Cottonwood

Shop owner, Mary Humphrey, began COTTONWOOD in 1993 by vending at miniature doll and quilt shows and working from a home studio. When the studio was moved to a retail location, her dream of a quilt shop was born. Mary began hand embroidery projects by age 5, making her own clothes at 9 and her first quilt at 12. A lifetime of sewing, quilting and hand crafting has given her the necessities of life - clothing and quilts for cover and warmth, inspiration and food for thought, personal satisfaction and many friends. Mary lives with Buddy, her husband of 26 years, at Lake Monticello outside of Charlottesville.

Alice Conroy has been sewing and doing handwork since she was a child. Both of her grandmothers were avid handwork artists and engouraged and taught her many skills. She took her first official sewing lesson in her 7th grade Home Economics class and never slowed down. She made all her own clothes from that point until her business career got in the way. In high school she took up hand embroidery and crocheting. When her 1970s Kenmore went on the blink a friend loaned her a Bernina and she was hooked. In 2007, she bought her first Bernina and has not looked back. She began quilting with a class at COTTONWOOD and loved every moment of it from the fabric selection and placement, to the rotary cutting and piecing to the finishing. She recently traded her Aurora 430 for the Artista 635 and the quilting bug is now running full tilt at her home.

Brenda has done many kinds of sewing her entire life, but now her focus is on quilting. Her particular interest is in piecing, hand applique and machine quilting of traditional style quilts. Her other interests include gardening and cooking.

Jackie Washburn has sewn since childhood, learning by watching her mom. She made her children's clothes when they were very young. While living in Texas, she had a cottage business of window treatments and home decor. After retiring from a rewarding 30+ years as a nurse, she started her quilting passion. She and her husband "retired" to a small horse farm in Scottsville where they have 2 thoroughbreds, a border collie and a golden mix. She found COTTONWOOD and bought her first Bernina. She now owns 2 and is seriously thinking about upgrading to a third with embroidery potential.

Janet was introduced to her first Bernina sewing machine in the late 1970s while sewing clothing for her family. As her family grew, her interest migrated from clothing construction to quiltmaking. She was active in Northern Virginia's Quilters Unlimited guild for many years. After retiring to Charlottesville, she began working at COTTONWOOD, then in Palmyra. Now she is able to combine her love of Bernina (she has 3 sewing machines, an embroidery machine and a serger) and her love of sewing and quilting. She says sharing that passion with friends and customers is her greatest joy.

Janis Arave moved to Charlottesville with her husband and four children (later to become 5) in 1963. She has been sewing most of her adult life and has made everything from her husband's suits to heirloom christening gowns. She even made wedding dresses for her daughters and a daughter-in-law. She supported herself for several years by doing alterations. She bought her first Bernina sewing machine 28 years ago, loved it so much that she now owns two. One of her greatest joys at the present time is caring for and being with her granddaughers, 3 year old Summer and 7 year old Maxine.

Call her "old fashioned," because as long as Marilyn can remember she has enjoyed sewing. When her children went off to college she decided to get a job, thus the start of her quilting career. Her boss was a quilter, they took classes together and enjoyed a wonderful learning experience. During this time she acquired her first Bernina. She worked for 19 years before retiring and then along came COTTONWOOD. She couldn't resist when a part-time job was offered. Since then, she says she has been enriched by the friends she has made, especially while teaching classes. Since she has spare quilts, she donates them to different charitable organizations such as The Arc of the Piedmont and Area 3 Special Olympics for fund-raising. She also enjoys sewing for her grandchilden and making totebags for relatives, friends, and of course herself. She has 2 Bernina sewing machines, 2 embroidery machines and a serger to keep her busy quilting for a long time.

Mary Wayland was taught to quilt by her grandmother when she was 14 years old and is proud to be a member of 5 generations of quilters. She also enjoys knitting, gardening and punch needle embroidery. Mary loves her two Beninas and hopes to be sewing for many years to come.

Nola Rich has been sewing since she was old enough to sit at her mother's sewing machine. She has been quilting for most of her adult life and taught quilting through Surry Community College in North Carolina for many years. She bought her first Bernina 10 years ago with proceeds from the sale of a Connemara pony and recently added a second Bernina. Nola's non-quilting interests include spinning and dyeing wool yarn, weaving, knitting and felting and making lampwork glass beads. She and her husband live on a farm near Scottsville with their horses, llamas, dogs and cats.

Dan Harris formerly of Vac & Sew City and Holloways Vacuum & Sewing. Dan has 29 years of machine service and repair experience. His vast knowledge allows him to service all brands of sewing machines, sergers and industrial sewing machines. Dan has lived in Charlottesville for 38 years.