary Hat by Ysolda

Row 5: Amber-Sailor Top of her own design + Laurelhurst Socks by Star Athena in Sweet Georgia sock yarn  |  Erikia-Tank of her own design made from her grandmother's tablecloth and neon bias tape  |  Jaime-Anna Maria Horner Socialite Dress in Heather Ross Fabric  |  Allison-Daybreak by Stephen West made with Zauberball Sock  |  Emily-Altered Colette Sorbetto in Martha Negley Feather fabric  |  Caitlin-Simplicity Pattern  |  Tina-Crocheted cowl and dress of her design  |  Jaime-Green Bee Amelia Dress Pattern  in Lotta Jansdotter fabric

Row 6: Tina-Dress of her design with Sarah Watson fabric  |  Jaime-Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt with Anna Maria Horner Volumes fabric  |  Katie-Necklace made from found object and crystal  |  Amber-Wiksten Tank with added sleeves in cute kitty fabric  |  Miranda-Dirndl Dress  |  Allison-Mobius Scarf  |  Amber-Megan Nielsen Kelly Skirt

I hope you enjoyed our crafty duds this month! Till next year, Me Made May! Thanks to Zoe of the blog  So, Zo...What Do You Know? for inspiring us with her challenge!

A Wooltastic Visit to Imperial Stock Ranch--Shaniko, Oregon

--Amber

When Jaime and I planned our trip to Portland for Quilt Market, we knew we had to set aside a day to visit one of our favorite yarn producers, Imperial Stock Ranch, in Shaniko, Oregon.

Jeanne Carver of Imperial Stock Ranch was there to greet us with her herd of adorable Columbia Sheep, including some sweet lambs.

Jeanne with Charlotte Rose, one cuddly lamb-ster.

Imperial Stock Ranch was founded in 1871 which means they recently had their 150 year anniversary! Jeanne was kind enough to spend the day with us and share the history and intent of this unique ranch. The only Oregon working ranch on the National Register of Historic Places, this family owned ranch has a focus on sustainability and mindful land stewardship. It was breathtaking to see and hear the stories of this magical place.

One of the many majestic old barns from the early days of the ranch

The ranch was founded by Richard Hinton and is where he began developing the cross-breed that would become the Columbia breed of sheep. The ranch is dotted with poplar groves and fruit orchards planted by the first ranchers. Today the 50 square mile ranch is home to 300 Columbia Sheep and 800 cattle, as well as 500 wild elk.

Scott training one of the young herding dogs

The Carver family shared their love and respect for the land they live on and the animals there. Since they became stewards of the land in the late 80s, they have been working towards more sustainable and healthier ranching practices to improve the surrounding environment. Dan Carver shared with us his experience of seeing the health of their land reflected in the native fish. In the decades they have been working the ranch, and by working together with other local ranchers, they have seen the yearly count of salmon in the rivers go from what you can count on one hand to, in years recently, over 800 salmon.

Wildflowers and wild sage

Inside one of the historic barns is where spring shearing happens. Jeanne took us on a tour of their shearing barn, which works the same way as it did in the early days, except for the added convenience of electric shears.

A large skirting table  |  The wooden chute for bagging wool

Each sheep is sheared and--one fleece at a time--the fleece is skirted. It is thrown whole onto the skirting table, where dirty bits and locks that are too small will fall through the wire mesh table. Someone will give it a look and remove more of the dirty and short pieces that aren't fit to go to the mill and become yarn.

Then the fleece is handed off to someone who will bag it. The wooden chute is about 10 feet tall and holds a giant bag open. Once a few fleeces are in the bag, a person will climb into the bag and step on the wool to pack it into the bag. The fleeces continue to be added until the person inside stomps enough fleeces to fill the bag and climb out. That sounds like an awesome/greasy job! I bet all that lanolin makes for some really nice skin.

Jaime and I stand on over a ton of freshly bagged wool

Each of these giant bags holds about 300lbs of wool. That means we are standing on 1.35 tons of wool. Sweet.

Many of the sheep like to spend the afternoon in the field  next to Jeanne's backyard

Each year Jeanne is a foster mom to several lambs--those who are born to ewes that can't care for them or have one too many babies. These well-socialized lambs followed us around like puppies and were more than happy to let us play with them.

