In a few days, I’ll head up to Charleston, South Carolina for a very full weekend, complete with a Trunk Show (Billy Reid, Charleston), a day at the GOODBusiness Summit, and a One-Day Workshop @ the very cool, 1600 Meeting Street.

We have only a few spaces left for the One-Day Workshop @ 1600 Meeting Street. Grab a friend and come stitch, eat, and laugh with me as we talk about the physics of sewing, the details of hand-sewing, and begin a DIY Alabama Chanin project together.

June 22, 2013
One-Day Workshop @ 1600 Meeting Street

9:00am – 3:30pm

1600 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29405

$475 – Cost includes sewing kit, a beautiful lunch by The Farmbar, stories and laughter.

For more information, contact: olivia (at) alabamachanin.com or call Olivia: +1.256.760.1090 M-F from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CST.

Click here to register.

Read more about next weekend’s events here.

Photograph of Charleston, South Carolina by Olivia Rae James.

Newsletter #5 showcases our newest addition to our collection of workshops: the Studio Week. The first session is scheduled for November 2013. Also, our Father’s Day Gift Guide offers a selection of items specifically for Dad.

Read about Single Lock Records, a local indie record label in our community and browse our Library + Gifts for books on innovative business models from Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Join our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter and keep up with our latest news, new products, and stories featured on our Journal.

Update your mailing subscription to include the newsletter here.
xoNatalie and all of us @ Alabama Chanin

Charleston, South Carolina has its own style of “Southern-ness” that almost can’t be defined. And although it has been years (almost two decades) since I have been there, I definitely recognize Charleston when I see, hear, or smell it. Charlestonians sound like no other group of Southerners: “Chawlstun,” they say with their long middle vowels – a round, musical sound I love.

As a traveler at heart, no matter where I go, my list of things to do and see is always longer than my stay. The Tom Waits song, “Take The Long Way Home,” comes to mind when I visit a new (or “old” new) place. And from afar, Charleston feels like a place where you can (should) get sidetracked, get lost, and then slowly find your way back home. The city is leading the game when it comes to delicious food (think Sean Brock, whose last meal on earth would be a sous vide roast chicken, Mike Latta, or Craig Diehl) and cocktails, like our favorite, Brooks Reitz of Jack Rudy. Our friends (and partners in cotton), Billy Reid, have a store there. All in all, it seems a deliciously sinful place to settle into for a week. I know I will never check off my entire to-do list, but perhaps Maggie and I will make it out to Bowen’s Island and spend an afternoon at the Halsey Museum.

I’m looking forward to talking cotton with Sean Brock, who has discovered what might be the only three Sea Island cotton seeds left on the planet (and has big plans for them). Our plans also include a workshop with Kate Nevin at 1600 Meeting Street and a trunk show at Billy Reid, along with a few other surprises that are unfolding.

Salty air, good conversation, deliciously sinful food (and drink) …

Plan your road trip to join us:

June 20, 2013
GOODBusiness Summit @ Charleston Museum

8:30am – 5:00pm

360 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29403

GOODBusiness is a new workshop series designed to engage entrepreneurs in effective business practices. The GOODBusiness Summit will highlight businesses supporting rural economies, localizing supply systems, building a community of businesses, organizing food co-ops and other innovative models or processes for Lowcountry Businesses to learn from.

Featured speakers include Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin, Paul Saginaw of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, Eric Henry of T.S. Designs and The Company Shops Cooperative, and David Dawson of Urban Electric Co.

Register here.

June 20 – June 21, 2013
Alabama Chanin Trunk Show @ Billy Reid

Thursday + Friday: Noon – 6pm

150 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401

For more information, contact: office (at) alabamachanin.com

or Billy Reid + 843.577.3004.

www.billyreid.com

June 22, 2013
One-Day Workshop @ 1600 Meeting Street

9:00am – 3:30pm

1600 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29405

$475 – Cost includes sewing kit, a beautiful lunch by The Farmbar, stories and laughter.

For more information, contact: olivia (at) alabamachanin.com or call Olivia: +1.256.760.1090 M-F from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm CST.

