Designer Spotlight - Anna Maria Horner on YouTube!

Learn more about Anna Maria Horner as she shares her inspiration and insights into her fabric collections!

Designer Spotlight - Anna Maria Horner

NEW from FreeSpirit!  Each month we will be highlighting one of our amazing FreeSpirit designers using video, photography, infographs and a profile that includes our “Did You Know… 10 Facts about our FreeSpirit Designer”.  This month we are celebrating Anna Maria Horner!  Anna's newest collection, Folk Song, is hitting stores this month!  

To many the Anna Maria brand means color & inspiration in the form of craft, sewing, 

needlework, books, and friendly how-to. Since 2006 her ever-growing library of fabrics has delighted and adorned creative souls around the globe. She has been the face (or rather the hands as she likes to think) of Janome Sewing Machines since 2011.  As of 2014 Anna Maria is also the founder and proprietor of Nashville's Craft South.  Craft South will open the doors to its permanent location in the Spring of 2015.

There have been varied stops on her path to here, but a common element in all of her work, whether fashion, quilting or fine art, is a passion for the language of color. She continued to realize her point of view in many disciplines and they began to form a dialogue, one bettering the other- promoting growth in her design range. Somewhere around 2001, her fascination with taking an idea through all the necessary steps from her sketchbook to a store shelf sparked the momentum to create a brand. Anna Maria's fresh perspectives within traditional markets and her vision of being surrounded by the work of her own hands has led her to partnering with dozens of manufacturers to design homewares, gift items, textiles, authoring three sewing books, and publishing a continuing collection of sewing and needlework patterns. In recent years her focus has intensified in the craft and creative industry where her heart has always been.

Anna Maria and her husband, Jeff, make their home on a rambling and not overly maintained two acres of happiness in Nashville. Their seven children range in age from 19mos to 23. Together they embrace both the charming wonders and the imperfect moments of raising a large family. She is inspired daily by the spontaneity and tempo of it all.

Share with us what you love about Anna Maria Horner!

Winner!!!

Congratulations to Quilt Dad - John Adams for the winning quilt in our Modern Solids, Traditional Inspiration Challenge!!! Thank you to all of the amazing bloggers who participated in our challenge!‪#‎modernsolidschallenge‬

If you will be at Fall Quilt Market this weekend, stop by our booth #1502 & 1602 to see the quilt in person.

Inspiration behind Denyse Schmidt's new Hadley collection!

Denyse Schmidt draws much of the inspiration for her fabric collections from the nostalgic charm of her native New England, and Hadley is no exception. Pastoral Hadley has puritan roots with a streak of independence. Elegant and spirited, Hadley embodies the assured style and ladylike grace of a Seven Sisters college co-ed. Showcasing smart, pretty florals, confident plaids, directional prints, and  universally useful calicos, Hadley is as versatile a collection as you are likely to find. Perfect for apparel – think crisp skirts, lovely afternoon tea dresses, an adorable romper – Hadley works equally well for all quilting and crafting needs. Plenty of “low-volume” prints and vibrant accents make it a cinch to create modern quilts with a vintage scrappy feel. Mix them with DS Modern Solid Pre-cuts (Denyse’s curated selection of FreeSpirit Designer Solids) for more contrast and distinctive flair. Hadley features nine designs in three beautiful color ways – Chinese Lantern, Sunflower, Hydrangea – for a total of 26 quilting cottons. 

Visit makeitcoats.com to see the entire collection as well as read more about Denyse and be inspired by our free projects!  

Hadley Quilt pattern – Denyse Schmidt’s In The Corner pattern, PTDS12

Visit our Sewing Secrets blog for the Book Covers pattern

Cottage Garden from Alice Hickey!

Alice Hickey is a contemporary Southwestern master watercolor artist who has won numerous awards and is nationally recognized for her flowers and butterflies.  Cottage Garden is Alice’s debut collection with FreeSpirit fabrics.  In Alice’s own words “Color juxtaposes an airy ambience of intriguing design which sets in action movement, light and excitement as I put together my final creation.”

Visit makeitcoats.com to see the collection as well as read more about Alice and be inspired by our free projects!  

