Does Your Local Quilt Shop Have A Mascot?
Veronica Hofman-Ortega, (www.FiberAnticsbyVeronica.com, guest blogger and Blank Quilting Corp and Studioe sales representative), is here today sharing several of her experiences with the wonderful mascots that can be found in quilt shops she visits. Does your local quilt shop have a mascot? If you think they don’t, ask! You might be surprised. Keep reading to see some adorable furry, and not so furry, mascots. Also learn how you can see your local quilt shop’s mascot shared on the blog and social media.
Schools have mascots. Sports teams have mascots. Remember Tony the Tiger and Toucan Sam? Even breakfast cereals have mascots! So what about quilt shops? Does your local quilt shop (YLQS) have a mascot? A lot of them do.
The shop mascot garners quite the attention (and affection) from shoppers, visitors, kids, quilters and shop associates. Some mascots are four-legged furry friends [aka babies] of the shop owner, or sometimes a shop mascot can be a statue, stuffed animal or another character or lucky charm that a shop has adopted as part of its brand. These mascots have an important and often demanding job. They welcome visitors, direct shoppers to the “just arrived” fabrics and patterns, or promote an exciting new program or class the shop is offering. Sometimes, the “shop kitty” or “shop doggie” even supervises at the cutting table, assists at the checkout or stands guard over her/his favorite fabric or quilt on display.
This black-and-white sweetie is Jumper, the shop kitty at Stitchin’ Station in Lynnville, Tennessee. While I was at the shop (to snap up a couple yards from Elizabeth Isles’ exquisite new Natural Wonders collection), Jumper promptly introduced herself and decided she wanted her photo taken with this handsome Western Album quilt that Beverly McKee, the shop’s owner, made and had displayed in the shop.
Jack McKee, the resident long arm quilter, quilted stars, lassos and spurs on the quilt to compliment its western theme. Do you think Jumper and Jack had a tete-à-tete to discuss potential quilting designs prior to quilting? (Quite possible.)
Scrappy, a 4-foot otter, is one of the mascots at Little Blessings Quilt Shop in Crossville, Tennessee. Ask Julia Ranney, the owner, about Scrappy’s history. Dizzy Diva’s Fabric Shop in Knoxville, Tennessee, has its own little doggie-diva, Princess, who is always at the ready to announce customers.
Princess adores the Beach Party collection by Blank Quilting and also encourages donations to the Humane Society. The newest addition at Huntsville Sew and Vac in Huntsville, Alabama, is Izzy, Donna Cagle’s Yorkie who loves to romp in her shop’s spacious classroom. Other shop mascots I’ve met on my quilting travels are Maggie, Bella (who will play fetch until either you or she gets tired), Zoe, Sewphia, Rascal, a Squirrel nutcracker, and Sam the talking parrot.
Tell Us About Your Quilt Shop’s Mascot!
Whether you’re a newbie sewer, a veteran quilter, or an expert stash-enhancer who frequents her/his favorite fabric haunts—either local or when travelling—you’ve probably encountered a quilt shop mascot at one time or another. We want to see them! Whether you’re a shop frequenter or owner, send us a picture of your shop mascot. Below are the multiple ways you can share your photos.
Instagram: Share a photo and tag @studio_e_fabrics and @blankquiltingcorp
Facebook: Share a photo or post as a comment on the Studioe or Blank Quilting Facebook page.
Email: Email your photos to bqcmarketing@gmail.com
Be sure to include your name, the mascot’s name, and the name of the quilt shop where she/he reigns.
If you aren’t following Studioe or Blank on social media, click below to follow each channel.
Studioe Instagram | Blank Instagram | Studioe Facebook | Blank Facebook