About Us.htm
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About Us.htm |
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Let me make some introductions...
Creativity restores balance, encourages harmony, mends hearts, expresses love, and frees one for soul-full expression.
Hello, I am Phyllis Meiring, the owner of Blackberry Patchworks Ltd. I believe each life experience gives you the tools necessary for a future experience. Some experiences make sense and stand alone, while others make no sense in that moment. Our experiences seem fragmented and unrelated until we can objectively step back and see a bigger picture....much like a patchwork quilt. In a patchwork quilt, pieces of fabric are fragmented. Some are small and irregular while others scream, "I'm a star!" Put the pieces together and they bloom into their greatest beauty; it's then when they become whole. My life's experiences, education, training, and difficulties have equipped me to be in this place at this time here at Blackberry Patchworks. Where did the name originate? I come from a long line of Appalachian quilters and strong women who did more than just survive. They thrived. They were not rich, capitalistically speaking. They were rich in creativity, resourcefulness, endurance, determination, and love. My grandmother taught me to sew then quilt during one of the summers I spent with she and Papow. I spent several summers with my Mamow & Papow in Zag, Kentucky on their 18 acre farm. Mamow was the best cook! She was a hard-working determined woman who was loved much by Papow. Papow was a gentle very loving man who made me feel very loved and special. He had the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen. One night, Mamow fixed the best spaghetti I'd ever tasted and I ate like a piglet. For dessert, she fixed my favorite: blackberry dumplin's. Nummmm...I said to her as I leaned back in my chair with my stomach swollen, "Oh I wish I hadn't eaten so much supper so I could eat a plateful of dumplings!" I never heard her laugh much but she nearly blew her apron off laughing that evening. I didn't grow up dreaming of becoming a shop owner. I always wanted to be of some help to people so I earned a M.Div from United Theological Seminary and a BA in Communications Studies from Wright State University, both in Dayton, Ohio. I worked in lots of jobs/careers ranging from library page to retail management, seamstress, clergy, DJ, bus driver, to adjunct professor -- just to name a few. When doors closed for me several years ago, I decided to get back in touch with my roots and some remedial skills I had while incorporating all that I've learned thus far. So I decided to open Blackberry Patchworks, Ltd. I wanted to honor my Papow & Mamow for some incredible summers. Thanks Mamow and Papow for the wonderful, loving memories!
This is the farm where I spent some wonder-filled summers. My great-grandfather built it with my Papow, Wendell Crouch. My mother just entrusted me with a primitive cupboard that was given to my Mamow Mae and kept in their little 2-room log cabin. The log cabin is no longer standing but it was home to my great-parents too. (Yep, that's me at 11 -REALLY!-in front of a shed-like building that was built in the place where their old log cabin once was. The cupboard is now in my shop along with a quilt that Mamow made. Thanks Mom; I love you! And thanks to my other mom, Aunt Fern, for being the other mom and for giving me one of Mamow's quilts. I love you too!
Where can you find us? (Exit 82 on I-75, WEST on St. Rt. 36, stay on Ash St., Main St. crosses, turn Rt., we're the 3rd biz on Lt.) N Toledo
Dayton S
Contact InformationBusiness Hours for the Spring 2007 (be sure to check out the class times as we will be open during classes too)
Monday 10:00am - 1:00p.m. Tuesday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 5:30p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Sunday closed except on class Sundays And we open by appointments -- just call -- we can work you in!
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located at: 408 N. Main St. Piqua, Ohio 45356 937.615.0877
Send mail to
webmaster@blackberrypatchworks.com with
questions or comments about this web site. |
