Design Challenge Garments Revealed, Vote for your Favorite

Ta Da! Today, on AM Northwest television show, four up and coming fashion designers unveiled their fashion creations as part of the show's six week Design Challenge.  Each week the designers will be given a new challenge and judged by a panel of experts including sewing expert Patti Palmer.  The "project runway" type competition is sponsored by Fabric Depot and featured FreeSpirit and Rowan fabrics. FreeSpirit designerValori Wells appeared as a guest judge today.

Amy, sun dress with cape was created from FreeSpirit Power Pop collection by Jenean Morrison; Power Pinkerton PWJM057 Orange, Radio City PWJM051 Orange and Sweet PWJM052 Strawberry

Gerry's beach inspired ensemble of shorts, halter top featuring a Celtic knot detail and short jacket used FreeSpirit Tea Cakes by Verna Mosquera; Sugary Stripe VM34 Blue Eyes and a voile from FreeSpirit Wrenly by Valori Wells; Wildfield VVW07 Cobalt.

Natalya's red-carpet worthy look of a two-piece ensemble pencil skirt and midrif top was made from FreeSpirit Happiness by Kathy Davis; Sugar Snaps PWKD036 Indigo and Rowan Premier Lord by Dan Bennett; Fan PWDB012 Blue and Maize PWDB011 Green.

Lindsay created straight leg print pants with fitted shirt and accent headand using Rowan's Kaffe Fassett  Babaganoush PWGP124 in Umber, Philip Jacobs Begonia Columns PJ44 Grey and Premier Lord by Dan Bennett Fan PWDB012 Black.

Vote for your favorite by clicking here. The winner will receive overall grand prize of a Pfaff sewing machine and other sewing-related prizes.

Hear Denyse Schmidt on American Patchwork & Quilting Radio

Mark your calendars and get ready for some "me" time. FreeSpirit designer Denyse Schmidt, the mother of modern quilting, will be a guest on Pat Sloan's upcoming American Patchwork & Quiltnig internet radio show.  The live interview will be Monday, January 30 at 4 PM EST.  Denyse will talk about the relaunch of her FreeSpirit Legacy Collection Flea Market Fancy as well as her upcoming book, Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration.  You can listen to the podcast on your computer, subscribe by iTunes (search American Patchwork & Quilting), or download to a player.  For more information click here.

Fabrics featured on AM Northwest Design Challenge

Fabric Depot, Portland, OR, has partnered with KATU-TV and its AM Northwest show to sponsor Design Challenge. Four up and coming designers from The Art Institute in  Portland, were selected to cut, drape, pin, style and sew a collection of six garments in as many weeks based on weekly challenges.  Sewing expert, American Sewing Guild Honoree and Portland native Patti Palmer, owner of Palmer/Pletsch, introduces the weekly challenge and is also one of the judges.

This week, the designers were challenged to select three prints from FreeSpirit or Rowan fabrics along with a McCall's Pattern and told . . . make it work. Judging for this weeks challenge will be on Friday and FreeSprit Designer Valori Wells will be on hand as a guest judge.  Viewers can weigh in and select their favorite garment as the designers will vie for an overall grand prize of a Pfaff sewing machine and other sewing-related prizes including a Viewer's Choice award. Stay tuned, as we follow their progress and fabric selections this week!

Drum Roll Please . . . . And the winners are?

FreeSpirit, Early Birds by Jane Sassaman

Congratulations to the winners of Jane Sassaman's Early Bird fabric.  You will receive from FreeSpirit six, one yard cuts as well as two of Jane's Sillouhette patterns, all for your creative pleasure.  We'd love to see what you create with this bold, bright fun fabric.  Or if it happens to become part of your stash, send a photo of it on a shelf.  We will still be inspired.  So, without further adieu here are the winners:

Andrea from California

Jenny from Fort Wayne, IN

Nikki Lee from Plympton, MA

SewLindaAnn from Roswell, GA

Next order of business, we promised on Friday anyone who got friends or family to follow us to reach a milestone of 400 followers could win one of our beautiful, four color catalogs. Well all five commentators who helped to push us over 400 will get this gorgeous publication in the mail.  Hopefully all those fantastic fabrics will inspire you to get even more creative.

Stay tuned, February features our yet-to-be revealed Parson Gray and Curious Nature. Please continue to share the love . . . we want to keep you quilting, sewing and crafting with FreeSpirit Fabrics.

