Cuddle Ambassadors

Bobbie Norby
El Cajon, California

Sometimes you get lucky and have a sewing teacher for your mother like Bobbie did. Learning at home, encouraged by Girl Scouts and Home Ec in high school, sewing was an ever-present part of her youth. As a young mother, she sewed for her family, then let it go by the wayside until picking up with quilting in 2010. It’s been non-stop ever since with sewing and quilting for herself and, as always, for her family.

Diane Kemple
Huntington Beach, California

Diane developed a passion for sewing in fourth grade, after taking private lessons and visiting her aunt, who was a historical costume designer. While in school, she concentrated on garment sewing, transitioning to a 15+ year career in the fashion industry. Just over four years ago, Diane’s husband gave her an embroidery machine. Now she spends her days working with Cuddle and Embrace, putting a personal touch on custom blankets, stuffed animals, and accessories for her own small business.

April Woodside
Bradenton, Florida

Helping arrange pattern weights for her mom’s sewing projects kicked off April’s interest in sewing and in the years since she continues to develop her skills with a variety of projects. Bags, purses, quilts, crazy overalls and seemingly-impossible costume requests from her kids—she’ll tackle any of them. She has taught children and adults and is eager to share her hard-earned knowledge and enviable skills with both.

Tammy Campa
Boise, Idaho

Tammy Campa lives in Boise, ID with her husband and their young son. She began sewing in college, where she made some of her own clothes. Later, she discovered quilting, bag making, and machine embroidery. After stumbling upon Shannon Fabrics' Cuddle® fabric when she was looking for a soft quilt backing for her son's quilt, she loved it so much that she has almost exclusively sewn with it ever since! Her specialty is machine embroidery and she loves finding ways to incorporate her own custom embroidery designs into childrens' home decor items and stuffed toys.

Pat Burke
Shorewood, Illinois

Pat’s passion for sewing and quilting has grown since 1990 alongside her fabric stash. Never having found someone who doesn’t love a Cuddle® quilt, she keeps making more, combing cotton patchwork and Cuddle® backings for quilts that never fail to satisfy. A lifelong teacher, Pat continues spreading her love and knowledge of sewing through her volunteer work in the west Chicago area. Pat is an active member of her local quilt guild. She volunteers on the board, schedules speakers, and teach demonstrations at quilt shows.

Lisa Lueck
Zionsville, Indiana

Lisa always enjoyed sewing with her Mom when she was young. That aside, her professional aspirations consisted of being a CPA. She did however leave public accounting after five years to follow her dream of owning a chocolate store. After 22 years of making chocolate, she recently gave it all up to pursue her passion of sewing, quilting, and embroidery. She fell in love with Shannon Fabrics over 10 years ago and began to make all things cuddle for her three kids. She currently lives in Zionsville, IN with her kids and husband and is excited about sharing her passion for Cuddle®.

Reen Wilcoxson
Valparaiso, Indiana

Reen started sewing as a teen. For the past 20 years she has designed and sold her machine embroidery files through her online business, Embroidery Garden. She started sewing with Cuddle fabrics a few years ago and incorporates them in her designs. Several blankets and projects later, her love for Cuddle has grown. She shares her life in northern Indiana with her husband, 2 married sons, 2 grandsons and their 2 miniature dachshunds.

Laura Severson
Story City, Iowa

Laura is from central Iowa and grew up on a farm. While her mom taught her how to sew through 4H as a child, she didn't have the patience or appreciation for it then. Fast forward to when her first son was in need of a halloween costume, she picked sewing back up. A few years down the road, she and her sister started a small business together, Chase + Charlie, making baby blankets and other items. They attended a presentation about cuddle at their local quilt shop and decided to work exclusively with Shannon Fabrics fabric because of the quality. Laura got her first embroidery machine then to personalize items they made and enjoyed learning what else she could do with it. When her sister bowed out of the business, Laura shifted her focus from blankets to stuffed animals and she got a multi-needle embroidery machine. Now she enjoys making in-the hoop stuffed animal patterns, and the stuffies themselves, which she sells online, as well as stitching out other patterns and designs, and doing embroidery for local customers. Laura has shared this love of cuddle with her three boys, and her husband is pretty knowledgeable about the stuff now, too! Her two younger sons have even started making their own pillows and stuffed animals, but only want to use the best fabric mom has ... Luxe Cuddle!

