Sew something cute for someone you like with Twice as Nice by The Quilted Fish! This new fabric collection celebrates sweetness with cheerful prints in colors that pop! Amanda Herring of The Quilted Fish is here to tell you more about Twice as Nice. Keep reading for a closer look!
Q:
Where did you find your original inspiration for Twice as Nice?
A:
This line is actually inspired by Sugar and Spice, my second line of fabric for Riley Blake Designs. The original inspiration for that line was my best friend Kayce.
Q:
Tell us about your background. How did you get into the fabric and quilting industry?
A:
I have been creating from a young age (bet you’ve never heard that before!). I studied lots of things in college like art history, fashion design, and interior design. Every time I finished a program or got deep into one I would think “What in the world am I actually going to do with this?”. I left school at 27 when my first child was born. Four years later I found myself in desperate need of a hobby. I visited a local quilt shop and fell in love! I made a ton of quilts in my first four months of quilting. The more I made the more I realized that this was what I wanted to do! So I started writing patterns. That progressed into designing fabric and leading this crazy fun life!
Q:
What projects do you hope to see using Twice as Nice?
A:
I think that Twice as Nice is perfect for every sewing project. In fact, I am not sure why anyone would use anything else. Just kidding. But really, it is a versatile line that could work for so many things.
Q:
Does your family give you input on your designs?
A:
Usually when a new line of fabric arrives at the house my husband says “What’s this?”. Usually I am totally offended that he doesn’t even recognize something that I spent months on. This time, it came and I made this quilt with a big truck on it just like the little trucks in the fabric. He loved the quilt but it wasn’t until a few days later that he even realized that the truck was in the fabric, too. Funny, because I put it there just for him.
Q:
How did you learn to sew, quilt, and design fabric?
A:
I remember riding my bike to sewing lessons at the tender age of 9 or 10 or maybe 11. I am not sure. Who can really remember that far back? So I have known how to sew for quite a while. I learned to design fabric by hiring a graphic artist to teach me to use Adobe Illustrator. Once I knew the digital aspect, it still took me eight months to figure out how to put a line of fabric together. I learned by showing my work to Riley Blake over and over and over again until I finally got it. It took their kind criticism and my extreme determination to figure it out.
Q:
What are some blocks or obstacles you encounter in your creativity, and how do you get past them?
A:
I think that the most common roadblock for me and lots of other people is what to make/draw/create. The way that I fight that is by being constantly curious, particularly about my environment. I also have a bunch of creativity exercises I do to get myself going. Things like blind contours, drawing on pictures, and pulling a prompt from a prompt jar.
Q:
What is your favorite print in the collection?
A:
The White Petals fabric is definitely my favorite.
Q:
What do you plan to make using Twice as Nice?
A:
I am determined to make myself some kind of bag. You know, like an Amy Butler Weekender Bag. Something just for me. And maybe some matching bags for my girls.
Thanks so much for having me visit you on the Jolly Jabber! I love Fat Quarter Shop!!
Hugs and Fishes,
Amanda
Labels: Designer Tidbits, Riley Blake Designs
