Old Made Quilts started
in 1995 and we began by selling vintage feedsacks, fabrics and antique
quilts. We were lucky to be called to bid on a large supply of feedsacks
that belonged to the Props department of the Fried Green Tomatoes movie
crew. Apparently, their prop people had secured feedsacks while filming
in Georgia and upon completion, the warehouse went up for auction and
we were lucky enough to purchase these fine textiles. We have had, I
am sure, the largest collection of feedsacks in the country. We have
traveled to many quilt shows throughout California and recently have
ventured as far as Paducah, Kentucky and Houston, Texas. We’ve met a
lot of interesting people along the way. Our business was also featured
on HGTV’S “Simply Quilts” with Alex Anderson.
I took a beginning quilting class and found I couldn’t do the quilting
stitch so Tiger Tape, a guide for evenly spaced stitches, was born.
Now we are also wholesalers selling to many Distributors, Quilt Shops
as well as Jo-Ann Stores. We unveiled a new tape this last Market
in Kansas City, Missioui. It’s called Big Stitch Style Tiger Tape.
It’s for Hand quilting and uses a size 5 between needle and pearl
cotton size8 thread. You can take bigger stitches and finish your
projects in half the time. There’s something “special” about a hand
quilted quilt. You’ll see this new tape in our store. Tiger Tape comes
in many sizes with many different applications.
We have enjoyed the journey that has led us this far. And a few years
ago, we purchased some property in the Carolinas. This property is
on the National Registry of Historic Homes and has a Grist Mill, 2
Victorian homes, a nine-acre pond, a creek that runs through the 75
acres and many outbuildings. It needs lots of work but this venture
will be the new home for Old Made Quilts in 2002. We’ll keep you posted
on our progress.
Beverly Vollaire Ferro is a third generation
quilter and is the owner and creator of Tiger Tape, a hand quilting
guide for evenly spaced stitches. Tiger Tape has been featured in
QuiltMaker Magazine, Quilters Newsletter Magazine and many others
as a Gotta Have notion. One of the largest collector of
vintage feedsacks, gives lectures on feedsacks and rag rug making
and demonstrations on making rag rugs. She has been a guest on HGTVs
Simply Quilts. Old Made Quilts travels the quilt show circuit
and can be seen at many locations (see Show
Schedule for a list of shows). Lives part time in Santa Barbara,
CA and part time on the East Coast in an 1850s Grist Mill with
long time love Tod!