Double Decker Fabric – a Canadian Online Fabric Store!

by Sherri Sylvester | Mar 22, 2013

*** The giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering! Find out who won here. ***

Welcome to the second Canadian Online Fabric Store interview! This time we are talking to Dorienne Fairbanks from Double Decker Fabric.

Dorienne’s shop is located at her acreage near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. She loves the outdoors and even posted a photo of a moose walking through her backyard on Instagram the other day! She has just started her shop and has a lot of really great modern fabrics with matching solids.  Word has it she might (ha!) be having a grand opening giveaway (Riley Blake Chevrons!) until the 25th – check out her blog this week!

Here are a few of my favorites from her site:

(1) Faux Bois (2) Retro Lunch Box (3) Gray Chevron
(4) Teal Diamond (5) Little Red Riding Hood (6) Star Pods

Now, let’s talk with Dorienne!

Thread Riding Hood: What inspired you to start Double Decker Fabric?

Dorienne: “I started Double Decker Fabric for a few reasons. I always wanted to start my own business.  Something that would allow to me work from home and raise my four young children. I love to sew.  Fabric inspires me, makes me happy.  It’s the canvas, the brushes, and the paint of every project.  Sewing is my art form! I just remembering feeling discouraged when I’d start the process of ordering something from the States and get to the shipping page only to learn that it just wasn’t worth the cost.   And packages usually took 3 weeks to arrive.  I started Double Decker Fabric so that I could provide Canadians with a variety of fun and fresh fabrics with all the benefit of buying in Canada; low shipping costs, no customs, and quicker shipping.”

Thread Riding Hood: What is your favorite sewing project you have worked on, recently or in the past?

Dorienne: “Recently, I’ve been sewing gifts for friends who have had babies.  I love homemade gifts.  I’ve been doing a lot of diaper clutches, bow ties and a quilt.  But I think my favorite project I’ve made would be the quilts for my children and the one for my husband.  They are my biggest fans and I love being able to make them something that they can hold onto for years and look back on with fond memories.  I’m a bit sentimental that way.”

Thread Riding Hood: What is your favorite fabric right now?

Dorienne: “I have to pick one?  I think any sewer would have a hard time just picking one.  But right now I’m dying for my Geekly Chic by Riley Blake Designs to arrive {mar 2013}.  I love retro, quirky fabric.”

Thread Riding Hood: Thanks Dorienne!

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I posted the fabric Dorienne sent me yesterday – now it’s your turn! Dorienne wants to give away 7 fat quarters of fabric to one lucky Thread Riding Hood reader!

The winner will get one fat quarter of each of the following:

• Multi Hexies – Textured Basics by Patty Young for Michael Miller
• Cool Dots – Textured Basics by Patty Young for Michael Miller
• Turks & Caicos – RJR Fabrics
• Multi Diamonds – Textured Basics by Patty Young for Michael Miller
• Lime Diamond – Textured Basics by Patty Young for Michael Miller
• Orange Solid – Riley Blake Designs
• Vintage Houndstooth – Textured Basics by Patty Young for Michael Miller

1. Leave a comment on this post. Let us know what you might sew with the bundle if you won!
2. Extra Entry: Like Double Decker Fabric on Facebook. Leave a comment on this post to say that you did, include your facebook name.
3. Extra Entry: Check out the Double Decker Fabric Shop. Leave a comment on this post that includes your favorite fabric stocked by Dorienne!
4. Extra Entry: Check out the Thread Riding Hood Tutorials page. Leave a comment on this post that includes the tutorial you’d like to try next!
5. Extra Entry: Follow Thread Riding Hood on Twitter. Leave a comment on this post to say that you did, include your twitter feed.
6. Extra Entry: Tweet about the giveaway with a link to this post and the hashtag #TRHGiveaway. Leave a comment on this post to say that you did.
7. Extra Entry: Pin the Official Giveaway Pic (directly below this list). Leave a comment on this post to say that you did, include your Pinterest name.
8. Extra Entry: Blog about the giveaway. Include a link back to this post and the Official Giveaway Pic (directly below this list). Leave a comment on this post that includes your blog url.

But wait – there’s more!

Dorienne has generously given me a discount – just for you! Shop at Double Decker Fabric throughout the giveaway (March 22nd until April 12th) and get 10% off your order! Use the coupon code: SPRING10 when you are ordering.

