While the Cat is Away...

Well, you know the rest. Yesterday I was down in Concord NH, visiting my favorite quilt shop while my husband is out West, skiing and visiting friends. Peggy Anne's has a wonderful selection of the fabrics I love, and she was running an end of the bolt sale! You just had to purchase at least 5 yards, and it was 40% off! A total steal. So anyway, I got me some LOVE! Oh, it wasn't part of the sale of course, but I couldn't help myself.



Are you jealous? You should be...





HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! Thanks for reading, commenting, and inspiring my creativity!

~Melissa
At home in New Hampshire

Quilt Market, Houston '09, Part 2

Without further ado...



Next up was Amy Butler herself, who is even more beautiful in person. And so nice too. I felt a bit conspicuous, because I happened to be wearing one of my gored skirts made from her nigella line. I think at least 20 people stopped me to ask what pattern I’d used. Too funny. Anyway, it was great to see her new line in person, because the photos don’t do it justice. I’m loving the navy blue and (you guessed it) lilac color palette. I am anxious to get some home dec weight too. Her booth was very inspiring and gorgeous as is inevitable.





I also stumbled on Michelle from Cloud9 Fabrics. I had seen this fabric on several coops, but didn’t end up purchasing any at the time. The only reason being I already have gobs of fabric, and I have to cut myself off at a certain point. But I gotta tell you that I am regretting that decision. It’s SO soft and lovely. It’s certified organic, and is manufactured to GOTS standards, so no nasty chemicals or heavy metals. The yellow polka dot was my very favorite, so I may have to splurge on this in the future.





Finally, Sandi Henderson’s Meadowsweet, and Heather Bailey’s Nicey Jane. I was really glad to have the chance to see these up close. I am really psyched that Sandi decided to carry the henna garden print through to this collection, because it has so much potential as a great coordinate. My favorite was the melon colorway, but I love the others as well. Heather’s new line is so soft and sweet, and has her signature large scale florals, along with some great retro prints. It should be a lot of fun to work with.



The Market was also a great chance for me to touch base with the button distributors. I have had quite a bit of angst regarding the CPSIA, and am totally relieved that both Dill Buttons and JHB have decided to test, and have all the necessary paperwork on hand. I realize the law is not written with component testing in mind, but I at least feel that I will be covered and that cooler heads will eventually prevail in Congress. This has been a major worry for me, and I feel that it is finally resolved (somewhat).

So, I apologize for the length of this post, but if you’ve ever been to the Quilt Market, you will realize immediately that I really have only described the highlights, and there was so much more there to see. I haven’t even mentioned trims and ribbons, which really deserves a post unto itself. So, if you ever get the chance to go, don’t hesitate. Go be inspired, and do not miss the special exhibitions at the far end of the hall where they show museum quality quilts and fiber arts.

From Atlanta,
~Melissa

Quilt Market '09, Houston, Part 1

I hesitated to say anything because there was a bit of uncertainty about me actually making it down to Quilt Market in Houston this past weekend, but indeed I went. Wow. My head is still spinning. Honestly, even though I was dead tired I didn’t really sleep all that well with all the ideas flashing through my mind. So, for all of you here is the low down on what I saw. I’m going to break this up into two posts, because there is way too much information for just one!

First off, I just have to say that this was my first Market, so I didn’t really know what to expect at all. I knew a lot of the designers would be there, which was my main reason for going. Most fabric people are tactile, and I am no exception. I know in my head that it’s quilting cotton, but somehow just feeling the fabric gives you another level of inspiration that is irreplaceable.



That being said I have to start off with Anna Maria Horner. My hero. Not only is she a delight, but she is so utterly talented. And busy! She happened to have baby Roman there when I stopped in, and what a little cutie. Her new line is printed on cotton voile (rhymes with toile), and to be honest before feeling it in person, I was a little worried. How would it be to work with thinner fabric? Would it be a challenge to sew? Body? Drape? I’m here to tell you that this stuff is gorgeous. Gorgeous. And soft, too. The prints are darling, and she is incorporating the most fabulous shade of sophisticated lilac. Did I mention soft?



They are producing solid colors as well to coordinate with all the prints, and also a bit of texture with dobby. The absolute must have on my list is the dobby stripe in lilac. It’s amazing, and I am imagining all sorts of ways to use it.



Talk about soft, the flannel collection is to die for. I’m glad the P. is as old as she is, but while looking at this fabric, I yearned for her to be a baby again. It would be absolutely perfect for a baby blanket, and pajamas, etc. Come to think of it, I’ll be ordering a little bit for P.J.’s for her. I think some lounge pants out of this would be fabulous too. Hmmm, maybe I might need more than I thought!



So, here is what totally blew me away. When I introduced myself to Anna Maria, she described my daughter to a tee! I love to post my creations on her flickr groups for each fabric collection, and as it turns out she remembered me! What a thrill. Honestly, I felt a bit dorky, being star struck and all, but who cares, right? I’m allowed to be a bit dorky at quilt market. And her assistant Ally is just a gem and was so helpful. I am so envious that she gets to work in that studio all day.



My next stop was to Kokka fabrics from Japan. Etsuko Furuya’s new fabrics for the echino line are just utterly fabulous. I was going to wait to order, but just couldn’t. And guess what? There is purple in my future!! I have had so many of my customers request lilacs and purples, and there just has not been that much out there. So I am completely thrilled that the designers have finally delved into this wonderful color palette.