Inspiration for Parson Gray's new collection... Empire

 

 

The 5th fabric collection by designer David Butler for FreeSpirit fabrics under his brand guise Parson Gray, EMPIRE reflects David’s ongoing exploration of global design and richly muted jewel tones. Modern interpretations of ancient weavings, architecture and folk art from Japan, China, and India combined in hand-drawn elements create a story across three distinct color palettes. These three palettes are designed to work in harmony with each other, and also with past Parson Gray collections Vagabond, World Tour, Seven Wonders and Curious Nature. The Empire collection includes both cotton and flannel prints.

 

Flannel prints ONLY available in US.  Patterns available on www.makeitcoats.com

 

Cluck, cluck . . . too cute for words! Fowl Play by Luella Doss

Have you noticed that chickens and roosters are dotting the decor landscape lately? Well, not to be out done our own Chicken expert, Luella Doss, revived Fowl Play, coming in August to your favorite quilt shop. In the meantime, if you have not liked us on facebook, today would be the day. Visit our facebook page, like us and comment on these chickens. Tomorrow we will select one random commentator to receive a 20 piece fat quarter pack of Fowl Play. Cluck, cluck go . . . you gotta' be in it to win it! Enjoy!

Scatter Joy with Enchantment by Kathy Davis!

Editor's Note: It's October and we are featuring well-known greeting card artist Kathy Davis. Kathy loves to "Scatter Joy" which is why all of her collections have "joyful" words describing all the goodness life holds. Her newest collection, Enchantment, is no exception.

When it comes to organizing your closets, why not make it all about romance? With its misty watercolor florals and butterfly accents, my “Enchantment” fabric collection for FreeSpirit is my most romantic to date. Here, you’ll find hand-painted anemones and roses that float effortlessly across beautifully textured backgrounds – all in soft hues with just a whisper of sweetness. “Enchantment” in 27 Cotton fabrics and 9 Cotton Sateen designs offers you three colorways to choose from: Amethyst, Coral or Silver Sage.

Watch what happens when you add “Enchantment” fabric to dull, utilitarian boxes and hangers! Suddenly, organizing your closet becomes a fun activity instead of a chore.

We chose the subtle, sophisticated Silver Sage fabric for this quick-and-easy “no-sew” project that will bring you almost instant results. From wooden hangers, to boxes in a variety of shapes and sizes the fabric can be easily applied to provide you with your own “custom” collection of pretty-and-functional storage containers – for shoes, off-season clothing, sweaters, blankets…you name it! It’s a wonderful way to accessorize your space in a fresh new way.

Fabric Covered Hangers

Wooden dress or shirt hangers

Ribbon

Hot glue/glue gun

FreeSpirit Enchantment by Kathy Davis

Cut 1.5-2” strips of fabric (from selvage to selvage). Start by fastening the end of the first strip with hot glue to the hanger. Wrap around the hanger and fasten again with hot glue. Keep wrapping additional strips until hanger is covered with a nice padding. Tie a bow around the metal hook with a coordinating ribbon and secure the bow with hot glue.

Fabric Covered Boxes

3 sizes of ready-to-assemble cardboard storage boxes

FreeSpirit Enchantment fabric by Kathy Davis (amount varies depending on size of boxes)

Spray adhesive
Scissors

Lay unfolded box lid (outside facing up) on the underside of fabric. Cut around lid, so that there is 1-2”extra on all 4 sides. Spray the outside of the lid with adhesive and flip over onto underside of fabric. Smooth fabric to minimize wrinkles. Spray around the inside edges of the lid. Fold fabric over and press down. Cut out corners of fabric. Fold in the lid per the box assembly instructions. Repeat this process for the box bottom. (Note: Metal clips can be helpful in keeping the fabric adhered to the cardboard while the spray adhesive dries.)

For more insights into the world of Kathy Davis, visit us at kathydavis.com.

COMING SOON:

• FreeSpirit Pocketful of Poppies, my new bright, whimsical fabric design. 20 Cotton fabrics available in January 2013.

• A new Kathy Davis line of home organizing products – for storage, laundry, everything you need to organize your home in colorful ways that are sure to bring you joy!

Night Shade by Tula Pink

Editor's Note: It's May and time to get to know the truly talented and creative Tula Pink. What makes an artist hide designs within her art? Read below as she tells you the story behind her newest FreeSpirit collection, Night Shade celebrating her favorite holiday, Halloween! 