Now that you are done entering the contest – go order some fabric! I know I’m drooling over those Riley Blake Gray Chevrons, and there are more of you out there that are too! Make sure you check out the Canadian Online Fabric Store Pinterest board for more Canadian fabric stores! Happy Friday everyone!

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Giveaway Rules: (1) This giveaway is open to everyone worldwide! (2) You must provide a valid comment and email address on this post for each giveaway entry. (3) Winners will be selected via random draw and will be notified by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. (4) The winner will have 72 hours to get back to me with a valid shipping address, otherwise a new winner will be selected. (5) This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. 

Mad About Patchwork – a Canadian Online Fabric Store!

by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 9, 2013

I blogged recently about the state of available modern fabric online in Canada. Since then I have been able to test out one of the stores that I found, and I am happy to report that my experience was amazing!

Today, I am introducing you to Pam, owner of Mad About Patchwork. She has been kind enough to let me interview her and has given me some information about her store to share. She is based out of Stittsville, Ontario and has owned Mad about Patchwork for almost 5 years. Her header states that she sells “Modern. Fresh. Fun. Fabric.” and she’s right! I have been in and out of her shop many times over the last few weeks, adding to my list of must-have’s.

Pam carries a wide variety of fabrics – as she says “I carry quilting cotton from well known manufacturers such as Westminster, Freespirit, Michael Miller and Robert Kaufman. They are suitable for quilt making, as well as clothing, totes and home décor projects. I also carry flannel, Minkee (polyester fleece) and Essex linen blend to add texture to your projects.” She also has a great selection of Kona Cotton solids, books, rulers, patterns and more. The amazing price and variety in Kona Cotton solids is what led me to find her in the first place. I am learning as I sew more that solids are the best thing to stash, I’m always searching for a solid to go with a great print that I just found.

Here’s my mini interview with her:

Thread Riding Hood: Hi Pam, what inspired you to start Mad About Patchwork?

Pam: “A number of factors influence me to open an online fabric shop. I was looking to start a business I could run from home that would allow me to pursue my creative interest at the same time. I felt there was a lack of Canadian online retailers in the industry, and that there would be a growing market for the modern fabric that was just starting to emerge at the time. With no background in retail it was quite a leap, but I started small and have been growing steadily ever since.”

Thread Riding Hood: What is your best trick for making sure you find time to sew?

Pam: “It’s sometimes hard to find time to sew. Even though my children are teenagers now, I can be quite busy with household and parenting duties, so it’s a balancing act for sure. I’ve recently adopted the 20 minutes a day challenge (you can find out more at EvaPaige designs). It’s surprising what you can accomplish in just 20 minutes, although once I sit down it often turns into 30 minutes or even an hour. It helps that I have a dedicated space for sewing and can leave everything out and ready to go whenever the mood strikes.”

Thread Riding Hood: What is your favorite fabric right now?

Pam: “I cannot possibly pick one favourite fabric, but I’ll share a few prints that I’m very fond of at the moment. First is Submarines and Seaweed in Aqua from Tula Pink’s Salt Water collection. Blue is my favourite color, and that print is gorgeous! Next would be Faded Poppy in Red by Laura Gunn. It’s a large, painterly print that could be used in so many interesting ways. And Blueprint in Grey by Carolyn Friedlander is on my list too – the whole collection is very fresh and unique”

Thread Riding Hood:  Thanks Pam!

Here’s my Mad About Patchwork order, fresh from the mail. The shipping from Stittsville to Toronto is really fast! I placed my order Sunday night, got a shipping confirmation from Pam on Monday and it was in my hands on Wednesday evening. AMAZING, what a difference from ordering anything that comes from the US – no 2-3 week wait, no duty, no customs! I should mention, that she does sell to US and International customers as well – I know you are out there! Check out my Made by Me Monday series next week to see what I did with the Octo Garden in Aqua from Tula Pink’s Saltwater collection pictured above.

Now it’s your turn! (And this is the fabric-y treat I promised yesterday.) Pam has generously given me a discount – just for Thread Riding Hood readers! Use the Coupon Code “HOOD10” to save 10% on your Mad About Patchwork orders until February 15th.  Stash up, and buy yourself a little (or big!) Valentine’s Day gift from Pam. Happy Saturday, see you on Monday!