Meet the Sponsors/Giveaway: marie-madeline studio
New True Up sponsor marie-madeline studio is a family affair: mom Kristie Long and four daughters Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah all share their love of fabric and sewing and all run the business together. How cool is that? The Long ladies also design and sell their own extensive line of sewing patterns (bags, aprons, and clothing for women and girls), but if you don’t (or don’t want to) sew they also offer custom made finished items. Their fabric selections are ultra feminine yet modern, with lots of FreeSpirit, Michael Miller, and more.
Marie-madeline studio is also sponsoring this week’s giveaway. They’re offering a $35 gift certificate to spend any way you’d like at the shop. Just leave a comment on this post and we’ll choose a winner next Wednesday, September 2, around 9am Central U.S. time. This giveaway is open worldwide.
Thank you so much, Long Ladies! So nice to meet you!
Street Fair Skirts Pattern by marie-madeline studio
Where do you live? What is the textile/crafty scene like there?
We live in the southwest corner of Missouri and the textile scene here is extremely limited. As a matter of fact, we do very little of our business in Missouri.
How and when did you start selling fabric?
We started selling fabric in 2008. We bought fabric for our pattern samples and ready-made items and then decided we would sell the fabric as well so ladies could replicate our designs … plus, we just LOVE fabric!
What surprised you most about the business?
How much fun it is, how friendly others fabric sellers are and the amount of fabric we could sell!!
Tanya Whelan fabrics at the marie-madeline studio HQ
Is this your full-time job? If not, what do you moonlight as?
Yes and No. It is our only “business,” but our family comes first.
How would you characterize your shop?
Bright, fun, and happily crowded!
What are your hot sellers right now?
Ava Rose and Darla (by Tanya Whelan), Good Folks and Garden Party (by Anna Maria Horner) and Dance With Me (by Jennifer Paganelli).
Are you online only, or do you have a brick & mortar shop? If you don’t have one, are you planning to open one?
We are online only with no plans for a brick and mortar shop.
Do you run the shop alone or do you have help?
The five of us (mother and daughters) work together and though we all have “specialties,” each one of us loves it all!
Gracie Ruffle Skirt Pattern by marie-madeline studio
How do you deal with the challenges of the current economy, and increasing competition on the online fabric retail market?
We strive for excellent customer service. We also maintain an inspirational blog where we share new fabrics, fun projects, tutorials, and giveaways.
What are the (other!) biggest challenges — and biggest rewards — of being a fabric merchant?
The biggest challenge is deciding what and how much fabric to buy! The biggest reward is being a blessing to someone who is looking for “just the right piece” of fabric. Of course we also love having all of our favorite fabrics right at our fingertips!!
What’s your personal stash like?
Our stash is rapidly taking over every free space in our home! With five of us collecting, you’ll find everything from old sheets and vintage linens to worn-out jeans and out-of-print quilting fabrics. And, of course, and bunch of new favorites.
Who are your favorite designers, from the past and/or from the present?
Jennifer Paganelli, Anna Maria Horner, and Tanya Whelan.
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I recently found Marie Madeline and have been loving the patterns they are teasing us with that are coming soon!
Love the fabrics AND patterns! Really neat stuff, and such fun-looking designs!
Kat
i am SO glad i found these lovely ladies, and am especially appreciative of their honest business dealings!
SW Missouri a nice shop for a not extremely populated area. Seems the best shops tend be in out of the way places.
What a beautiful family! I can’t wait to explore the shop. Thanks!
They have such beautiful and feminine fabrics!! I love them!
Great fabrics. Thanks for the giveaway.
I am totally in love with Tanya Whelan’s dots! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love these fabrics, and their patterns are so fun! Thanks for a chance to splurge!
What a lovely family and what great taste in fabric.
I love this! Thanks for introducing me to a great new shop and blog!!
so fun! i love new blogs!
what a generous giveaway and a great shop! Thanks!
Love the fabric what a great giveaway. Thnak for a chance.
Gonna have to check them out….I’m from SW MO, too!!
I’m off to visit your blog…love the pictures of your family.
Cute stuff! And I love that it’s a family effort!
Such beautiful pieces! Thanks so much!
Adorable patterns! Great that you all work together. Good luck!
love the site–thanks for introducing me to them. . .beautiful fabrics
I love their spirit! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thanks for a chance to win!
Great interview. Love their fabrics and patterns.
You have such a great selection of fabric at your store!!
Thanks for the great interview (and give-away too). I love to read about families working together.
Great patterns! Love that the whole family is involved.
Lovely designs! What fun working with all your sisters and daughters!
I really have enjoyed seeing all of the Long ladies’ creations. Please count me in on the giveaway! Thank you so much!
Too fun! I just ordered some fabric from M-M Studio, and I can’t wait to get it!
Thanks for sharing a great interview and giveaway!
What beautiful fabrics, lovely ladies and superlative customer service! I love purchasing from the Long Ladies – they are an absolute pleasure to do business with!
What a great shop! Thanks a lot for this fantastic giveaway.
Please enter me for the giveaway. My husband was amused by how much time I spent browsing their Etsy shop a few weeks ago, ogling the pretty things!
I love their blog such pretty fabrics and all of that creativity!!
i love your fabric and patterns!
what a great giveaway!
thanks!
Gorgeous fabric & patterns. I love the shot of the skirts & cowboy boots!
I just recently discovered Marie madeline and placed an order right upon discovery! They hold the most beautiful fabrics!
That is so cool. I live in southwest Missouri. I need to find out where they really are, I could have so much fun. Thanks for introducing them to us!!! Really neat stuff.
So glad to hear about your business. Where are you located in SW MO. I live in that area also!
I love the little girl skirts! Thanks for the giveaway!
Please enter me. My daughter, Macy and I would LOVE to win this giveaway! Thanks.
That is so cool that mother and daughters all have a passion for fabric and are working together.
I recently purchased from these ladies, and I think the customer service was excellent and fabric beautiful. Thank you for the giveaway; I’d love to win!
Oh! I am so excited! I love that she is passing this on to her daughters too!
This is the first time I’ve seen this shop. I don’t know how I’ve missed it! It’s wonderful!
I have only found these ladies in the last couple of months and love their blog! Love their style and their designs:)
What a great family business! I love the patterns and fabrics they use.
Reading this interview makes me wonder what it would be like to run a business with my mom and sisters. I am sure that we, too, would specialize in different areas. Thanks!
Loved the way you found to combine work with the things that give you happinness!
I really liked the interview. Thanks
I love the Long ladies! I have 2 of their apron patterns and they work up so nice. I’d love it even more if I got $35 worth of fabric.