Come on we are so close!

Hey all you FreeSpirit Blog followers. We are lovin' that you are following us and we promise lots of goodies this year.  We are so close to 400 followers.  Come on now and spread the word and ask your friends and family to follow us.  For today only, post a comment as to who you got to follow us and we will select one random person to receive our beautiful Fall 2011 catalog as featured in the post below.  Thanks for your help!

Eye Candy and Sunshine from Dena Designs

Just a bit of inspiration for you and Sunshine to brighten your wintery day.  Dena Designs brings to FreeSpirit her bright stylings in a 55% Linen, 45% Cotton blend collection of 30 skus.  Can't you picture a summery dress for you and your daughter or grandaughter, airy curtains for your kitchen window or a light throw for your shabby chic decor?  Hmmmm, why not let a little Sunshine into your day!

Whoo Hoo Monday Mania Fabric Giveway! Win Jane Sassaman Early Birds Cotton

As promised, today is the third installment in our FreeSpirit Jane Sassaman trilogy.  Now it is time for you to comment to win. Jane inspires us with her beautiful art quilts, bold use of color and love of fabric.  If you were to win six, one yard cuts of Jane's Early Bird fabric, what would you make?  To accompany the fabric, we will also send you two of Jane's Simple Silhouette patterns to inspire you and get you quilting.  Comment by midnight January 21 and be one of four selected to receive from FreeSpirit Fabrics, Early Bird cotton.  Winners will be posted on the blog on Monday, January 23. Share this post with friends and family, we love to hear your comments. 

Plum



Strawberry



Blueberry

Feast Your Eyes on our Fall Catalog!

Do you need to find just the right fabric for all of your New Year's projects you have lined up? Well HERE you can browse our full Westminster Lifestyle Fabrics Fall 2011 Catalog. You can spend hours drooling over your favorite designers such as Anna Maria Horner, Amy Butler and Valori Wells and also discover some of our new designers like Parson Gray and The Victoria and Albert Museum you are not yet familiar with.

Check back on our full Scribd site to find other collateral that you might enjoy. There is much eye candy that is sure to get your creative juices flowing for all of your upcoming Lifestyle projects!

Jane Sassaman's Free Tutorial and Video!

Need a break? Well take a little time and create this great tutorial called Break Buddy. It is the perfect little accessory for your mid-day break. Fill it with tea or coffee packets to give you that little boost you need! Melissa Peda brought us this great tutorial made out of Jane Sassaman's collection, Early Birds. Remember, everyone needs a little break during their busy day!

 Enjoy this video where Jane goes in to detail about her new collection.

Jane Sassaman; Classic looks in today's fabrics

FreeSpirit Designer Jane Sassaman working in her studio.

Hello, everyone! I'm Jane Sassaman and I design fabric for FreeSpirit. This has been a dream job for a gal who has also been a quilter and a sewer for so many years. Designing the fabric is only half the fun. After the textiles are printed, I also get to "fondle fabric" to my hearts content and share the fabric's potential with all of you!

Classic Apron Pattern

My FreeSpirit designs, like my art quilts, are bold, graphic and colorful. They are designed to be "art by the yard". And, of course, ideal for all kinds of creative sewing and decorating projects.

Stitchers and designers are always collecting ideas and patterns to make. We found this classic apron pattern in a local antique mall. You can see that it was well loved in it's former life, too. Can't you imagine Joan Crawford, as Mildred Pierce, in this wonderful cover-up?

Pocket detail

So here is a contemporary version made with my current FreeSpirit collection, Early Birds. Modeled by Elizabeth and Christina and sewn by their Mom and my favorite helper, Susan Tempin, this is one of the latest creations to come from the Sassaman studioI love how nicely the fabrics play together. The apron on the right is made with Cheeky Checks and Prairie Poppies in the Blueberry colorway. Susan did a masterful job matching the plaids. The one on the left is made with Poka Dots and Strawberry Serenade in the Plum pallet. The rick rack makes a wonderful trim which harkens back to 1950 when the pattern was published.

The details on the back are delightful with covered buttons on the back strap and the generous bow ties.  This classic pattern reinterpreted in contemporary fabric makes a winning combination. It just shows that a good thing can get even better!

PS...To read more about Jane's design process see the October/November 2011 issue of Quilter's Newsletter. You can also visit her website and blog to keep up with more Early Bird ideas.