Click here to register.
xoNatalie

P.S.: Images of Charleston by Olivia Rae James

Newsletter #4 celebrates the launch of our newest Heath Ceramics collaboration: the hand etched Camellia pattern. You will also find a selection of perfect Mother’s Day gifts in our online sale, stories about mom on our Journal, and more exploration into the heart of Real Women.

Read about our week dedicated to Finnish design company Marimekko, a visit (and baseball game) from the Texas Playboys, and Zkano Organic Socks – another Alabama based company that is committed to local production using organic cotton.

Join our mailing list to receive our monthly newsletter and keep up with our latest news, new products, and stories featured on our Journal.

Update your mailing subscription to include the newsletter here.

xoNatalie and all of us @ Alabama Chanin

Mothers come in all shapes and forms. Some we are born to, some welcome us into their lives, some come in the form of heroines worshiped from afar. The dedication in our newest book Alabama Studio Sewing + Design reads, “For Mother, and all the other mothers, grandmothers, sisters, friends, aunts, colleagues, and artisans who have always been there…”

Honestly, I have been “mothered” well by many women in my life. This Mother’s Day, whether you are making something for your mother or shopping for a personal gift, we think we have something for every nurturer.

For the maker, we are offering a variety of DIY Kits, including skirts, corsets, housewares, and accessories. Items featuring our Bloomers pattern – the Gore Skirt, Corset, and Market Bag – are Buy One, Get One Half-Off.

For the Ready-to-Wear woman, we are offering special prices on dresses, accessories, tunics, and more.

For a unique, special experience, gift your mother an Alabama Chanin Workshop – or purchase two for some special time together. Purchase a May One-Day Studio Workshop at regular price and get a second for $295.

Whatever you choose, be sure to make your mother (or that exceptional woman in your life) knows that she is special on Mother’s Day.

Click here to view the entire selection of our Mother’s Day Gifts.

The Alabama Chanin Garage Sale is back. Open at 9 am CST (now), we feature items from our recent sample sale, along with trims, notions, fabrics, DIY Kits, and treasures galore (yes, it’s an online sample sale).

Shop our Alabama Chanin Garage Sale for a select few one-of-a-kind garments and home goods.

Shop our DIY Garage Sale for special-dyed fabrics, notions, DIY Kits, and more.

If you participated in one of our previous garage sales, you know items go very quickly, and our inventory system is not always able to keep up. We have taken precautions and hope everything runs smoothly, but please be patient with us as we fill orders and keep up with the excitement.

THE RULES:

1) Most of our Garage Sale items are one-of-a-kind—meaning, there really is only one—except where indicated. If you buy it first, it’s yours. Just adding an item to your cart doesn’t mean it’s yours, you have to click purchase first.

2) Once you buy it, it’s yours. No returns, exchanges, or buyer’s remorse allowed. (You won’t want to anyway.)

3) Everything is sold as-is. We have done our best to give complete descriptions. If something is less than perfect, we have tried to let you know.  But then, we love less than perfect from time-to-time and are sure that you will love your purchase, too.

4) Be happy. Make good things. Love your neighbor. Share.

5) We’ve been enjoying these Garage Sales and having fun re-discovering what’s hiding in all of our storage boxes. As long as you keep coming back, we’ll keep having them.

Call us if you need our help, just call: +1.256.760.1090
Or email: office (at) alabamachanin.com

The Texas Playboys Baseball Club is a collective of architects, artists, filmmakers, musicians, photographers and entrepreneurs based in Austin, Texas.  Member and long time friend, Jack Sanders and his crew have challenged Alabama Chanin and Billy Reid to one of their infamous baseball games. We welcome them to Florence and our studio, with a series of events – open to the public.

Join us Thursday, April 4^th for an artist talk with the Texas Playboys as part of the Alabama Chanin Visiting Artist Series.

And Saturday, April 6^th, the Alabama Slammers (aka the Billy Reid crew + the Alabama Chanin squad) take on the Texas Playboys in a (friendly) game of backyard baseball.

Free Admission to both events
All are welcome

Thursday, April 4, 2013 Visiting Artist Series
Good conversation + cocktails
7pm – 9pm
Artist Talk @ 7:30
The Factory
462 Lane Drive, Florence, Alabama

Saturday, April 6, 2013 Texas Playboys vs. Alabama Slammers
2 pm – until
Mike D. Lane Field
UNA Campus, Florence, Alabama

Learn more about the Texas Playboys here.

