I love all the new fresh designers. The massive prints in all the "out there" color combinations make me happy. I love how they don't match, but yet they look like they belong together. Don't get me wrong, I own and love to look at beautiful, traditional quilts. Nothing is quite like looking at a masterpiece with tiny pieces, or maybe perfect applique. Many of you have seen my Grandmother's Flower Garden I keep in the store, that sweet little quilt is truly a work of art. Some dummy sold that priceless possession for 50.00 on ebay! Luckily, I knew what it was and what it was worth. She has found a good home at Gracie's where she is appreciated for her beauty and near perfection.
I used to make very traditional quilts and I probably will again someday. Trends change and so do my interests, but I always seem to go back to basics. For some of my customers, it is hard for them to know what to do with all these "loud, huge prints", they are frustrated and feel a little left out. My response to these ladies is "go with it, try it, you may just love it". The same goes for all you new quilters who can't imagine life without Amy Butler, try to appreciate the traditional quilts and designers that have shaped this industry. I think everyone should learn how to piece a traditional quilt, it is very rewarding and the skills are important. Go with it, try it, you may just love it!
I think it is wonderful that we have so many choices. Right after I opened Gracie's an elderly lady came in with her daughter and was amazed that we had so many bolts of fabric to choose from. She then told me about growing up in the Depression and later WWII when her mother would go to Penney's and was allowed to only buy one dress length, from one of two bolts of cloth. Fabric was that scarce! Well, we certainly have come a long way, last count Gracie Lou's was the home to over three thousand bolts of fabric! "Today", I am filling my shop with bright, "make you smile" fabrics, maybe it has something to do with the world right now, or maybe I just really like bright colors. "Tomorrow" will different, maybe better, maybe worse, but definitely different. It wasn't long ago when I adored muddy, dark reproduction prints. My first quilt was from one of Lynette Jensen's Thimbleberries books, I literally made every quilt in the book, I created from cover to cover. From then on, I was totally hooked, hopelessly and completely addicted. Now I am busy with all the fun bags, children's clothing patterns and cute stuffed elephants. The point is, we have a choice, and things change, isn't that fantastic?! I know that I am not the shop for everyone, but that's okay. Maybe someday, I will have exactly what those girls are looking for. I love Gracie Lou's, her cramped little space makes me smile and I hope that when you visit you smile too :o)
So, now that you've all allowed me to ramble here's the question for all of you..............
What "genre" of fabric do you enjoy most or who is your favorite designer?
Winners this week will receive two quilt patterns, one traditional and one not so traditional.
OoOo Shastatita and Lolalita (who happens to be feeling much better :D)
39 comments:
I loved this post...I've been thinking along the same lines lately as I've been working to applique' some Dresden plate blocks made by my great-great grandmother who passed away 30 years before I was even born! But to answer the question... I love both the modern vintage prints like Amy Butler...and the traditional "homey" florals and small prints...I love both styles!
I love the modern prints and the retro prints, the only ones that I just haven't been able to warm up to are fabrics like Thimbleberries. I can appreciate the fabrics, I just have no real desire to work with them. I'm sure at some time I will, especially if those are what the person I'm making the quilt for would enjoy. They just don't make it into my stash.
Oh, that's a hard question! That's like asking who my favorite child is...they all have different styles and personalities. I enjoy both styles!
I agree with you Shasta. I have gone through so many stages to. I used to love everything Lynette Jensen did, not so much now. I'm glad there are so many options out there for us to choose from. Since I have been working in quilt shops I've come to appreciate all types of fabric, traditional to modern. I love it all. And sometimes you have to remember it's hard to please everyone. If we don't have something at the Corn Wagon patrons are looking for, I send them your way because you just might have it in your inventory.
I lean towards the fun, bright prints and modern patterns. I love Lila Tueller's (and she's a hometown girl!) fabric and patterns. Buggy Barn quilts make up really cute in unexpected bright, floral fabric combinations. I always love to add texture and you have the best colors of babywhale corduroy, ric-rac, and flannels.
random.org- choose me! choose me!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE huge funky colored prints. And I especially love putting them with other funky colored prints. LOVE IT!
