Good Hair Day Launches!

It’s been a busy Summer over here with lots of prep work and sewing for the Good Hair Day look book.

It turned out amazing! I got to work with the lovely Danielle Collins (photography) and many, many talented makers and quilt designers.

I’ll go into more detail later on all the projects, but for now go see the Good Hair Day look book!

You can see the whole Good Hair Day collection here too.

Good Hair Day arrives in stores this December! What will you make?

Around the World Blog Hop

I’ve been tagged by Stacey @ Stacey In Stitches to join the Around the World Blog Hop and today is my day! I only recently heard about this amazing idea, I know, I’ve been a bit pre-occupied. The idea behind the Around the World hop is that you answer some questions about your creative work and process and then you tag some other bloggers to continue the Hop around the world on it’s travels.

So here we go!

What am I working on?

I’ve recently wrapped up the Look Book for my debut collection Tidal Lace with Windham Fabrics. You can see it here and the projects inside it in other past posts (scroll down). It has been an amazing experience seeing my designs printed on fabric and I feel that the process of taking the fabric collection to projects and then to look book gave me the opportunity to stretch myself creatively. Many wonderful creative friends have helped me along every step of the way to making this book.

Tidal Lace Look Book

Tide Lines Quilt.

Sea Star pin cushions.

I’m also working on adding and expanding to a quilt that I started at a Jacquie Gering Stitch n Flip improv workshop. I really love the way that it is forming with those pops of color on a monochromatic background of blue tones. This quilt is in the midst of being quilted so I’ll have more photos soon.

Stitch n Flip in process during Jacquie Gering’s workshop

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I’m going to tackle this question in two parts as my thoughts are different with regard to my sewing/quilting to that of my fabric designs. The one element however, that unites all my work is a wonderful color palette. I’m always looking at color combinations, whether it’s what I’m wearing, a painted wall with a bit of graffiti or a fabulous flower. I’ve built up a library of color combinations that resonate with me, and I think continuing to play and experiment with color is important to keeping that spark in your work.
I don’t know that my sewing and quilting work differs that much from what others are doing, I do know that I find it hard to repeat the same project over and over again. I like to make something new and then move on to the next project. I also find more and more that I really enjoy having some sort of improv element in my quilts. Maybe this is because I don’t like doing the same thing over and over again and when I’m making the same block repeatedly I find it hard to keep that initial momentum. Even just a variation in scale can keep things sparking along.

Double Disappearing Nine Patch in process.

Deconstructed Nine Patch

When looking at this question from a fabric design perspective I’d have to say that the response that I mostly get from people about my designs is about my use of color and the stories that I weave into my designs. People have really connected to the backstory of Tidal Lace and the emotion tied into it. Shared memories of exploring tide pools or the beach and time spent with Grandparents while young really resonate with so many of us.

Tidal Lace Pillows.

Why do I write/create what I do?

I create to express myself and get into the Flow zone (see next question). In the past I found it easier to express myself visually than with words, though now I enjoy telling the stories behind my designs so I have embraced writing more and more. Words seem to take forever to come, but I do find that the more I write the easier it is becoming thankfully.

How does my writing/creating process work?

Whether designing fabric or designing a quilt I start at the same place. I begin with an inspiration point and then play around with technique and layout. I love the initial research part where I look through many images to find my jumping off point, it might be from a fashion shoot in a magazine, a photo from a family holiday or a squiggle I drew on a post-it. Sometimes I get an idea and have to jot something down straight away before I forget it, sometimes it’s a longer and evolving process. Once I hit on an idea that feels right I continue to iterate on it. I love that feeling of Flow when everything connects and just works. Not that everything works of course, there are starts that don’t seem to lead anywhere. Still, I keep these starts as they may spark something else, or maybe it just isn’t the right time for them. That quilt block may just be waiting for me to have a bit more experience before I can tackle it, maybe I need to ask a friend about it to get that creative spark happening again.

Ideas sketchbook.

My Studio.

Hop along

It’s been wonderful to be part of the Around the World Blog Hop, it’s been really useful to put some time aside for a little introspection on my creative process.

I’m tagging Carol @ The Plaid Portico and Terri @ The Quilted Fox for the next stops on the hop. Both are wonderful friends and fabulous creative collaborators, when we’re stuck in our creative bubbles it’s great to have friends like this to reach out to.

Enjoy traveling on the Around the World Blog Hop!

Cheers, Kim.

Day Eight on the Tidal Lace Blog Hop Tour

Today we have some amazing accessories for you and some for your home all done up in Tidal Lace!