And I even got to meet and chat with Ms. Furuya herself. Decked out in a fabulous bright purple tunic, she was very, very sweet. I tried out my rusty Japanese, and felt even more dorky than when meeting with Anna Maria. I should have postponed my meeting with her because as the day went on, I was able to chat more and more in Japanese with the Lecien and Kokka reps, and would have been a lot less intimidated if I had had some practice first. At any rate she was incredibly gracious, and I can’t wait to get my hot little hands on those bolts.

So, I'm going to tantalize you and hang on to Amy Butler and all the rest in part 2, but I promise not to keep you all waiting for too long.

From Minneapolis/St. Paul, where it is snowing. For real.
~Melissa

The day of the twirl skirt...

Actually, more like two days of twirl skirts.

I have a cold. A really bad one. The kind where you think your head might explode from the pressure, you are coughing up a lung, and you can't breathe. Just in time for a rainy 4th of July...





But I had sewing days, and you know how it is. These days aren't often enough, and I wanted to take advantage. I was planning on some pattern work this week, but I just couldn't do it. My brain was like that commercial where the woman's head is sort of floating above her body. I am not actually taking anything other than a little ibuprofen at night, but I still feel disjointed.



I am totally inspired by Heather Bailey's blog, and saw an adorable twirl skirt using her fabrics. I really wanted to try this out because the cutting portion is just a series of rectangles and a little bias. Simple. But totally beautiful. So, I made a LOT of them. And I am getting an idea for displaying at markets in my sinus congested head. The only question is whether to just applique a t-shirt to coordinate or make the top myself. What would you do?



So, my daughter is bewitched...






And what little girl wouldn't be?

Oodles of Fabric Goodness

Dateline Los Angeles-

I’ll answer your question right now…no famous people on my flight today. I swear though there was one guy that looked a whole lot like “Benny” from L.A. Law, but I don’t think it was him. The hair was all wrong.

But what I really want to write about is FABRIC! What else? I get very excited when I receive an especially large shipment, even if I’ve already seen the fabric in person. But this was even more fun than that because I ordered some things I hadn’t yet seen with my own eyes. I know we’ve all had the experience of ordering online, only to be completely disappointed with the colors when the yardage shows up on our doorstop. Gladly, this was not to be.



I am trying to put together my line for the fall, and it isn’t coming as easy as the Spring/Summer collection. I think it’s because summer has barely started, and I’m trying to use more somber colors and richer jewel tones. Ordinarily I have no problems with color saturation, but the fabrics that I’m dying to use are not exactly ‘kid fare’.





Two of the fabrics I am working with are from Kaffe Fassett. I seriously have a weak spot for his fabrics, but they are a little tricky sometimes. The two I’m talking about are the bubble bloom colorways of dusk and teal. I am deeply in love, and yet I have “designer’s block.” I think if I just sit with them for awhile, and ponder the possibilities, something fabulous will come…



Meanwhile, Etsuko Furuya’s new fabrics are on their way, and you may have already seen my preview on flickr. I decided to do a reversible asymmetric with her fabrics, coupled with some new Alexander Henry on the reverse. I love the heavier weight of Etsuko’s fabrics for the fall. Just throw on a turtleneck and some leggings, and you’re set.



Finally, I am completely inspired by the brown and gold polka dot from Anna Maria Horner. It’s not new, but it’s new to me, and I am smitten. I’m thinking it’s going to be a great accent for some new designs I have percolating in my brain.

Being the tactile/sight driven person that I am, I have to see a fabric first before I know what I want to do with it. There are so many possibilities (and so little time!), but having these in hand is making it much easier to figure out what to do with them. Happy designing!

~Melissa

Fabric Inspiration

I wish I had had enough time to put together the combinations I have planned in my mind with these fabrics. But let's just say it's been a heck of a week.



I got home from my trip at 2am Tuesday. My daughter decided it was a good idea to wake up at 6:45am, something she never does. I tried to shake out the cobwebs all morning, but neglected to remember that I had brought my sewing machine down to be tuned up the previous Thursday. I didn't even venture into my studio for fear of screwing something up. So we decided to spend the day outside, doing a little physical labor stacking wood. I was ready for a day of sewing on Wednesday.

I went to my studio first thing in the morning to discover that indeed my sewing machine didn't sprout wings and it was a good 40 minute drive to go pick it up. It was still early and I decided I could still salvage a bit of sewing time if I scooted down and back. Yes, you guessed it, it wasn't meant to be. A flat rear tire greeted me at my car! After changing the tire, going to the mechanic, receiving the bad news that it couldn't be saved and I would need 4 new tires (!), I decided to stay at home until I had to pick up my child at pre-school and cut, cut, cut. At least I have 5 dresses cut out and waiting for me when I get home again.

After picking it up Wednesday afternoon, I sat down to get busy early Thursday morning. And IT DIDN'T WORK! It's a conspiracy. So, back down to the repairman. Share your sewing machine tales of woe, it will make me feel a lot better...





So these are the fabrics I picked up last week at G Street. The silk chiffon is going to become a skirt for me! And the green bird fabric from Etsuko Furuya is a total favorite. I picked it up in Portland on the same trip. You should have seen me schlepping about 10 yards of fabric around for 3 days! It wasn't pretty. The orange nubby cotton is very sheer and will be used for accents. The pink herringbone is heavier, and will most likely become a yoke, and the purple cotton/poly blend will be the basis for some fun skirts.

That's right, I'm already thinking about fabrics for fall! It's really hard when the warm weather is just around the corner, but if I don't plan now, I'll be scrambling in July. When I decide on combos, I'll give you all a sneak peek.

The other thing I've been thinking about lately is the CPSIA labeling requirements that will become effective in August. So, more about that soon. Happy Sewing!!