Karen Fuchs
Caldwell, Kansas

Karen hails from the Sunflower State. Her childhood babysitter first taught her to sew at age seven and she began making her own clothes which continued throughout college and into adulthood where she ventured into quilting and machine embroidery. As a retired educator of 30 years, Karen spends her time continuously seeking new sewing techniques and skills, teaching sewing classes, and spending time with her granddaughters.

Ajaire Parello
Laytonsville, Maryland

An avid sewist and crafter for over 30 years and the sole creator at Call Ajaire since 2009, it wasn't until her oldest daughter was born in 2011 that she found an outlet for her creative ideas and the focus of Call Ajaire shifted to sewing and fashion inspiration for young girls. In 2015 she opened a pattern shop called Designs by Call Ajaire (DbCA) with patterns that are designed to help build sewing skills and confidence. Each pattern listing has skill-builders listed so if you're looking to learn something new you are able to choose those options. This along with free patterns and tutorials on the Call Ajaire blog continue to feed her passion for helping others elevate their sewing.

Linda White
Lapeer, Michigan

Linda has been sewing by machine since she was twelve. Linda developed and taught classes both at her store and for a sewing machine company. Linda has been stitching with Shannon Cuddle® for a few years and enjoys the quality, as well as the many prints and styles of Shannon including Embrace Gauze. Linda has also written patterns for Shannon.

Honey Theisen
Kelliher, Minnesota

Honey has been crafting nearly her entire life, learning to crochet from her great grandmother when was only five years old. She eventually learned to sew and when her first daughter was born, she began sewing in earnest. She’s since passed on her love of sewing to her two daughters and they often spend the weekends together sewing.

Naomi Stewart
Bozeman, Montana

Naomi Stewart is an avid quilter from Bozeman, Montana. She started sewing in 4-H at age 9 and never stopped, constantly trying new techniques. She enjoys both quick and lengthy projects, from easy infinity scarves to stuffed animals to full-size quilts. Naomi’s favorite projects are scarves, stuffed animals and quilts.

Lisa Knight
Las Vegas , Nevada

Lisa started sewing at age six, or, as she puts it, “a long, long time.” Over the course of those years, she fell in love with the endless creative possibilities sewing provides. What Lisa loves about sewing is the ability to take a flat item and through manipulating it you can turn it into so many different things – from clothing and home décor that adds your own personality to your home, to useful utilitarian items and toys, you are only limited by your imagination.” When it comes to teaching, Lisa said she loves interacting with her students and seeing their reactions. The best part of teaching is when you see the student get it,” she said. “Their eyes light up and they get excited about what you just shared. She also adds that teaching is a two-way street, where she learns from her students in turn. It’s a lesson she’s retained throughout her career and it’s helped her keep a fresh approach to teaching. She believes that the most important thing is that there is not just one correct way of doing things. Be open and humble to listen to your students – they all bring amazing perspective to the table if you listen.

Linda Lingner
Bohemia, New York

Linda has over 30 years retail sewing experience. Linda’s goal is for each student to be successful, and she draws on her years of teaching experience to make sure there are no mistakes, only creative opportunities in class. Linda began sewing clothing in high school, and found her way to quilting soon after. Now an avid machine embroiderer, Linda loves using Cuddle® and Luxe Cuddle® in machine appliqué for its wonderful texture, softness and ease of use.

Denise Davenport
Woodriver Junction, Rhode Island

Denise’s sewing journey began at age 9 and continued through adolescence while working in her family’s custom drapery business. Creating with different fabrics and machines fueled her fascination with blending stitches, colors, and textures. While navigating a demanding corporate career, she found peace through creating blankets, clothing, and costumes for her children and eventually turned her crafting hobby into a small business. Learning and teaching are integral aspects of her sewing journey. Denise believes that shared knowledge is the cornerstone of empowerment and continual growth.

Emilee Masson
Spearfish, South Dakota

Emilee is a lifelong crafter and fabric lover. Quilting and sewing were the perfect fit and quickly became she artistic outlet of choice. Sharing new techniques and helping people be comfortable with different fabrics and construction methods are her passion as a teacher. Emilee is also a Shannon Fabrics Sales rep for North and South Dakota.