What else would young Charlotte Rose wear around her neck but an Imperial Stock Yarn bow?

Jaime and some sleepy lambs

Can we please take these babies home?

Thanks to Jeanne, Dan, Keelia, Scott, Leah, Blaine and everyone at Imperial Stock for sharing your story with us, and for making fantastic American yarns!

Portland Sewing Parties!

-jaime

While Amber and I were in town for Quilt Market we were able to go to a couple of awesome parties held for Quilt Market attendees! The first one was held at Modern Domestic, a sewing studio in Portland.

Modern Domestic had just expanded and their new larger space was beautiful and inspiring! Amber and I loved being able to chat with owners Lupine and Michelle about their shop and experiences.

Lupine, Amber, Jaime and Michelle

Sarai of Colette patterns lives and works in Portland and hosted a party at her studio for Quilt Market attendees with Amy Butler. Sarai's studio is in the renovated Ford Building--originally built as an assembly plant for the Ford Model-T, and now a home to creative offices and studios.

There were beautiful old windows that let in tons of natural light. Amy Butler had her garment fabrics on display and there were sewn samples of all of the Colette patterns.

Amber, Amy Butler, Sarai Mitnick and Jaime

We had a lovely time with Sarai, Amy and lots of other shop owners, fabric designers and pattern makers!

Thanks Portland ladies for showing us a great time!

Quilt Market Report Spring 2013

-Jaime

Oh man! Amber and I just returned from a week in Portland! We packed in all kinds of adventures which we will be blogging about this week, but most importantly, we went to Spring Quilt Market! Quilt Market is when we get to look at all the upcoming fabric collections, patterns and products. We ordered a lot of great things we are super excited about. The new lines you see here will be coming into the shop in the upcoming summer and fall months so stay tuned to our blog and facebook to be notified of their arrival. Here are some of the highlights:

Tula Pink has done it again! Another stunning collection, Acadia is due this September. Acadia features bright teals, purples, pinks and greens as well as raccoons! We loved her booth floor which echoed some of her print designs. She had tons of quilts on display to inspire us including the one from her new book, City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks. 

Melody Miller was debuting her new line for Kokka which features 3 of our favorite things: linen, sparkles, and arrows. There will be dresses made out of this the second we get it in, I promise.

Rashida Coleman-Hale has a new line coming out this summer for Cloud 9, Koi. We ordered the whole collection, so don't worry. Also, there will be voiles...

We love Leah Duncan's line Tule for Art Gallery Fabrics. Leah was super sweet and we basically moved into her booth and just hung out there among her pillows and driftwood for three days. We ordered the full line and will be making everything out of it come August.

Oh hey, April Rhodes. April was at Market buying for her shop in Columbus and she had a special surprise for us! A hot-off-the-press copy of her Staple Dress pattern. That's right - this awesome pattern (and hopefully more!) will be available in print, right here at Fancy Tiger Crafts this summer. Stay tuned...

Heather Ross is back! Heather Ross has a new line coming out with Windham which means domestically priced quilting cottons! Briar Rose is everything we could have hoped for a new Heather Ross collection and we absolutely love this rainbow quilt by Made by Rae. We can't wait to work with these bright, nostalgic prints come July.

Nani Iro gets us every time. We just can't resist her beautiful, dreamy, ethereal prints. The double gauze and thin linen canvas fabric bases don't hurt either. We ordered about a billion prints from her new line so we will be making room for these in late July.

Ellen Luckett Baker has another modern line for Kokka called Folk Modern. I'm obsessed with horses so this print may be my most anticipated print from market. SO GOOD!

I know this is the news you are all waiting for: yes, we ordered Pendleton wool fabric. Lots of it. It will be here in mid-August and of course, we will throw a little party to welcome it to our shelves. US made delicious wool goodness for all of your fall sewing needs. Dresses, skirts, pillows, bags, will now all be made in wool. Get ready.

There were a million exciting things and we ordered so many of them! Stay tuned to see when these beauties arrive at the shop and to see what we will be sewing with them.