It’s official! I am so excited to announce that I am a brand ambassador for Shannon Fabrics. Last week I spent an amazing three days just outside Chicago, Illinois, at the incredible Bernina Center.
Some of the Shannon Fabrics' executives, representatives and band ambassadors
Thirty people from all over the country were chosen out of four hundred applicants to be brand ambassadors. We were all chosen for different reasons and expertise, but we all have a common thread of sewing. It was a time of a lifetime to be able to affectionately bond with so many different people.
Not only did we wear the same scarf, we were sewing partners that had the common bond of being the mother to large families - 8 for Pamela O'Neil and 9 for me
Our mission as brand ambassadors is to teach others how to sew with the lush Shannon Fabrics. We are the Shannon Fabrics educators. We were trained on how to present demonstrations, trunk shows, and classes. This brand ambassador program is a new concept for them and we are proudly the first class to graduate.
Our wonderful main educator and coordinator, Teresa Coates
We spent three days in an intensive training. From six in the morning until eleven at night it was non-stop training (okay eating too), but it was truly a time of a lifetime. I had so much fun, learned so much, and fell in love with the company’s culture. They are passionately family and quality oriented.
Even the executive, Julie Olds, had a hand at instructing us
The actual fabrics of Shannon Fabrics are what initially sold me on applying to become a brand ambassador. Their number one product is a line called Cuddle.
Cuddle comes in a wide range of 96 colors
This is just one example of the lovely quilts that can be made from Cuddle
In my opinion, it is the softest fabric there is. It is in the broad category of textiles named minky, but this is far superior to the generic minky fabric that you would feel at the local chain fabric store. It has a thicker pile and is so much more luxurious. There are also many other aspects as to why it sews so much better, but that is for another blog post (of course).
The colors in the this quilt are just exquiste
This is one of my favorite colors and workmanship as I am amazed at the detail in this printing
Over the past few months in preparing for this venture, I have come to realize that Shannon Fabrics has so many more sumptuous fabrics beyond the simple Cuddle line. I am absolutely in love with their faux fur and to be perfectly honest, I do not know why people wear real animal furs when they can have these Tissavel furs that are so soft you get lost in them. Those Luxe Cuddle throws had a hard time being passed around as everyone wanted a chance to cuddle up with them and did not want to give them up.
The sweet Donna Thornton swaddled in a lucious Luxe Cuddle
During our three days, we were treated like royalty. Of course, we were all given our own set of fur throws, but Shannon Fabrics was also extremely generous with each one of us being provided an entire large suitcase full of fabrics and notions.
All those boxes are filled with fabric for each of us and an abundance of samples are on the table
They had arranged with their sponsors to indulge us with so many notions. There were so many that they filled an entire bag. We were all so overwhelmed with the generosity of Shannon Fabrics and their sponsors.
A bag filled with sewing notions to begin, but it would be overflowing by the end
As you would expect, we ate like the rich and famous with all their furs. The first night we had a wonderful sampling of those Chicago deep-dish pizzas and the next night we were privileged to be at the Aspen Lane Wine Company that follows the Newman model of donating all their profits. You can read about their giving hearts if you click here.
Dinner at the Aspen Lane Wine Company
Shannon Fabrics also has many other lines of fabrics such as their Embrace, which is a contemporary and popular double gauze. Have you noticed how many names are loving names? Let me tell you we had fun with those as each morning we cuddled. Yes, we gave hugs and kisses to everyone – people we had never known before this event. There were a few people that were stretched out of their comfort zones and I think the Bernina educator was the saddest to see us leave.
This is a sweet blanket made with Embrace on the top and a gorgeous Luxe Cuddle on the bottom
Some of the garments that can be created with Embrace
The Bernina Center was unbelievable. There was a dedicated high-end Bernina sewing machine for all of us with a large workstation and the training was phenomenal.
The Bernina Center educational room
Indubitably, Shannon Fabrics taught us well. We had thorough explanations as well as hands on construction, and evaluations. We saw garments as well as every other possible item that could be made with their fabrics. We even heard from a company that specialized in cosplay using Shannon Fabrics.
The detail in this garment is impecable
It was a wonderful experience and one that I will treasure for a lifetime, but it was the people that made the difference. Without them, this would not have been the same. They were an incredible group of people and I hope that you have the pleasure to meet some of them.
My lovely roommate, Susan Hastings, was so sweet that she wore machine embroidery every day
Beyond a doubt, I am so psyched. I just want to start sewing all that fabric in my suitcase. Yes, there is so much that I am having a little trouble finding where to put it all. It is still in my suitcase. Do not tell my husband, but I have big plans for a new sewing studio.
Thank you, Shannon Fabrics for everything, but especially for “Making the world a softer place™!” Words can never express my gratitude.