clockwise from top left: The open space is full of samples, traditional quilt patterns
reimagined in bright prints, bags accentuated with cork accents, and unusual pillow
designs. Garment patterns and classes are offered as well as quilting instruction.
Not Your Mama’s Quilt Store’s line of T-shirts featuring quilt-related humor is available
online or in-store. These fun, funky houses match a recent Row by Row design. The
FanFaire block-of-the-month pattern is by Krista Moser.“I help them find fabrics and
patterns that fit their personal style.”
The shop’s most popular designs
come from Art Gallery Fabrics and
FreeSpirit Fabrics.
The most important service Not
Your Mama’s Quilt Store provides is
individualized help, Tisha believes.
“People never have to worry about
sounding stupid in my store,” she
says. “I’ve been in stores where I was
treated rudely when I was a beginner,
and that will not happen here.” She
considers her staff a family of sorts,
and one employee really is family:
Tisha’s daughter Noelle, now 20
years old. Noelle and her friend
Madison Miller started helping at
the shop five years ago, and they
continue to work there as their
college schedules permit.
Tisha is especially excited about
her beginner quilt class, which she
completely revamped after noticing
participants getting discouraged.
She sensed they were dropping outbecause they couldn’t master the
techniques taught in the four-session
class or because the project was too
big. In response, Tisha developed a
five-hour, one-session beginner class
where participants leave with a
complete quilt top. “Their sense of
excitement and accomplishment is
so rewarding for us,” Tisha says.
The monthly course covers the
basics, such as how to choose colors
and fabrics, how to decipher lingo,
how to understand a basic pattern,On fifth Saturdays
(there are four a
year) the shop hosts
a Fifth Saturday
Challenge. Shoppers
purchase a bag of
secret “ingredients.”
They have until the
next fifth Saturday to
make something using
those ingredients.
Projects are displayed
in the shop; visitors
vote for their favorite.
The first-, second-,
and third-place
winners receive store
gift certificates or
merchandise.“WE BREAK FROM
TRADITIONAL RULES BY
OFFERING OUR
CUSTOMERS THE
FREEDOM TO BE
UNCONVENTIONAL.”
—Tisha Copeland, owner