Sewin’ and Towin’
Hi! I’m Nancy Marshall, sewist extraordinaire and avid glamper. Through my business Hermiefeyanna, I created one-of-a-kind upcycled and custom clothing for women, and I still hand-dye fabric for garments. Nowadays, I teach sewing at The Hill Institute in Florence, Mass., and am very active in my Congregational church in Ashfield, Mass.
In my spare time, I do all kinds of embroidery, love to read, hike and kayak, and do my best to spoil Moe (my dog) and cat Inky. I also enjoy traveling with my Tab 320 camper, affectionately called ”The Teapot.”
My partner, Russ Loomis, is a ultra-distance bicyclist. In 2022, at the age of 70, he decided it was time to ride his bicycle across the United States and back, so the two of us set out in late March of 2022 on a cross-country tour, he on his trusty Seven Evergreen and me and our (then two) dogs in the camper. You can follow that trip and others on my blog, or compare his experiences at russloomis.com.
When Russ started seriously considering a cross-country bicycling tour, I knew I wasn’t going to be left at home, but I also knew that I would not be going on a bicycle, or sleeping on the ground. That’s just not my style. So off I went in search of a camper that would provide a modicum of comfort (if I was going to live in something for six months, it HAD to have a bathroom!), but was small enough to be towed by my Subaru Outback.
Finding the perfect camper wasn’t easy, as Covid had caused a huge demand for campers and RVs of all sizes. New campers were being bought before they even reached the dealers. Then I got lucky—I found a used T@b 320, equipped with a shower and toilet, at a dealer in CT. I drove to the dealer that very day, and it was love at first sight. Only three years old, it was absolutely pristine inside and out. An awning and a winter cover were included, and the dealer installed my hitch, seven way electrical connection, and electric camper brakes for free! Two weeks later, I was the proud, if somewhat nervous, owner of a teardrop camper.
