I was so disappointed. As a non-sewer, I thought quilt shops sold quilts! Silly me. I wanted a quilt, something special, and I was willing to make a major investment. I barely passed Home Ec. sewing, due to the perfection requirements (and a dyscalculia issue) and was too intimidated to try on my own. But apparently, quilt shops don’t sell quilts… they sell fabric. (?) The people at the shop I went to didn’t even know anyone who sold quilts!  They seemed mystified by my request. Disillusioned but determined, I decided that I was no longer subject to the standards of an overworked, underpaid, unappreciated (tired and angry) public servant and took a sewing class (full of kids) at a local store, that inspired a creative explosion. Thank you, Miss Anne!

 jane's first quilt

Moving to a new town, again, I was relieved to find not one but two local quilt shops! As a new quilter I was soooo excited!!! I had sold my old Ford truck and purchased a new sewing machine with the money. It had traveled cross country on the seat next to me, my most valuable possession.  Now, having finished my first quilt and pieced my second with boxes packed and stacked, I was ready to quilt! I had a basic list of needed supplies to begin my adventure: 

1. Fabric - A girl can always use a little more fabric. 

2. Matching thread 

3. Sewing machine needles 

4. Rotary cutter blade 

5. Batting 

Simple, right? Basic quilting supplies, nothing special. FAILURE!  

Thread at Last!

The first shop was closed and did mostly alterations and machine embroidery anyway. The second, across the Mall aisle, did not carry thread, needles, or rotary blades. They did have sewing machines, dusty old sewing machines. As I perused the muted fabrics, I found a single fat quarter that appealed, they did not carry that fabric by the yard. A few years later I asked the shop owner if it was possible to order an entire bolt of fabric for me when they placed their next order, and was told, “No.” They rarely ordered, it wouldn’t be worth the trouble.   

The fabric that started it all!  The very first fabric I ordered for jane & fancy, easily ordered and available.

For years, I valiantly tried, with a cheerful attitude to be a good customer, support the local economy, and make a purchase every time I went to either shop.  I also made day long trips to the “city” and endless online purchases to try to get a simple store of supplies.

Desperate measures:  How to sharpen a rotary blade.

I acquired a sizable stash of fabric I didn’t really like, thread that broke every time I tried free motion, a stack of magazines, hundreds of sketches and ideas but completed few quilts. When my rotary blade was too dull to go on and I had visited every local shop in a tri-state area, I thought “Could I do better?”.  

The Stash!  From favorites that I jealously protect to forgetables.

And so, jane & fancy was conceived. Starting with my simple list: fabric, thread, needles, rotary cutter blades and batting, I sought out the supplies I needed, the fabrics I loved from the designers who inspire creativity, the colors that thrill me. We try to keep things simple and provide those basics, with a few indulgences and one omission (batting just costs too much to mail).  And QUILTS, for those who are still traumatized by Home Ec.!  

Fat Quarter Frenzy!

We want to inspire and encourage others with our enthusiasm and express our gratitude to those who have shared their skill, knowledge and passion. So, we offer what we love best, quilts that brighten, inspire, comfort and soothe and the supplies needed to create something just plain fancy. Having moved again, we are small, very, very small (the spare room) and sometimes unsure as we learn the ins and outs of small, very, very small business, but madly in love with the simplicity and endless creativity of quilts.   

Plain Jane Quilt:  "Better Than Cake"  just simple squares (part of a 10" Charm Pack)  simple sewing, outrageous result!

fancy jane