With spring quickly approaching, we are getting ready for our annual Community Picnic. The first picnic was held in 2002, in the back yard of our first production office and studio at Lovelace Crossroads—a brick ranch-style house located just north of Florence, Alabama. In the early 2000s, Alabama Chanin joined with Billy Reid and Robert Rausch of GAS Studio to create Alabama Adventure Weekend and welcomed all our friends from near and far. And three years ago, shortly after The Factory opened to the public, we reinstated our picnic alongside a sampling of workshops and tours of our studio space.
This year, we will again host our community, families, and friends for specialty workshops, Factory tours, a potluck-style barbeque lunch, and an Alabama Chanin history lesson. We’ll have outside activities and a craft table set up all day Saturday—and wine and local beer will be available for purchase. Our friends from Bluewater Creek Farm will also be selling plants from 10am – 3pm.
Beginning on Friday, March 31st and lasting through our First Monday sewing meetup, we invite you to join us for an event-filled weekend of making, fellowship, and great food.
Download our Community Guide and plan your trip to Florence to join us.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, March 31st
10:00 – Doors Open
10:00 – 11:00 – Custom DIY Design Workshop – Cost: $50
Work alongside our team from The School of Making to explore options available through our Custom DIY program. Each guest will receive Design Worksheets and step-by-step instruction for designing your own custom garment. You will also receive your choice of 10 sets of 4” x 4” organic cotton jersey fabric swatches for design inspiration and The School of Making erasable pen. Register here.
11:00 – 2:00 – Lunch at The Factory Café
1:00 – 6:30 – The School of Making Custom DIY Event
Enjoy complimentary small bites and beverages as you work with our experienced team from The School of Making. Explore all that we have to offer as a part of our Custom DIY program, try on our available DIY styles, and work with our team to design Custom DIY garments and projects. For the first time, we will be offering 20% off Custom DIY Kits, as well as 20% off kits from our DIY Collection, fabric, sewing notions, and stencils. We are extending our hours for this Friday only event and ask that you please RSVP to workshops (at) alabamachanin.com if you prefer to schedule an appointment. As always, walk-ins are welcome.
2:00 – 2:30 – Guided Studio Tour – Free
Saturday, April 1st
10:00 – Doors Open
10:30 – 11:30 – One–Hour Cooking Workshop: The Incredible Edible Egg – Cost: $50
Join chef Zach as he teaches the basics of egg preparation, reveals where to buy the best local eggs, and tells the story of the chef’s hat. Price includes instruction, an Alabama Chanin notebook and pencil, and an egg timer. Register here.
10:00 – 12:00 – Stenciling Booth – Cost: $5
Bring your own t-shirt (or any garment) and choose from a selection of Alabama Chanin stencils and custom paint colors. Blank t-shirts will be available for purchase.
11:30 – 12:00 – Guided Studio Tour – Free
12:00 – 1:00 – Artisan Recognition followed by our Potluck–Style Picnic Lunch
We will provide house made Carolina-style barbeque and all of the fixins’. Bring a covered dish or dessert and share your family’s favorites.
1:00 – 2:00 – One–Hour Lecture: The History of Alabama Chanin – Free
2:00 – 2:30 – Guided Studio Tour – Free
2:00 – 3:00 – One–Hour Stenciling Workshop – Cost: $65
Taught by members of the Alabama Chanin and The School of Making production team, this stenciling workshop teaches the basics of stenciling. You will practice the airbrush stenciling method (the same that we use here at The Factory), and stencil your own 10” x 16” Sample Block. Price includes instruction, Sample Block, placement Bloomers stencil on Mylar, and pennant felt. Register here.
Visit here to register for one or more of our Mini-Workshops.
The following activities will take place outside all day (weather permitting): corn hole, sidewalk chalk, and crafts table for children and adults.
Sunday, April 2nd
Use our Community Guide to explore the Shoals area that is rich in history and culture.
Monday, April 3rd
8:30am – 11:30am – First Mondays Sewing Group
Spend your morning working on your latest project in the company of fellow sewers. Share inspiration, encouragement, and fellowship. Coffee, tea, and lunch will be available for purchase from The Factory Café. Please bring your own fabric and sewing notions.
11:00 – 2:00pm – Lunch at The Factory Café
2:00 – 2:30 – Guided Studio Tour – Free
Please also note that our workshops are first come, first served. We will sell tickets the day of the events, but our workshops fill up fast, so we encourage you to sign-up in advance.
Community is at the core of Alabama Chanin’s values, and we welcome the opportunity to invite you all again to The Factory.
FIND US
The Factory
462 Lane Drive
Florence, Alabama 35630
Directions here.
CONTACT US
+1.256.760.1090 or email office (at) alabamachanin.com
Email workshops (at) alabamachanin.com for information regarding workshops.
P.S.: Look for more special products and program announcements as we get closer to the picnic weekend.