Wolftree Magazine Giveaway

I'm a huge fan of Wolftree Magazine! For those of you who aren't familiar with this wonderful publication, it's a magazine for makers, dreamers & adventurers. It celebrates everyday people doing extraordinary things with their lives. Each page is covered in beautiful photos, and inspiring words.

Taea Made has the privilege of doing a GIVEAWAY of both Volume 3 and Volume 4 of Wolftree Magazine!! That's a value of over $48! 

Don't miss out on your chance to win!

ENTER HERE

The fine print: This contest is open to U.S. residents 18 year of age, or older. Contest will run until August 9th, 2015 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be selected by Rafflecopter. This contest is not associated with Facebook, or Instagram. Winner has to "Like" Wolftree and/or Taea Made's Facebook pages and/or Instagram pages in order to be qualified. Prizes are not available for cash value, and cannot be sold...but always make great gifts ;.)

Step Inside Piccadilly Prairie

Antiques and vintage finds will delight you at Piccadilly Prairie! Located on Xerxes Avenue in Minneapolis, MN, Piccadilly Prairie is the newest store where you can shop Taea Made. You’ll find many handmade items at this store including homemade jams, items made from vintage fabrics, and lots of unique jewelry pieces.

Lacey, the owner of Piccaddilly Prairie, is a delight to chat with. Her love of old mixed with new can be felt throughout the store. Step inside Piccadilly Prairie with me, and learn more about this vintage inspired shop.

When did your love of vintage begin?

I started falling for vintage & antiques as a teenager.  The first piece that stole my heart was an early 20th century trunk with a domed lid.  There's a picture of a woman on the inside, and it just fascinated me- who was she, who had the trunk belonged to, and what did it used to carry; as well as where was the trunk made, and who built it...  So much mystery in one old piece!  Twenty years later, I still have that trunk.

Tell us about the name of your store.

The name sprang into being after a lot of brainstorming and a little inspiration.  I'm a huge fan of alliteration, and I knew that I wanted a two-word name (like a first & last name).  The image I wanted to evoke was that of country-meets-city.  I settled on the word "prairie" first, thanks to Laura Ingalls Wilder and Garrison Keillor.  "Piccadilly" popped into my mind, and I immediately knew that was it; London is one of my all-time favorite cities, and the two words fit together just right: Piccadilly Prairie

Where do you find the antiques for your store?

Ha, ha...the eternal question!  There's no easy answer to that one... The market is always changing, and we are always on the look-out, so pretty much anywhere & everywhere!

What are your design inspirations?

Honestly, I don't know how I (and a good percentage of the women out there) ever survived before Pinterest!  It's where I start when it's "back to the drawing board."  I also love to just stand outside and stare at nature.  There is nothing man-made or man-designed that compares to the simple beauty of, say, one tree.  The blend of colors, textures, and shapes...it's just awe-inspiring!

Do you have a favorite vintage piece?

Definitely my French iron bed frame.  The headboard and footboard are scroll-y with ornate detailing, and the paint is all but worn away, leaving a bare, aged patina.  LOVE!

What is your favorite thing(s) about running your own business?

I really enjoy being able to handpick pieces & artists, set them up in attractive vignettes, and share them with the world...or at least Minneapolis.  And I love being surrounded by pretty, old things...

Where do you find inspiration?

I have to have a pen and paper to think.  I use graph paper and sketch out my ideas, and that really helps me to determine whether or not certain things will work (like if that fantastic 6' awning I recently scored can be hung across this 4' doorway).  History has it that Michelangelo would stare at a piece of marble for days, sometimes months, before picking up a chisel.  I like to stare at a wall or a corner in the shop, when the customers have left and the door is locked, and think: what unexpected thing could I do in this space?  And I just stand there and stare, with my notebook in hand, until the pieces start arranging themselves before my eyes..

Thank you, Lacey, for sharing your love 

of items from the past!

You can shop Piccadilly Prairie at:

5014 Xerxes Ave S, Minneapolis, MN  55410

Monday - Saturday: 10am to 6pm

Sunday: 12pm - 6pm

Catch the latest Taea Made happenings on Facebook!

Drop me a line at: taeamade@hotmail.com.

Discover Dawn's Quilt Shop

On a recent trip to Alexandria, MN, I had a chance to explore what the downtown shopping area had to offer. When I came across Dawn’s Quilt Shop, I knew it was a store for me. Not only does the store offer fabrics ranging from traditional to fun and quirky, but long arm quilting services as well!

At Dawn’s Quilt Shop, you'll also find plenty of quilt kits and unique sewing ideas. I saw many offerings that I hadn't come across before! Dawn herself is a delight to meet as well. She is helpful, and it’s easy to tell that she is passionate about sewing and fiber arts.

Many of the displays in the store use antique furniture pieces for displaying fabrics. This gives the store lots of personality to match the uncommon delights it offers to shoppers. You'll also find a custom frame shop located at the rear corner of the store with some one-of-a-kind pieces.

Dawn was kind enough to share her story with me, so enjoy a little Q&A with the owner of Dawn’s Quilt Shop:

Who taught you to sew?

I graduated from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks with a degree in art with a focus on fibers. I started sewing when I was about 7, when my mother taught me to sew my own clothes, which I continued to do throughout my life even making a little extra money in college sewing for other people.