For more information contact: office(at)alabamachanin.com or call +1.256.760.1090

Southern Makers is a one day event that celebrates creativity of all types in Alabama. Our state has a rich artisanal history in textiles, food, farming, literature, art and design. Southern Makers will explore Alabama-based food and design with panel discussions, artist talks, cooking demonstrations and tastings, workshops, and a Market Place Bazaar featuring wares and goods from talented southern artisans and chefs.

Panel discussion with Natalie Chanin and other participants on Transportation and Traditional Industries @ 6pm.

Alabama Chanin Two-Hour Workshop with Natalie + staff @ 2:30 pm.

$155 includes all materials to complete an Alabama Chanin DIY kit for the workshop only.

Register here for the Two-Hour Workshop.

*Event is open to the general public – $10 advance ticket/ $20 at the door. Additional fees for workshops, beer garden, and purchase of craft items.

**All proceeds from the event will benefit EAT South, a non-profit organization, committed to promoting sustainable growth through education, agriculture, and sustainable design.

March 29-31, 2013

17^th Annual Doonanny Festival

Art – Music – Experimental Architecture – Fire

Museum of Wonder
41 Poorhouse Road
Seale, Alabama

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/garden/08doonanny.html

For more information on Doonanny, visit here.

April 4, 2013
Visiting Artist Series: Texas Playboys Baseball Club @ The Factory

7pm-9pm
Artist Talk @ 7:30pm

462 Lane Drive, Florence, AL

The Texas Playboys are a group of artists, architects, photographers, writers, filmmakers and entrepreneurs based in Austin, Texas. Learn more about the players + artists here.

For more information contact office(at)alabamachanin.com or call +1.256.760.1090

April 6, 2013

Texas Playboys vs. Alabama Slammers

2pm

Mike D. Lane Field, UNA Campus

Florence, AL

Free Admission

Come watch the Texas Playboys baseball club take on the Alabama Slammers (Alabama Chanin + Billy Reid)

For more information contact office(at)alabamachanin.com or call +1.256.760.1090

April 18, 2013

Fabric Tasting @ A Verb for Keeping Warm

SOLD OUT

Fabric Tasting Stitch-in with Natalie Chanin

6pm – 8pm

A Verb For Keeping Warm
6328 San Pablo Avenue
Oakland, California 94608

Participants will sit and stitch on small samples of Alabama Chanin 100% organic cotton jersey and practice techniques from bead work to embroidery. Join us to meet Natalie, have your Studio Books signed, and dabble in the Alabama Chanin style of textile embellishment.

April 18-19, 2013

Trunk Show @ Berkely, CA

Alabama Chanin Collection @ RedBird

10am – 6pm

2938 Domingo Avenue
Berkeley, California

For more information, contact: office(at)alabamachanin.com
or RedBird +1.510.644.0294

redbirdberkeley.com

April 20, 2013

One-Day Retreat @ the Edible Schoolyard, Berkley, CA

9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Join us for a day of sewing @ the Edible Schoolyard.

Cost includes sewing kit, a beautiful lunch, stories and laughter.

SOLD OUT

April 26-27, 2013

Trunk Show @ Mario’s Portland

Alabama Chanin Collection @ Mario’s
10am-5pm

833 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97205
For more information, contact: office (at) alabamachanin.com
or Mario’s Portland +1.503.241.8111

www.Marios.com

June 20-21, 2013

Trunk Show @ Charleston, SC

Alabama Chanin Collection @ Billy Reid

150 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
For more information, contact: office (at) alabamachanin.com
or Billy Reid + 843.577.3004

www.billyreid.com

The Alabama Chanin workshop series allows participants to work directly with Natalie Chanin and members of the Alabama Chanin design team. Our guests experience total immersion in the Alabama Chanin philosophy as they learn various stitching techniques, tips and tricks, as well as an explanation of our business model and company history. We offer several projects of varying intensity and length to satisfy all levels of skill and patience.  Conducted in a casual, open forum, the subject matter tends to cover a wide range of topics. We provide materials, know-how, and local cuisine. Everything needed to create your own custom project or DIY Kit is included.