Alicia Wietholter – Swoon Patterns

Sophia Beach Tote by Swoon Patterns. Photo by Danielle Collins

Coraline Clutch by Swoon Patterns. Photo by Danielle Collins

Coraline Wristlet by Swoon Patterns. Photo by Danielle Collins

I love the design detail and thought that Alicia puts into her patterns for Swoon Sewing Patterns. When thinking about what projects I wanted for the Tidal Lace look book I knew that I wanted a big gorgeous beach bag and when I saw Alicia’s Sophia Beach Tote I emailed her right away. The Sophia is large and roomy while still keeping a fabulous shape, I adore this bag! She also made a Coraline wristlet and Coraline clutch which are versatile and adorable bags.

If you see me at Fall Quilt Market I’ll be walking around with one of these amazing bags. Come and say hi and have a closer look. Meanwhile read more about them here.

Stacey Sharman – Peppermint Pinwheels

Compass Pillow by Stacey Sharman. Photo by Danielle Collins.

Stacey from Peppermint Pinwheels is a wonderful friend that I met through the East Bay Modern Quilt Guild. Stacey founded the East Bay group in 2010 (we used to meet in a local coffee shop) and I have long admired her amazing pieced creations. She has seen this fabric collection form from the very beginning and I’m so glad that Stacey was able to create her impressive Compass Floor Cushion with Tidal Lace, it is stunning!

See more here!

Make sure you go visit these stops and leave a comment on their posts. There is a FQ Giveaway for every stop on the Tidal Lace Blog Hop Tour!

Tidal Lace Fat Quarter Wheel

You can also find my post here.

Day Seven on the Tidal Lace Blog Hop Tour

Today are two fabulous projects by 2 of the loveliest people. Both Cal and Rebecca are amazingly creative and they teach the most amazing classes!

Cal Patch – Hodge Podge Farm

Beachcomber Dress by Cal Patch. Photo by Danielle Collins.

It was while I was at the creative retreat The Makerie that I met Cal Patch. I had taken Cal’s class on Creative Bug and it was fabulous to meet her in person (can’t wait to take another class with her!). Cal’s Beachcomber Dress is amazing and all my friends at the photo shoot that day had to try it on, we loved it so much. It is like this magic dress that looked great on all of us!

See this gorgeous dress here!

Rebecca Ringquist – Drop Cloth

Embellished Tide by Rebecca Ringquist. Photo by Danielle Collins.

If you ever get the chance to take an embroidery class with Rebecca do it! (You can find her on Creativebug to)

I first met her when she was teaching at A Verb For Keeping Warm, her embroidery class completely freed up my thinking about embroidery and I started having much more fun with it.  We then met again at The Makerie and it was lovely being able to spend more time chatting with her. Rebecca created this gorgeous piece Embellished Tide, she used the Tide Pool fabric as a base and then made amazing embellishments on top. Rebecca is an amazing artist, her embroidered drawings blow my mind!

It’s amazing, go see more here!

Make sure you go visit these stops and leave a comment on their posts. There is a FQ Giveaway for every stop on the Tidal Lace Blog Hop Tour!

Tidal Lace Fat Quarter Wheel.

You can also find my post here.

Podcast on Modern Sewciety

A few days ago I recorded a podcast with Stephanie from Modern Sewciety. I was so excited when she first asked me to chat and I’m happy that our schedules finally aligned to make it happen.

I’ve loved listening to the Modern Sewciety podcast’s and hearing the stories behind peoples creative lives. Yes, I chatted about Tidal Lace (Oh I love chatting about Tidal Lace!) and the story behind the collection, but we also started chatting about how it’s funny how life leads you to where you are now. So many of us rediscover sewing once we start having kids and it’s amazing to think about how our different life experiences meld together to bring us to where we are now.

I hope you enjoy listening to the Podcast and hearing a bit about me and my new collection.

You can find the podcast here.

There is a giveaway for a Fat Quarter Bundle of Tidal Lace as well!

Cheers,

Kim.

P.S I’m sharing podcast space with Jacquie Gering! OMG!

Modern Sewciety #41

I’m a designer for Windham!

Windham announced that I’m their newest designer! So now I can tell you too! Yay!

It’s been an exciting journey since Fall Market last October and I’m pleased to say that my very first fabric collection will be released later this year in August! I’ll be sharing more with you soon and in the meantime you can see Windham’s announcement here.

Look at the selvedges on my strike offs. It didn’t feel real until I saw these :)

I have plans for these selvedges!

Heading to Houston!

Well it’s been very busy over here. I’ve been meaning to blog for weeks now!

I’ve been busy getting my collections ready for some meetings that I have at Quilt Market in Houston!!!

Finally all packed up and ready to go.

I just finished printing out some flyers and it reminded me of the great feedback from the fabulous judges on REPEAT(ed). So good I had to include them!

Wish me luck!