I think Michael Miller is a GENIUS!
I am currently into jacobean fabrics and designs but I find my taste keeps evolving as I go. I just went through a box of kits I've accumulated and decided I didn't like the patterns anymore so I just added the fabrics to my stash. I love Blackbird Designs, Michael Miller fabrics and A Graceful Stitch patterns. I'm old enough so the bright modern prints are not new to me. They bring back memories of bell bottoms and polyester. Not a happy place.
I have always loved ocean scene/style fabrics. Currently I am in a brights mood. I like most of the designer fabric, but I don't actually gravitate toward any in particular. I'm usually looking for a color group. I like both traditional and funky quilt patterns. They each have a place in my mind depending on my mood.
This post brings back many memories. I used to take my grandma shopping for quilt pieces. My grandmother belonged to 2 different quilt guilds (sp?)and could pick out the most audacious prints and put them into a quilt and make them absolutely gorgeous. I think the most beautiful quilt she ever did was a mystery quilt, which ended up being tulips. But as far as my favorite material, I tend to buy Moda for me, but I really am getting into the paisly prints that are out there right now.
I have recently fallen in love with Amy Butler all over again - maybe it's the talk of certain lines being withdrawn later on in the year. I especially love anything symmetrical or with a 'neat and tidy' pattern - so the polka dots and wall flower designs especially. I think it suits the OCD in me to see it all looking so perfectly lined up and organised!
Yes, the store completely makes me smile!!! I smile just thinking about it :) I am all about the loud fun prints like you have now. I also love the fun, whimsical stuff like Mary Englebrite. When I see it, the world seems just a bit beeter :)
I love the sweet 1930's repos so much, I have lots but still want more. Really there is no type of fabric that I dislike, even the uglies make me smile and since I make scrap quilts I use alltypes and colors.
Sue Cahill (sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)
This one is hard. I love all of your fabric. But I love sandi henderdons farmers market and heather baileys pop garden. They just make me smile. I have just started quilting recently and am loving it. I love creating something beautiful from scraps of fabric. Thanks for your fun store and fabulous fabric selection:)
I love the prints by camille roskelley and her mom. I also really like some of the reproductions. They make darling aprons! When it really comes down to it, it really depends on the pattern or project I have in mind.
I love the more modern, Amy Butler happens to be a favorite but I am exploring
I'm drawn to the bigger prints and sunny colors (but I do like them to match:). I love Sandi Henderson and Lila Tueller and I struggle with Repro prints. I love the colors of the older prints but the samll pritn just doesn't wow me. I've been thinking about this too (ironic!) because my mom and I love the same colors, but are always drawn to different styles. I think my way to start using the repro prints is to start making aprons. Yeah... You know, I think I should get some ordering done:)
I'm not really into the reproduction stuff or tiny floral patterns. I love Heather Baily, Amy Butler, Jennifer Paganelli. Anything vibrant, colorful and girly! I love when things aren't matchy matchy, yet totally look great together in a cute quilt or dress for the little one. :)
I love coming in your shop and seeing all the new fabrics--it just makes me happy. I am always drawn to color and love that lines coordinate so well, but don't match exactly. I always love Sandi Henderson and Amy Butler--and I loved Joel Dewberry's last line, so I hope he'll have some new stuff soon. And thank you SO much for the charm pack prize--I LOVE the Arcadia, and I'm so excited to make something fun! You girls are the best!
Gotta love all the new funky loud designs. It's all about color for me. I see visions of crazy quilts in my head all day long. I'm sure thats why I never get a ---- thing done all day. Heather Bailey, Anna Marie Horner, and Jennifer Paganeili are a few of my favorites.
What a great post. My favorite fabric designer right now is Heather Ross. She's an illustrator first, which is why I like her. I love her sweet way of capturing life in tiny scribbles. Her fabrics are so soft and make me feel like a child again ;)
Guess I am just "stuck back in time" as I still love the more traditional prints and colors. Although I admire the newer contemporary designs, I always gravitate back to the familiar. My favorite designers are Susan Branch, Mary Englebreit and Anne Sutton. They really make my heart sing.
