Sew It Seams

Guest artist Janet Broxon

Janet Broxon has designed quite a few luscious fabric collections for P&B.  Her current collection, Gypsy Wind, features rich colors, textures and swirling artwork.  We asked Janet how she gets her ideas and a few other questions as well.

WHERE DOES YOUR INSPIRATION COME FROM?
I think inspiration always comes from a little bit of everywhere and everything. All the nature I’m surrounded by in Maine, shopping, art festivals, museums, traveling, research, all contribute.



DO YOU HAVE AN ARTIST WHO INSPIRES YOU?
There is probably a little bit of influence in Gypsy Wind from one of my favorite artists, Paul Klee, but also Folk Art from around the world: Indian, Aboriginal, Mexican, African, etc.

HOW DO  YOU GET STARTED DESIGNING A FABRIC COLLECTION?
Most of my collections have begun with a piece of my art or illustration that I’ve already completed, with lots of patterning within, from which I create a main print. Working with a designer from P&B, we then pull out a lot of coordinates or come up with new ones that will complement.


YOUR COLLECTIONS SOMETIMES HAVE A TROPICAL FEEL.  WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM VACATION?
Given that it is winter now in Maine, I usually crave some place very warm, possibly tropical with beautiful beaches and known for a vibrant colorful culture with great food. That could be a lot of places I guess. I wouldn’t be terribly picky.

CURRENT FAVORITE BOOK OR MOVIE?
In this category there are so many favorites. I’m currently on “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest,” the third book of the trilogy by Stieg Larsson . These books contain a bit of everything: murder mystery, love story, family saga and corporate and government corruption.

CURRENT ART/CRAFT PROJECT?
I’m getting more interested in mixed media collage. I like to create art using a wide variety of materials including bits of fabric from my collections. I also recently acquired a sewing machine, so I am anxious to get creating some fun but more basic sewing projects like pillows, bags, wall hangings and scarves.

FAVORITE FOOD?
I love all kinds of food but my favorite is probably Mediterranean style, pastas, paellas, feta cheeses and olives etc.
Now there’s a topic for the next fabric collection!
 

Adeline by Nancy Mahoney

 
Nancy Mahoney knows vintage fabrics.  She has been collecting them for years and her stash…..

Nancy’s latest collection with us is called “Adeline” and, as with all her 30s groups, the original swatches come from her own private stash.  She has been building this stash for years.  This is just a small part of it, along with some of her vintage toy sewing machines.

 

“Most of the vintage quilts in my collection were not prizewinners, but ordinary quilts, meant to be used, and their creators largely unknown. About half of the quilts are from 1850-1910, with lots of favorite old blocks including stars, Double-T, and Ocean Waves. The rest of my vintage stash is from the 1930s and 40s, which includes feedsacks,  vintage scraps, quilts and tops, and lots of blocks, including Fans, Double Wedding Ring, Sunbonnet Sue, and Grandmothers Flower Garden. I also have several "trash" quilt tops, probably meant to be utility quilts, made from large pieces of fabric and sewn together in a crazy-patch fashion. I love them because the large fabric pieces are wonderful inspirations for new fabric collections.”

We introduced Nancy’s collection, “Adeline,” at Market.  The booth display showed a variety of projects using her fabrics.

 
The pillows are from “Playful Patchwork” by Suzuko Koseki.  The dress pattern is from “Stash Happy Patchwork” by Cynthia Shaffer.  The bunny pattern is from  RetroMomma on Etsy.
The quilt you see in the photo is our free pattern.  Here’s the link to the download.  The collection will start shipping to quilt shops at the end of November or early December.  It’s not too late to whip out some quick holiday gifts!

Click here to see the full collection

Next up, we’ll have a tutorial for the cute pinwheels
you see in the booth photo!

Quilt Market

 

 

Fall Market in Houston was terrific!

We introduced many new collections that you will be seeing in quilt shops starting this month, and on through the beginning of next year.

Nancy Mahoney has a terrific new 30s collection called Adeline.  Here is a sneak preview for you:

 
Alex Anderson also has a new collection coming out at the first of the year, called Leila Rose.  Her collection is bright and light and full of fresh possibilities.

We created a little vignette of these two collections, because they work together so well.

 

Carolyn Gavin’s new collection is called Soul Garden and it is a delightful contemporary floral group with butterflies and flowers in abundance.

By the way, all the quilts you see in the photos
will be upcoming free patterns on our web site.
 

Janet Broxon has created many wonderful collections for us, and her upcoming group, Gypsy Wind, is a gorgeous mix of swirls, rich color and sumptuous metallic accents.

 

We have a new designer, Gil-Jin Foster, who created this sweet feminine collection called Garden Gifts.  The panel provides a way to make quick and easy quilts, bed covers and wall hangings, and the prints are great for clothing.

 



Our new featured collection for kids is What a World by licensed artist Jill McDonald.  It’s a way to mix quilting with learning and make it fun!  The world map is another great panel print, and the blocks show different international cities.

We also created a basics booth to show how great these fabrics can be on their own.  Don’t they look dynamic?  The quilt on the left will be available soon as a pattern on the web site.

That’s our sneak preview!  We’ll be showing you each of these collections in depth as they become available in the quilt shops.