Why did you decide to open your own quilt shop?

I have always loved fabric, the type of fabric I “stashed” changed from clothing-type fabric to quilt-type fabric about 10-12 years ago. I had the opportunity to work in a sewing machine store that phased into a quilt shop/sewing machine store. I had never pieced a quilt top or quilted until then, but I was bitten hard by the bug! When the store I worked for closed, I had in the back of my mind that I could run a store and make it work.

I eventually took the leap and opened Dawn’s Quilt Shop in 2007 in Downtown Alexandria. I started small with very few quilt samples and about 100 bolts of fabric. I have grown over the last 8 years to having about 3000 bolts of fabric with one move across the street from the store’s original location.

What makes your quilt shop unique?

I have a fondness for novelty fabric, especially cat fabric. (I may have the most cat fabric in MN!). I love being able to play and put together fabrics and colors to put into quilts and other sewn accessories.

What is your most favorite piece you've sewn?

One of my favorite quilts that I have put together is not technically sewn together, but the fabric used in it is my favorite piece. The fabric shows cats swimming with water goggles and swim fins and a shark fin attached to their backs.

What can people expect to find at your store?

I hope when people come to shop in my store, they find fabrics and samples they have not seen before. I tend to walk outside of the box when choosing fabric and putting things together. I am definitely not a traditionalist.  I may use a traditional block, but put a twist on it.

Where did you find your great antique display pieces?

I sort of use that same tradition with a twist when decorating and displaying. I love antiques which have been passed to me from my parents. I like the love of using the old with the new, so using an antique baby crib to house new flannel baby fabric, or using an antique Hoosier Cabinet to display food fabric makes sense to me.

Thank you, Dawn, for taking the time to share your story!

Catch the latest Taea Made happenings on Facebook!

Drop me a line at: taeamade@hotmail.com.

A Tour of Dakota Fiber Mill

Chris of Dakota Fiber Mill is passionate about what she does. Seeing her interact with her animals makes it obvious that she loves her job, and her animals love her. As soon as she gets close to them, her furry friends nuzzle up to her and get comfortable with their owner. Chris harvests the fiber from the animals on her farm to make beautiful yarns to knit into cozy creations. On her farm, she has:  yaks, camels, llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats and rabbits.

While Chris harvests and processes the fiber from her own animals, her main job is processing the fiber that clients send to her to process. She has large machinery that she uses to turn a huge pile of fur into soft yarn.

Attached to Dakota Fiber Mill is The Wood and the Wool, where customers can shop yarns processed at Dakota Fiber Mill, knitted creations and can even take a class from Chris.

Recently, I had the opportunity to tour her farm along with some other members of the FM Modern Sewing Guild. Chris was excited to share all about her processing at Dakota Fiber Mill, and introduce us to her sweet and gentle animals.

1. How did you get your start in the fiber milling industry?

I started with 4 alpacas, a spinning wheel and the aspiration of hand processing all my own fiber. Working full time and raising a family, it took me 6 months to get thru one fleece. I had friends that wanted to buy alpaca yarn from me, but I was just able to spin enough for my own knitting purposes, so I started sending some fleeces away to a mill (like myself) to be process so I could sell the yarn. My alpaca shearer in 2010 said I should open my own mill. Hmmmmmm. I thought that would be great-- work at home, something I loved....I started praying and the Lord threw open the doors. He guided me into a new career and business. The miracle debris on getting the loans to the mill setup and the day to day operations are piled high!! I am humbled by his Gift of doing what I love to do and His constant obvious Presence every day.  He lead me to a textile engineer from England whom built my carder and I paid to gather the rest of the needed equipment and was with me onsite for three weeks setting it all up and training me to use it. I spent the next six months practicing on my own and friends fiber. Taking in customer fiber starting 2011.

2. Who taught you to knit?

A good friend many many years ago taught me to knit. Since opening the mill I haven't touched my needles....:(

3. What services does your business offer?

I card fiber into roving for hand spinners, felters and crafters, and spin fiber into finished skeins of yarn. Soon to be adding felting services also.

4. What do you most enjoy about fiber arts?

I love animals! Working with their fiber is such an honor. Each fleece has its own personality so to speak. Even though its a Romney sheep fleece it will behave, require different gearing etc... than the next Romney fleece. Creativity is endless. You can do soooooo much with the fiber. With very little training etc....Something about working with natural fiber, once you do you will be hooked!

5. What is your favorite type of fiber to work with?

Camel, I love camel fiber. Super soft and good staple length.

6. How many animals do you have at your farm?

I will have 47 varying fiber type animals, with the addition of 17 coming this spring. Not counting the chickens and guinea hens... lol and the breeding angora rabbits.....

7. How many hours a week do you work?

I try to keep it to 70 hours a week in the mill. First couple years it was more but I try to limit it now. So I can attend church services, have a date night with my hubby etc....

8. What is the most rare type of fiber that you have worked with?

Hmmmmm rare fiber... I have done possum, cat and dog and corn silk..

A big thank you to Chris for taking the time to share her story, and give us a tour of her amazing farm!

Catch the latest Taea Made happenings on Facebook!

Drop me a line at: taeamade@hotmail.com.