Your shop has something for everyone!!
Lately I have really been enjoying Patty Young's designs. They are pretty fun and funky. They are great for aprons and oven mitts!!
I absolutely LOVE Camille Roskelley's Thimble Blossoms & just saw her newest line of fabric called Simple Abundance & I'm drooling!
Right now I am in to Jessica Jones - loud and funky!
First of all, I just have to say, I was introduced to you by a friend and for a while I thought, why would I drive all the way to Salem, when I have fabric store a few blocks a way from my house? Well, ladies, it didn't take me long to figure out why. I just LOVE you guys and your store is FAB... My head starts spinning the minute I walk in. I think I spent like 3 hours there before and didn't even know it, till my husband call to ask me where I was. Anyway, about the fabric. I love Heather Baily, Amy Butler,Sandi Henderson just to name a few. Fabric is everything. I tried to make something for a friend out of fabric that wasn't that exciting and it was such a torture. When I see bright, happy colors, it doesn't matter what I'm making it will always come out beautiful.
Thank you Shasta for this entry, I remember one day you told me the story of the ebay quilt. I think I am more like a traditional fabric person I am kind of scared about all new desighns which I love but I am scared to try to mix and matched. The wonderful thing about sewing is that you never make the exact same thing once or at least no many times, we now have so many choices and one pattern can look so different jus by changing he fabric colors and designs, making it something traditional very modern ans something ultra modern quite different.
I have loved your shop and my little girl loves your sewing class for kids. I love everything in your store. I really love the Moda line and Amy Butler, but I have yet to find fabric I didn't like.
I love the new funky stuff, one lady that wanted to buy one of my bags, looked at one and said, "That one would be good if I was going to the beach." and it was MY everyday purse. The would would be so bring if everyone had the same taste. Love your store!
that's a loaded question.
tehehe.
my designer fav would have to be bonnie & camille for moda.
and i'd have to say that i like traditional & modern prints, it just depends on my mood.
Hi,
I love funny prints and bright colors. I went through a period when I thought I had to like the same fabrics as my friends and started to buy pale colors with small or no print. Now i've found out that i don't use those fabrics and dare to use the ones i like.
Lotta in Sweden
ohhhh a tough one...i think Tanya Wheylan/grand revival love the sweet romanticness (is that a word?) but i reall like just about anything Anna Maria Horner does....then again i love Amy Butler..i love reproduction prints, i love bright moderns,...oh shoot...i guess i like it ALL! :)
I love anything with a lot of color, large or small scale, modern or vintage, floral or geometric, it doesn't matter. =)
And I love to "look" at fabric, I wandered around the fabric store yesterday and it was very relaxing to me.
Thanks so much for the chance!
Call me boring but I like solid bright cottons. You have the freedom to put any color with any color..does that make sense? It really tests your imagination.
You are so right. I think we should try to embrace all styles. Like you I went through the thimbleberries, homespuns, kansas troubles etc... I still love those but I have been trying out the mordern stuff as well. It can be fun to try a new style. I am loving Grand Revival fabrics and patterns.
I love the great Modern prints that you have in the store. I am at a point in my life, where I am surrounding myself with things that make me smile. Your store is one that makes me smile. Thank You
I love them all. For me when I am starting a project it really just depends on the mood I am in that day. I might have an idea of what I want to do or how I am going to do it and then go into the storr and totally pick something different.
Great question. for the past little bit I've been drawn primarily to stripes and plaids! how crazy is that? I am such a perfectionist that they drive me insane if they're not perfectly straight, but I just love the way they look.
Seriously. Wou want me to choose just one? How rude. Here are a few of my favorites: Amy Butler (duh) Heather Bailey, Camille @ Thimbleblossoms. I love a mix of traditional and modern, but most of all I love clean lines.
I don't know if you consider this a genre, my favorite fabrics are chocolate brown with pinks and teals. Thank you for offering this give-away. Take care and God bless, Cory
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