Two-Hour Workshop

$155

This workshop is suited to beginners and experienced sewers alike. Work with Natalie Chanin and our Alabama Chanin team to create one of our DIY Projects. The cost of each workshop includes materials, stories, laughter & fellowship. Workshops are offered both in our studio and on location.

May 4, 2013, 2:30-4:30pm @ Southern Makers, Montgomery, AL

July 12, 2013, 1-3 pm @ The Factory, Florence, AL

Register Here for a Two-Hour Workshop.

One-Day Studio Workshop

$475

Register for our One-Day Studio at Alabama Chanin in Florence, Alabama to work with Natalie and our in-house team for a day-long workshop.

Each guest will create a project from a selection of Alabama Chanin DIY Kits. Suited to beginners and experienced sewers alike, projects range from garments (a corset or swing skirt) to home goods (tea towels or placemats). The cost of our workshops includes all required materials and a catered lunch featuring local fare.

May 10, 2013, 9am – 4pm @ The Factory

September 21, 2013, 9am – 4pm @ The Factory

Register Here for a One-Day Studio Workshop.

One-Day Retreat

$475

Our One-Day Retreats offer the Alabama Chanin experience in a casual, day-long session. Work with Natalie Chanin and our Alabama Chanin team to create one of our DIY Projects. Suited to beginners and experienced sewers alike, our retreats are scheduled at various locations throughout the year, so check our listings below for scheduled dates.

May 31, 2013 @ ZingTrain, Ann Arbor, MI

June 22, 2013 @ 1600 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC

September 14, 2013 @ The Photosensualis Building, Woodstock, NY

Register Here for a One-Day Retreat Workshop.

Studio Weekend

$1,125

This workshop opens our studio doors @ The Factory in Florence, Alabama, and allows participants to work with Natalie, our in-house team, patterns & stencil library. Participants create a garment or project of their choice from The Alabama Stitch Book, Alabama Studio Style, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, or a selection from our archives. We offer a range of options that can be tailored to any skill level. The cost of the workshop includes materials, welcome cocktail on Friday, lunch on Saturday, and Sunday morning brunch.

April 12-14, 2013 @ The Factory, Florence, AL  SOLD OUT

August 2-4, 2013 @ The Factory, Florence, AL

November 8-10, 2013 @ The Factory, Florence, AL

Register Here for a Studio Weekend Workshop.

We’re not quite in the cocktail business (yet), though we seem to be sneaking behind the bar more and more lately. Our collaboration with Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. brought about the Jack Rudy Bar Towel, which we featured early last month along with the Jack Rudy Small Batch Tonic, both available for purchase on our website.

Last week, our friend Brooks Reitz of Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. sent us a beautiful, hand-written thank you note, along with a bottle of their newest creation – Small Batch Grenadine. Handcrafted in Napa Valley, the grenadine arrived just in time for our latest addition: the Alabama Chanin Cocktail Napkin.

Cut from 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey, the napkins come four to a pack, bound with a cotton jersey pull, and measure 10” by 10” square. Each napkin is pre-washed with a rolled edge and the Alabama Chanin logo printed in one corner. Colors shown in the photo are Forest, Baby Blue, White, Sand, Carmine, and Burgundy.

The Jack Rudy Small Batch Grenadine is made with freshly pressed pomegranates grown in California and is crafted with the same attention as the Small Batch Tonic we love. Naturally, when we received the grenadine, with its bright, rich color, subtle sweetness, and slightly tart finish, cocktail ideas began brewing. There’s a classic recipe for a Jack Rose Cocktail printed on the side of the bottle, but we decided in the end to make our version of a Maiden’s Blush.

MAIDEN’S BLUSH

We’ve kept to the basic recipe, but prefer our cocktails over ice, not in a martini glass. This is the South, after all.

2 oz Gin
.75 oz Cointreau
.50 oz. Lemon juice
1 dash Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. Small Batch Grenadine

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice, add all ingredients, shake well and pour into a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon slice, toast, enjoy.

JACK ROSE COCKTAIL (from the label)

Over ice, combine:

1.5 oz. Applejack
.50 oz. Jack Rudy Grenadine
.50 oz. Lime juice

Shake and double strain into a cocktail glass