A new fabric store, Gayfeather Fabrics, has opened on Willy Street, and the proprietor, Virginia Lienhard, will be a familiar face to many Tenney-Lapham residents. For fourteen years, from 1984-1998, Virginia was the letter carrier in the area from Brearly to Sidney and Gorham to Sherman Avenue.

Virginia has a life-long interest in fabric and dreamed for many years of opening her own store. Since Material World Co-op closed about five years ago, she feels there has been a real void in the availability of fabric in Madison.

So when the storefront next to Hans Sewing & Vacuum opened up this fall, Virginia decided to make her move. She said the location was perfect, being in the Isthmus on heavily trafficked Williamson Street and being located next to Hans, which provides a perfect complement to the fabrics Gayfeather's carries.

Fabrics for all kinds of sewing will be available, including velvets, silks, rayon, polarfleece, batiks, and cotton. Pattern making software along with many technologically advanced fabrics will also be available. Full-spectrum lighting will be installed in order to give patrons the true color brilliance of the fabric.

Virginia said her store will emphasize personal attention, size, and selection with each fabric being personally selected by her. She hopes the store will attract not only the sophisticated fabric connoisseur but also the novice fabric buyer who needs a little handholding in order to make the correct selection.

Virginia is an award winning fiber artist and has done all kinds of sewing, from costumes to family clothes to wearable art. She is going to be a busy woman as she will be opening her store each day after putting in a full eight hours on her letter carrier route which is located just off the Square.

Gayfeather Fabrics is located at 1521 Williamson Street. Hours are Monday-Friday from 3-8, Saturday from 3-7, and Sunday from 11-6. The phone number is 294-7436.

The store opened in late October with the Grand Opening slated for Sunday, November 14 from 1-4 PM. Everybody is welcome at the Grand Opening; she said she would especially love to see all of her old friends from her days as a letter carrier in the Tenney-Lapham neighborhood.

Mark your calendars!

-Bob Shaw

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