When Rhonda Jordan sits at her sewing machine or picks up her hand embroidery, she wants to create something a little funky and hip. And the 37-year-old wants other young crafters to be able to do the same.

So, Jordan is opening Tabby Fabric and Studio in downtown Beaufort to make supplies and modern patterns and cloth readily available. She also hopes the shop at 910 Port Republic St. becomes a place where people can work on projects, compare notes and exchange ideas. The store will open March 17.

"I just got tired of ordering everything online, got tired of people my age not having a community," she said.

Jordan said traditional quilting groups are fine, but most have older members and she wants younger residents to have another option.

Most of the fabric she is ordering is organic, and she's stocking designers like Jay McCarroll, of Project Runway fame.

The studio will have space for people to bring in their sewing machines or they can rent one of Jordan's by the hour.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Jordan also plans to hold "sip and sew" evenings every other Friday, during which people can drop in, share a coffee or glass of wine, and hand stitch.

Information: 843-379-5700, www.facebook.com/tabbyfabricandstudio.

In other news about town:

Bruster's Ice Cream recently received a vending-cart permit for the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort and started selling ice cream and treats Thursday. Bruster's has been at 304 Robert Smalls Parkway for 14 years, and owner Sam Haapala bought it about two and a half years ago. When he heard the vending cart license for "Dogs on Wheels" was revoked for not paying fees in February, he applied for the spot.

The cart and its handmade ice cream will be near the band pavilion, Haapala said. Days and hours are to be determined, but he hoped to have a schedule set by Memorial Day. For now, he will post vending cart hours on the business' Facebook page, Bruster's Ice Cream of Beaufort.

"I worked it yesterday, and my office had a pretty nice view," Haapala said.

Information: 843-982-6277, www.brusters.com.

Follow reporter Erin Moody at twitter.com/EyeonBeaufort.

Related content

1. Tabby Fabric and Studio
2. Bruster's Ice Cream of Beaufort