Rachel Bates
What do you make?
I make quilts, embroidered linens and crewel embroidery. I also crochet and knit a variety of items.
What do you like to sew?
I love to sew quilts and bags. They provide a lot of variety for my home and my wardrobe.
What do you do when you’re not at Bib & Tucker?
I have been a stay-at-home-mom over twenty years but this year my youngest graduated high school. This means my life is in transition but I will always include reading books, sewing, needlework, and pets. I have two cats and a dog. I would like to explore new things like art quilting, making cloth dolls, weaving, and playing music. Also, my husband and two sons will continue to be a big part of life.
What does Bib & Tucker mean to you?
Bib & Tucker means community and creative opportunity for ladies in Birmingham. I am new to living in the city limits but am loving the involvement that Bib & Tucker has sparked in my life and in the art and craft community at large. It also means sharing. Each one can share a skill, a story, or an idea that keeps us all growing.
Who inspired you to start sewing? When did you start?
I was encouraged by many friends to learn to quilt and also given materials to work with. I started sewing in 2006 when I finally joined a quilt guild. I was focused on traditional quilting at first but have learned more and hope to branch out into new techniques.
Where are you from?
I am originally from the East Coast. I lived in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Then from Michigan where I lived on the east and west coasts of the state. Since coming to Alabama in ’96 I have lived in Altadena, Center Point, North Shelby, Moody and now Inglenook. I usually say I am from “all over”.
What is your favorite thing about Woodlawn?
I like Woodlawn’s historical aspect as well as the new art community that is growing there. I don’t know as much about it as other members.
What is your favorite color? Why?
Well, I have two favorite colors because of a childhood experience. I liked lavender a lot as a young child and my sister liked pink. My grandmother was a great needlecrafter but always made everything for me in a purple color and my sister in pink. I was very jealous of the pink color and couldn’t wait to be old enough to have pink things away from home. So now I like both and use them in many ways.
What school did you go to? What was your favorite subject or who was your favorite teacher?
In high school, I attended Allen Park High School in the suburb of Detroit of the same name. My favorite things were Music and Science. I played in the band both marching and concert. In college, I attended Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God and although I was majoring in Elementary Education, my favorite subject was Chris Bates. Since I married him it paid off.
What is a story (try to be nice) that you can tell about another member?
I could tell a story about half of our members so it is hard to choose. One that includes a lot of us happened in the first year of Bib & Tucker. I had a rather tentative connection at first due to some quilting I had been teaching elsewhere and I ended up going to our first show with my husband instead of the group. When I got there I did get to connect with the B & T members and see the quilts they had submitted. To my delight, they asked my husband and I to join them for a lunch planned in someone’s home and we began to talk and get to know each other more. I was thrilled to be included and it cemented my friendships at B & T. As new members come in I don’t always keep up with names but I love just being in the midst of all the creative members every week.
What is something you want to tell the other members about yourself, our community?
I have big dreams and a soft heart and love to create with all of you.
What do you make?
I make quilts, embroidered linens and crewel embroidery. I also crochet and knit a variety of items.
What do you like to sew?
I love to sew quilts and bags. They provide a lot of variety for my home and my wardrobe.
What do you do when you’re not at Bib & Tucker?
I have been a stay-at-home-mom over twenty years but this year my youngest graduated high school. This means my life is in transition but I will always include reading books, sewing, needlework, and pets. I have two cats and a dog. I would like to explore new things like art quilting, making cloth dolls, weaving, and playing music. Also, my husband and two sons will continue to be a big part of life.
What does Bib & Tucker mean to you?
Bib & Tucker means community and creative opportunity for ladies in Birmingham. I am new to living in the city limits but am loving the involvement that Bib & Tucker has sparked in my life and in the art and craft community at large. It also means sharing. Each one can share a skill, a story, or an idea that keeps us all growing.
Who inspired you to start sewing? When did you start?
I was encouraged by many friends to learn to quilt and also given materials to work with. I started sewing in 2006 when I finally joined a quilt guild. I was focused on traditional quilting at first but have learned more and hope to branch out into new techniques.
Where are you from?
I am originally from the East Coast. I lived in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Then from Michigan where I lived on the east and west coasts of the state. Since coming to Alabama in ’96 I have lived in Altadena, Center Point, North Shelby, Moody and now Inglenook. I usually say I am from “all over”.
What is your favorite thing about Woodlawn?
I like Woodlawn’s historical aspect as well as the new art community that is growing there. I don’t know as much about it as other members.
What is your favorite color? Why?
Well, I have two favorite colors because of a childhood experience. I liked lavender a lot as a young child and my sister liked pink. My grandmother was a great needlecrafter but always made everything for me in a purple color and my sister in pink. I was very jealous of the pink color and couldn’t wait to be old enough to have pink things away from home. So now I like both and use them in many ways.
What school did you go to? What was your favorite subject or who was your favorite teacher?
In high school, I attended Allen Park High School in the suburb of Detroit of the same name. My favorite things were Music and Science. I played in the band both marching and concert. In college, I attended Southeastern University of the Assemblies of God and although I was majoring in Elementary Education, my favorite subject was Chris Bates. Since I married him it paid off.
What is a story (try to be nice) that you can tell about another member?
I could tell a story about half of our members so it is hard to choose. One that includes a lot of us happened in the first year of Bib & Tucker. I had a rather tentative connection at first due to some quilting I had been teaching elsewhere and I ended up going to our first show with my husband instead of the group. When I got there I did get to connect with the B & T members and see the quilts they had submitted. To my delight, they asked my husband and I to join them for a lunch planned in someone’s home and we began to talk and get to know each other more. I was thrilled to be included and it cemented my friendships at B & T. As new members come in I don’t always keep up with names but I love just being in the midst of all the creative members every week.
What is something you want to tell the other members about yourself, our community?
I have big dreams and a soft heart and love to create with all of you.
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