Felicity by Emily Taylor for Riley Blake Fabrics

Today we get to showcase Emily Taylor, an artist who designs for Riley Blake Designs. Felicity is the name of her first fabric line, and it embodies happiness and newness, infused with a bold joie de vivre quality in the bright colors and prints. I love that, while good for children, it still works for all ages -- not too cotton-candy. The contrast of peachy & lipstick reds, spring & forest greens, plus a marigold yellow and sky blue give it vibrancy, while the florals, medallions and dots keep it playful. And the plaids in this line are the BEST! We hope you enjoy Felicity (available in bundles, 5-inch Jolly Packs®, and yardage) and are inspired by these Felicity goods from Spring Market!

I'm a wife and mother of three children, and we live in Salt Lake City, Utah. In fact we live just a few miles from the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, home of some of the greatest skiing in the world! I love living so close to the mountains because we ski & snowshoe in the winter, and hike and mountain bike in the summer. Aside from the outdoor activities that I enjoy, I love to paint, sew, and read. I have good balance in my life between adrenaline-inducing physical activities and the creative solitude and peace that I find in my studio. (A few examples of my artwork!)

I have been an artist since I was a child, and began my creative career as a mural artist. When I became a mother, I started searching for a way to work from home. A few years ago I walked into a great local quilt shop, looking for a fun project to work on. It hit me then that I'd love to be a fabric designer -- who wouldn't?!

I began to teach myself to use a computer, particularly the design software that I needed to be a competitive artist in the digital age. After I had acquired the technical skill set necessary to be a fabric designer, I benefited from a stroke of good luck and was introduced to Riley Blake Designs through a friend (I'm indebted to her for that)!

As a mural artist, I specialized in tromp l'oeils -- a French term, meaning to "fool the eye". My "Felicity" line reminds me of my days spent painting vines on walls, and actually feels a bit French to me because of the colors and the geometric design used in the flowers.

Ironically, at Quilt Market in Minneapolis, I had a French buyer tell me that I had a very good eye for what the French people will like! Funny, huh? All I know is that I love bold color contrasted with traditional polka dots and plaids.

I've enjoyed using the fabric for fun summer skirts for myself and my daughters. The fabric translates into clothing that is fresh, sassy and eye-catching! Additionally, I love having a complementary bag and it's quite convenient that the entire "Felicity" line coordinates.

As I created the line, the main emotion that I tried to convey through the fabric was happiness -- thus the name, "Felicity".I want "Felicity" to be a fun fabric for people to work with, something that brightens their day!

Up next for me is my "Domestic Diva" fabric line -- due out in July! I'm really excited for this next line because it is a tribute to the domestic women in my life. "Domestic Diva" has a retro feel that evokes the cozy feel of indulging in homemade cupcakes at grandma's house, one of the patterns even features my grandmother's chocolate snack cake recipe!


Emily Taylor
Emily Taylor Designs
Emily Taylor's Blog

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