We know that the holidays seem to be months away... but at Fat Quarter Shop, it always starts early! Today, we are featuring the new Solstice Collection of Moda Fabric by Kate Spain. So grab some hot chocolate and get comfy in your favorite winter slippers and experience Kate's winter wonderland designs!
Q: Tell us a little about the
Solstice collection. What were you inspired by?
A: One of my favorite things about the holiday season is
bringing winter greenery indoors for decoration. Their fragrance is beautiful
and they add some much needed color at a pretty color-less time of year. I
was inspired by the gorgeous greens of cedar, pine, and spruce that are
abundant here in Connecticut. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and love
meandering through peaceful, snowy woods. Solstice includes a grayish, silvery
blue that is new to my holiday fabric lines and to me it resembles the shadows
cast on fresh-fallen snow. I was also inspired by the whimsy of paper-cut
snowflakes. Those are always fun to make, and a surprise to unfold. They add a
tiny bit of nostalgia to this fabric collection which connects me to all the
wonderful Christmases of my childhood.
Q: What is your design process when
beginning a new collection?
A: For a Christmas/winter line, I mostly try to go back into
memories of the season. Then I like to try to focus on something that made me
happy; hot cocoa, gingerbread cookies, mittens, tree lights...there are so
many! And then, with pencils and paper (and maybe some Christmas music) the fun
begins.
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photo: Corine Gantz, Hidden in France blog
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Q: What design trends are you currently exploring?
A: Funny you should ask this now, as I'm in the midst of
creating my next Christmas/winter line. Design trends for Christmas always seem
to be anchored in traditional themes, so this is where I draw colors and
motifs. I'm loving the Scandinavian folk-inspired trend and may have to
incorporate a little of it in what I'm working on. There's not always symmetry
in my designs so it might be a fun thing to explore.
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photo: Fluid Ink Letterpress on Etsy
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Q: What projects do you hope to see made with
Solstice?
A: I'd
love if Christo and Jeanne-Claude could call Mark Dunn and order 1 million
yards of Solstice fabric ... and then wrap up Times Square with it for the
holiday season. Would be lovely.
All kidding aside, I love the It's Sew Emma quilt "GoodTidings" designed by Jocelyn Ueng. It complements the colors perfectly and
the design is fresh and not too Christmassy so you can use it all winter long.
I also designed a free project sheet that would be a really fun to do as a
quick block-of-the-month since several of the block designs are repeated but
with different fabric prints. In addition to these, any number of holiday
sewing projects would be great to make; stockings, table runners, tree skirts,
and many others.
Q: How do you describe your
style?
A: Bold, graphic, exuberant patterns in harmonious colors. I
think my designs have elements that resonate with something familiar, but are
rendered with an energetic hand that helps to create a connection that I always
hope makes people feel happy. My style is continuously evolving which is part
of what keeps me creatively engaged, interested and happy throughout the
process of making designs.
Q: What is the biggest sewing faux pas that has happened to you?
A: Recently? None. I'm on a perfect streak. Right, I wish! Just
wanted to see what that felt like to say. I make mistakes all the time. I once
laid out a quilt block on my drawing table and picked it up in rows with all
the seams-to-sew on the same side — or at least I thought they were on the same
side. By the time I turned around and walked three feet to my sewing machine
and sewed them together, they were all backwards. I really don't know how that
happened!
Thanks so much for having me on the Jolly Jabber today. I
wish everyone a happy, merry, VERY early holiday!
Labels: Designer Tidbits, Holiday, Kate Spain, Moda Fabric, solstice