You may be familiar with my light side, little critters illustrated in bright colors, a happy frog with a fly in his belly, a cameo of Marie Antoinette with head full of hair in the shape of a ship or a mouse… I would like to introduce you to my dark side. Please meet Nightshade (15 Cotton SKUs availble in May), the pinnacle of dark elegance and the sinister mystery of the three Von Black sisters of Blackwood Manor.

The question that designers get asked the most is where they get their inspiration from. My inspiration comes from narrative. I tell myself stories and then I illustrate them. Storytelling in the form of books, movies, tales passed down through generations from father to son and mother to daughter are at the core of what makes me want to create.

For me Halloween is about a mood. Sure, the candy is awesome and I will never stop pondering how two people decide who gets to be the front of a cow and who gets to be the back. Sugar and costumes aside Halloween is about mystery, magic, shadows and intrigue. This is what I set out to capture when I designed Nightshade. It's a Halloween collection inspired by victorian decadence and dangerous beauty with a touch of quirky fun. Let's face it, if it isn't fun it's probably not worth doing.

I am excited to see how people use this curve ball I have thrown at them. When the photos of finished projects start popping up I feel like it's my birthday! I adore seeing what everyone comes up with.

The Von Black Sisters: A Brief History

Neptunia Von Black, the youngest sister, left home at the age of nine to pursue a career in Pirating. By 12, Neptunia was captaining her own ship and striking fear into the hearts of yellow bellied pirates across the seven seas. Neptunia is also responsible for procuring exotic ingredients and tracking down mystical relics for her two sisters. It was during one of these relic hunts that Neptunia lost her eye in a fight with a sea turtle, hence the eye patch.

Scarlett Von Black is the oldest of the three sisters. Scarlett’s ninth and most recent husband perished in a freak weather accident much like her previous eight husbands. Although law enforcement has never been able to prove her involvement some still speculate as to how a man can drown in three inches of rain. Most of the Von Black family wealth is attributed to Scarlett thanks to a shocking lack of prenuptial agreements.

Bella Donna Von Black is the middle sister, the alchemist, the brain, the pride and joy of the Von Black family tree. Bella Donna allegedly poisoned her entire calculus class with a batch of smoking absinthe cookies as a 16th birthday present to herself. They’re collective lack of ambition was holding back her education. Her genius lies in managing to transform the most innocuous compounds into a rainbow of deadly vapors. Bella Donna is named for the flower which grows all over Blackwood Manor and is more commonly known as Nightshade.

XX,

Tula

Cocoon by Valori Wells, for your pleasure!

Editor's Note: It's April! Welcome FreeSpirit Artist Valori Wells and her newest collection Cocoon!

 

Hello……Happy Spring!!! I am excited to be a guest blogger for FreeSpirit Fabrics and really excited to tell you about my newest collection Cocoon (26 Cotton SKUs, 7 Voile SKUs, 7 Linen Cotton SKUs).



My Butterfly Vi



My Butterfly Olivia

Cocoon…..it has so many meanings for me. I have spent numerous summers trying to capture the unique beauty of the butterfly with my camera. My love of flowers and butterflies has passed down to my girls! Since my oldest was two she has asked for her summer birthday to be “butterflies”….she is six now and still loves to run through our wild flowers looking for them. As her younger sister follows her every move she has taken a liking to the beauties also. We spend so much time in our garden, loving the flowers, eating the vegetables and watching the friendly flyers visit. It was a given at some point that I would create a fabric with butterflies. For myself as an artist I feel like I am coming out of a cocoon. Finding my path and my balance with my work, my family and myself. This collection is part of my growth as an artist. 

Cocoon Cotton

At Spring Quilt Market (trade show), I am going to be introducing Simply Made Summer, a weekly blog (stitchinpostinsisters.typepad.com) with free patterns, project ideas and other yummy things for the summer. Simply Made Summer will begin the first week of June and last for 12 weeks. I love summer, it is so short here in Central Oregon. Plus, with the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and Quilters Affair Classes my time is even more limited so we take full advantage of the long sunny days. I thought it would be fun to have something new every week to entice your creativity and show you a bit of my life and love.

Make April Little Tote by Valori Wells

 

My studio is a buzz with Cocoon projects…..I thought I would share a few with you. I hope to hear from you this summer!!!!

 

Cocoon Linen Cotton

Cocoon Voile