Patricia McCartney
McKenzie, Tennessee

A former quilt shop owner for 18 years with more than 25 years of quilting experience, Patricia has been a cuddle ambassador for over 5 years, a certified instructor with Studio 180 and formally trained in quilt restoration. Patricia’s favorite thing about quilting/sewing is teaching others. Over the past 10 years, she has made 4 trips to teach quilting in Greece, Hungry, Bosnia, Romania and Ukraine. For fun Patricia and her husband are Santa and Mrs. Claus which is why she calls her business, "Quilting with Mrs. Claus".

Sheila Ryan
San Antonio, Texas

Coming from a legacy of talented seamstresses, Sheila Ryan has been stitching almost her entire life. She creates digital embroidery designs and teaches machine embroidery and sewing lessons online and in her local community. Sheila is the owner of Designs by Babymoon where she continues to harness embroidery machines and computer software to bring you beautiful and useful designs that bring you joy! Sewing is an integral part of her life and color, texture and excellent design are just a few of the things that make her really happy and inspire her work.

Ryn Baxter
Salt Lake City, Utah

Ryn began sewing at 12 years old and hasn’t be able to stop since! She love the entire process of sewing, from designing to actual production. She’s happy to sew quilts, home decor or apparel, though she truly specializes in creating custom pillows. Teach has long been her passing, especially sharing the love of Cuddle® applique and cotton to bring quilts to life.

Susan Hastings
Bountiful, Utah

At age 4 Susan was fascinated with her Aunt’s antique sewing machine and watching as the “Treadle” made all the parts move in unison. At age 7, with careful supervision, her mother instilled a love of creating beautiful things with her own hands. She continued developing her sewing skills through 4-H and high school programs. Now, she especially enjoys longarm quilting with Shannon Fabrics Cuddle® Fabric and watching as each unique pattern comes to life for each work of art.

Teresa Coates
St. George, Utah

Teresa Coates is a nationally known sewing educator, accomplished quilt maker, travel writer, pattern designer and relentless adventurer. She designs her own line of patterns at Crinkle Dreams, including patterns for beginners and more experienced sewists. As the national educator for Shannon Fabrics, Teresa created “Sew Together Tuesday™” in 2020.  Teresa has been educating and fostering a movement of accessible sewing since 2010. She has inspired her audience to fall in love with sewing at nearly 100 local quilt shops in 42 states since 2016—the LQS is her favorite place to be. 

Dawn Chace
Yorktown, Virginia

Dawn began her sewing career over 50 years ago under the mentorship of her grandmother who was a home economics teacher. She started out making doll clothing then graduated up to sewing her own debutante ball gown when she was 16. Over the years, she loved to make home décor, personalized clothing, and accessories. In 2007, she was introduced to machine embroidery. She was instantly hooked (or should we say 'hooped'?). Shortly thereafter, she started digitizing her own designs and now sells them on her website, Creative Appliques. She loves to teach both in person and virtually through her YouTube channel. Cuddle is one of her favorite fabrics to work with and she is excited to share her passion for Cuddle and sewing by being a Cuddle® ambassador for Shannon Fabrics. Dawn is a pattern designer, author, independent educator, product developer and designer.

Mary Stevens
Graham, Washington

Mary has been involved in the crafting world since the age of 12, but didn't begin sewing until her late 30's when a lifelong fascination with quilting was fostered by a very talented and patient neighbor. With a basket of scrap strips and a log cabin pattern, her first quilt was created. Mary’s addiction for fabric and patterns began! Her love of Cuddle® started with a baby quilt and a daughter that wanted "wubbie" for backing. From there, the discovery of a local pattern designer of receiving blankets with appliqués and matching stuffed animals all created with Cuddle® sealed her fate.

Jackie Hillman
Greenfield, Wisconsin

Her experience in sewing and home décor gives Jackie an advantage when sewing with many of our fabrics. Willing to step outside the box, she can pattern-hack to perfection, creating new looks in apparel and bags. She regularly sews and embroiders on her Brother sewing/embroidery machine and is equally comfortable with sergers. Jackie’s drive to make sure customers and students are happy, satisfied and inspired and is eager to bring that to Shannon Fabrics educational workshops and demos.

Leann Moses
Ten Sleep, Wyoming

Leann divides her time between her home in town and at her backcountry lodge, both of which have their own sewing spaces. Though she began by sewing apparel, including prom dresses and costumes, she found her way into sewing with Cuddle® and developing her own blanket business, Mountain Minky. Her passion for creating Cuddle blankets is a driving force for her education both online and in-person workshops.