Cotton + Steel Collection: August by Sarah Watts

Hello everyone and Happy Sunday! Sarah Watts is an illustrator and surface/textile designer. She makes up the fifth member of the Cotton + Steel dream team! Sarah has worked with companies such as Carters, Hallmark Cards, and Simon & Schuster to name a few! Her new fabric collection, August is a representation of power and strength. Read on to find out more about her collection! 

Q: Tell us about your Collection. What were you inspired by?
A: I love animals and nature. I wanted my first collection with Cotton+Steel to be one that represented power and strength. That's where the lion comes in! August is about making wishes, going after your dreams, and being resilient through the journey. It's also about all the fun along the way. It was a lot of work to get to this point and meet this amazing team and I feel that August is a good representation of that.  

Q: What is your background in textile design? 

A:  I got my start in textile design working at Carter's/Osh Kosh designing artwork and prints for children's clothing. I learned a lot about the apparel side of textile design. After Carter's I went to work at International Greetings. There I designed stationery and gift wrap and learned design processes on paper goods. I feel that these jobs were an invaluable extension to my education in Illustration.  

Q: What projects do hope to see made with your collection?  

A: Everything! A quilted helicopter that works. A quilted parachute that hopefully works. A miniature city made of soft blocks. A life-size Godzilla stuffed animal. Cute outfits for lions. A dust cover for a house. A giant hair bow for an elephant. But seriously, anything made from my fabric would be cool. :)

Q: How do you describe your style?

A: A lot of people say that my work looks like woodblock prints. I love that! I work in pen and ink, and I tend to draw from a narrative perspective. My work is inspired by antiques and vintage treasures. Nature is a continuous theme. There is something so mystical about the woods and all the little worlds you find in a forest.  

Q: What does Cotton + Steel mean to you?

A: C+S is a group of friends to work obsessively with, while also calling them my sisters. I have so much fun with these girls, and respect them so much. I admire everyone's strength and motivation. It is a blessing to be a part of it and be able to bounce ideas and grow stronger as an artist.  

SURPRISE! RJR and Cotton+Steel have graciously donated fat quarter bundles for us to giveaway! Today, we are giving away Sarah Watts' August Fat Quarter Bundle to one lucky winner. Just enter the giveaway through Rafflecopter below! The more entries you complete, the more chances you have to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway