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My husband Ron was a Wildlife Biologist with US Forest Service. He was was a lover of all things outdoors and especially studying and watching birds. In this newsletter I’ll be highlighting some my my favorite bird history and fabrics.

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John James Audubon

John James Audubon published his famous "Birds of North American" as a series from 1827-1838. The pages ( 2' X 4'...yes feet!) were offered in sets of 5 and showed great detail of not only individual birds but also their habitat.

Birds, animals and insects had been printed on fabrics for years. The Mary Gibbs quilt, dated 1812 , features a center panel of parrots. A series of game birds printed in England were popular 1814-16. Audubon's publications changed not only the accuracy of the depictions but also the popularity of birds printed on fabrics.

Here are some 'modern' versions of birds with authentic markings.

Jean-Jacques Audubon was born on his father's sugar plantation on the island of Saint-Dominique (now Haiti) in 1785. Due to unrest on the island, Audubon's father relocated back to his native France. In 1803 the younger Audubon immigrated to America, anglicizing his name to John James.

He settled near the Schuylkill River in eastern Pennsylvania and began his life long work of sketching the natural world. He was really unique in his efforts to show birds and wildlife in their natural settings. A pair of Eastern Phoebe's in an older nest caught his attention. He 'banded' each with a silver thread. Both returned the next spring...flashing those bracelets.

He married Lucy Bakewell in 1808 and they set up a series of stores along the Kentucky frontier. He became a bit of a vagabond, traveling North America...Labrador Canada to the Everglades, and discovering 25 new species along the way. America had only 6 million residents at this time and most of them were along the Atlantic coast.

Audubon visited England with his watercolors to find a print house capable of turning them (435 in total) into engravings. The prints were released in sets of 5...on a 'pay as you go' plan. Eventually many were leather bound into 4 volumes plus a 5th volume of bird biographies.

We have some amazing Audubon Christmas Bird Count fabrics on closeout. Quantities are limited! Check them out here.

New Lines!

Bucklebury Chintz by Michelle Yeo brings together many historic and timeless motifs in beautiful raspberry pinks, olive greens and ocean blues. Reproduction designs from the mid-19th century.

Blast from the Past! This line has it all!..lights, small, medium and medium large prints plus a novelty. 30 fabrics and a FQ packet available. Free downloadable pattern from Robert Kaufman. Depression Era, 1930-1950.

Haberdashery by Marcus Fabrics. Early Colonial bedrooms often featured expensive imported Toile fabrics augmented with 'Domestics' (woven checks). Those fabrics were readily available in America at the time. This Haberdashery line has yarn dyed checks and stripes reminiscent of the 1775-1825 time period.

Sales and Closeouts!  

We have some big news. In 2025 we are going to be moving to a new online website platform. Lots more to come on that but in the meantime we are starting to work down our older inventory to prepare for the migration to the new tool. So WIN for you, lots of fan favorite fabrics and notions will be on sale. Please check our sales and closeouts page frequently to not miss anything! MINIMUM 1 yd of any sale/closeout fabric. ALL of the fabrics are sale priced at 15-50% off!

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