Interview With Marie Madeline Studio
I was blessed to have come across the Long ladies wonderful web-site last year. The Lord surprised me by allowing me to meet them in person at the S.O.S. conference in December (read more about the conference HERE, and HERE)! Since then, I have wanted to interview these lovely ladies for this blog and they have graciously accepted my request! YAY, as you can tell I am quite excited! These ladies have a God given talent for sewing and pattern making as well! I hope you will be encouraged by this interview, and enjoy getting to know these lovely ladies as well! So without further adieu………
Miss Antoinette: First off, how long have ya’ll been sewing? Who taught you?
Long Ladies: Kristie~ I’ve been sewing actively since I made my first quilt top at age 18. I was taught by my mom, who is an excellent seamstress.
Apphia~ I sewed my first garment at age 10, but did lots of handwork when I was younger.
Achaia~ I sewed my first garment when I was 8 1/2, but loved doing little handwork before that!
Nanny (our maternal grandmother) helped us sew our first big projects. We were always doing something with our hands in our earlier years, wanting to do exactly what Mommy was doing!
Abigail~ I got my first sewing machine when I was 7. I basically taught myself by watching Mom, Nanny, and the older girls.
Abiah~ I learned most of my sewing from Mom and Apphia mainly. Apphia and I are a lot alike when we work, so it’s good when we can work together!
Miss Antoinette: For those who do not know about you or your business, could you give your story about how Marie Madeline Studio came about?
Long Ladies: “The idea for our family business was hatched in the winter of 2006, when we girls began sewing one-of-a-kind handbags for friends and family. We officially launched marie-madeline studio in December 2007.” (from our website) Everything has just built on that! We now have a growing line of sewing patterns for ladies and girls apparel, aprons, and bags.
Miss Antoinette: What has the Lord taught (or is teaching) you in your business?
Long Ladies: He’s teaching us to work together all the better and how to work with lots of different personalities! He’s also teaching us to wait– so many things we want to do take time and we have to be patient.
Miss Antoinette: Do each of you have a favorite item you are selling? How about a favorite fabric line?
Long Ladies: Kristie~ I love fabrics and trims– I always have (a trait I’ve passed on to the girls completely!). But, I do have a weakness for Tanya Whelan and Jennifer Paganelli fabrics (Darla, So St. Croix, Dance With Me). Oh, and Flower Sugar!
Apphia~ I love everything we carry, but I especially love the fabrics by Tanya Whelan and Jennifer Paganelli. Dolce and Darla! I also love the new Nashville cottons. Fabrics with a vintage feel really appeal to my style!
Achaia~ Anything by Anna Maria Horner— Good Folks, Garden Party, and Little Folks! Love, Nicey Jane, Darla, and So St. Croix too!
Abigail~ LOVE by Amy Butler– definitely! I also love Jennifer Paganelli and Anna Maria Horner’s fabrics.
Abiah~ Jennifer Paganelli and Anna Maria Horner fabrics are probably my favorites.
We try only to buy lines or pieces of lines we really love!
Miss Antoinette: Would you have any recommendations for us avid sewers and beginners on a certain pattern you sell? Maybe a fabric line that works great with the pattern as well?
Long Ladies: For beginners our pleated cottage apron or girls emerson skirts patterns are probably the best place to start. Virtually any of the fabrics we sell are great for the patterns we’ve designed!
Miss Antoinette: Do any of you have other hobbies you enjoy?
Long Ladies: We all love sewing related things… collecting old fabric, etc!
Apphia~sketching, designing new patterns
Achaia~ making quilts, vintage fashion
Abigail~ making things up– whether it be baking or sewing!
Abiah~ photography
Miss Antoinette: Most businesses have a mission/vision statement, do you have one? Do you have a Bible verse that goes with it?
Long Ladies: Our mission is to encourage ladies in their God-given role as wives, mothers, and daughters. We want to encourage creativity in ladies and we love providing beautiful and feminine fabrics and clothing for ladies and girls! We love helping others. Proverbs 31:10-31
Miss Antoinette : If any of you are to marry in the future will the business still be around? Do ya’ll have assigned tasks that you would still be able to continue in the business?
Long Ladies: Only The Lord knows what He will call us to do, but we’d love to be able to continue with marie-madeline! Of course, things would change as any one of the girls moved away, but there would still be plenty of jobs we could do long distance (if need be). For instance, Apphia could still draft patterns for us if she moved away. The main base of operation would stay in the family home though. more questions below! J
Miss Antoinette: Would you like to share some encouraging words to someone who is considering taking on sewing?
Long Ladies: Don’t lose heart! It’s not as hard as it may seem. We’ve made plenty of mistakes in our years of sewing— don’t be afraid of failure at first. Sewing is very rewarding and it can be a tremendous blessing to so many.
Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to The Lord, and not unto men.”
Well, this was very neat to read myself and I hope you enjoyed it too!
Blessings and have a blessed weekend!
Filed under: Christian Living, friendship, miscellaneous, Random, Scripture, sewing on March 26th, 2010
Oh, I loved reading this!! Very neat interview. =)
~ Love & Blessings,
Lindsay <3
I really enjoyed reading this Annie! Thanks for interviewing them. A am heading over to their web site right now to look at their patterns, do you have one pattern that you especially Love? If so let me know!
In Christ,
Johanna
PS. I got your Email, and will try to reply ASAP!
Annie, I am really thinking about getting the jumper pattern from Marie-Madeline Studios.
what do you think? do you have this pattern yet? Just wondering. and Also, (if you do have it, and have made a jumper from it) was it pretty easy? I just want to make sure it is not to hard to sew before I order it!
Your Loving Sister in Christ,
Johanna
Yes Miss Johanna I do have the Jumper pattern and it is VERY easy to put it together! I made my mother one you can see here: http://practicalsimplicity.com/blog/2009/10/my-moms-jumper/
Yes, it is worth the investment as it is so versatile and I really like it!
I would love to get both the chic Sister’s Apron, and the pleated apron someday, but for now I have to be patient as I do not have the means to do so as of yet!
PS. I am looking forward to your e-mail!
Thanks Annie, I think I will get this pattern then!
I loved reading this….thank you, Long ladies and Antoinette!!