Day 11: Motorcycle trip home from Nova Scotia to Minnesota, A tiny shop, in a tiny town with a big personality!

Today's quilt shop was filled with surprises.  Jolene's Originals in Jonesport, Maine is a small quilt shop on the roadside in a very small community.  She and a friend were having a garage sale.  When we pulled up they commented that we couldn't get much with a bike.  I said, "Not a problem, I am here for fabric."

I walked in to small room full of fabric, notions and products made from blueberry fabric.  Jolene asked if I came for her fabric.  I said I don't know, what do you mean?  Then she proceeded to bring out fabrics that she designed and had printed herself.  She owns the rights to them and you can NOT find them anywhere but a few shops in Maine or from her online!  Pretty cool!

It started with this blue blueberry print.  12 years ago she needed a blueberry fabric for the products she sells, (place mats, potholders etc).  The fabric she used went in and out of availability.  What did she do?  She painted her own design, researched how to get it printed and had it done.  It was a big investment for an individual in a small town.  She reps herself too.  She has one person sewing for her and they do shows together.

After several years she had two more color ways printed and designed another blueberry print.

yellow

 lavender

Very soon after she was the first person to get permission to print fabric featuring the coast guard.  She did this through a series of letters to Washington D.C. that began with a conversation with the local coast guard.  There are 4 color ways with this.

She then designed a lupine flower fabric ( Maine's state flower) and had that printed on a white backing and black backing.

And check out the selvage.  There is her name.  She has used Northcott and Quilting Treasures for printing but she owns the rights.

Her last design was the puffin birds.  

She also has fabric for sale in her shop that will work with her fabric and others not related to her designs available for sale.  They include east coast fabrics, Christmas, small prints and large.

I think,  taking on this printing, the cost and the marketing is quite impressive and remarkable for one individual.

Her prices are below market value, priced between $8.50 and $12.00

She will ship and has a page on Facebook.

And yes I purchased fabric.  Minnesota is blueberry country too.

I have said it before and I will say it again, I meet the most fascinating, good people when I go to quilt shops.  I hope that you support these local shops and keep them in business.  It is important for communities and important for the fabric industry.

With love from your retired FACs teacher, Jane