Fresh Figs

Fig & Plum Winners

I have to tell you that reading each and every one of your comments makes me want to stop making patterns, get rid of all my computers, snuggle down with some applique in front of a roaring fire, make apple cider and go to pumpkin patches every day! I want to do nothing  but play in leaf piles with my kids, make hearty soups and take long walks in woods of turning leaves....

 

Okay.... fantasy over, back to reality. But seriously, your comments have really reminded me of what is important and has lasting value and that whether or not I finish one more pattern before Market just doesn't really matter. Thank you for that reality check.... I needed it! You're all awesome readers and I so appreciate you.

The names of the winners are:

Terry----posted on 9/24 at 2:01

Ann----posted on 9/25 at 4:29

Annie Davis--- posted on 9/26 at 5:10 

If you are one of thost three lucky ladies, please email me your mailing address and I will get your goodies out to you!

I am about ready to show some sneak peeks of the afore mentioned patterns, so stay tuned for something in the next few days.

Fig & Plum News & A Giveaway

So I hear that Fig & Plum has officially hit the streets or the shops rather. Why do I feel that every time a new collection finally reaches your hands that it has been the longest wait ever? None of the waits are probably any longer than the rest but somehow the one you are waiting for currently feels longer than all those others that came before… don’t you think? I am not known to be a patient person and this fabric designer thing certainly pushes that button on a regular basis, thank you very much!

Anyway, I am thinking that Fig & Plum is a perfect autumn collection… the Fig Tree way.  Based on a faded vintage cream the line works in everything from a deep, saturated plum color to faded taupey-greys [a color by the way that if you’ve never worked with before… ooh, la, la… you’ll be pleasantly surprised as to the instant vintage flavor it adds to a project]. In between, you will find soft tangerines, lavender mauves, aqua blues and crisp apple greens…. just writing about it makes me want to play with it again! Here are a few pics of our favorite swatches and  projects… 

 

And I couldn't resist, I just made a few more of these Scarfletts… 

I tell you I could have one to match every autumn outfit… but the ladies on the street might think I’ve gone slightly off my rocker [ I say ladies because who know if the guys would even notice…  what is that thing around her neck??  :-0]. And the bags…

Ella and I just finished one for her ballet class, could you get any cuter? It took us all of  an hour... I could go on at the mouth.. you know I can… but I’ll stop & leave you some time to go to your favorite quilt shop and snap up a bit of that Fig & Plum for yourself but don’t wait too long…

So to officially welcome Fig & Plum to stores nationwide, we are having a little giveaway. Leave a comment on the blog telling us your favorite autumn thing and you will have a chance to win a Fig & Plum Jelly Roll, a Fig & Plum Layer Cake and a Fig & Plum bundle of the newest patterns.

I’ll start by telling you that my absolute favorite thing about autumn is… well, I can’t just choose one so here is a list… I know I am cheating:

Piles of orange, red & yellow leaves

Zucchini bread

Thick sweaters

Pumpkin Patches

Crisp air

Butternut squash soup with sage [the recipe for this will be in our newest Fresh Vintage #10]

Fresh new school clothes

… okay, I could go on forever. I love autumn!

Talk to you soon.

 

Studio Updates

We are knee deep in that wonderful time of the year known as "pre-Market".... need I say anything else! My advance yardage is finally here, my patterns are all about half done, my printer sees me pretty much every day and there are swatches and half used bolts of fabric all over the studio, the offices and even the living room. In fact since I was sick last week, my design computer has taken up house on our living room coffee table and my butt is seldom seen leaving the couch.... I could command armies from this post... wait a minute, I am commanding armies from this post!

In the midst of the chaos that we all expect this time of the year, we have a few tidbits to share with you....

Our soon to be released Fig & Plum collection was featured in Country Living magazine this month! Our Jelly Roll & Jelly Stars pattern are a part of the fun Quilters Page. Thank you Country Living.

We have a special little kit coming up.... our Cell Phone Cuties pattern [one of our top sellers at the moment] is being featured in the Holiday Gift Guide in the next issue of American Patchwork & Quilting. The kit for sale contains enough fabric & all accessories to make 2 cell phone covers. After all your friends might need a little hand made gift but you need one for yourself too, don't you?

We are happy to be the featured US designer in this month's issue of the Australian Homespun Magazine. A wonderful publication that we are so glad to finally be a part of!  Thank you Homespun readers and thank you Catherine for waiting for us to have a break in our schedule to submit something for your wonderful French themed issue... it must have been meant to be because after all what other issue could possible be a better fit for us than the French one?

This little "Fleur De Lys" wall hanging is available only in the 9-9 issue of Homespun magazine so ask your LQS for a copy while supplies last.

talk to you soon.

Various & Sundry...

For the longest time, I had no idea what the words in that phrase above in the title actually were. Variousandasundry..... I just kind of said it all as one work, never stopping to think about what I was actually saying. Then one day I found the cutest little store in San Rafael CA... called, you guessed it, Various & Sundry [I don't even think it's there anymore].  How's that for your vocabulary tidbit for the day... most of you probably already knew it :-)

So here is a few various & sundry items that i have been wanting to share with you...

So here is a few various & sundry items that i have been wanting to share with you...

1. I once again have had the wonderful invitation to go to Paris... well to work & teach in Madrid for MODA and then to play in Paris this November! How lucky can one girl get, I ask you? This time I am trying to be prepared and am asking all of you ahead of time if there is anyplace that I really need to see or experience.... Please feel to email me or leave a comment... I would absolutely love any and all advice. 

..... just because you know this is how I dress when I am in Paris..... 

2. I was over on Paula's fun blog the other day and found these amazing paintings she had just finished. I can't wait until she makes them into prints or cards or anything!  Have I ever shared with you that I have a

thing for chairs?  Yes, love those chairs...

   

3. Loving these little coasters from MODA...

4. And last but definitely not least, a little sharing of a tiny swatch from the upcoming line we've been talking a bit about, debuting in Houston this fall.... 

Talk to you soon.

Something new...

Today is the first day that all three munchkins are in school at the same time... There is a glorious stillness in the house. I am even afraid to play my MammaMia music so as to not disturb the quiet. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE spending time with all 3 of my creatures [that is an affectionate name even if it doesn't sound like it. A story for another time]. But don't get me wrong, I LOVE the hours of stillness when they are otherwise occupied :-)!

Definitely a day to finish up a few projects, a lot of paperwork & a little bit of sewing...  

On a random side note, I finally figured out how to change my header... what do you think? It was way overdue and I am embarrassed to point out that it took we this long to click a few buttons. I tell ya that if its technical and I am not forced to use it.... I won't! 

The new Market line has been finalized and sent off to print and I am in that waiting period that all designers are all too familiar with. I even have my wonderful scans so I can dream and vision and drool over my own swatches... but no real yardage yet, not for some time... So here are a few little images of some posters that I got to decorate my market booth with. Aren't these just good enough to eat?  Give you any idea on what the theme of the fabric might be?  No blue in this line, but the theme is definitely there.

 

On the pattern front, we have just released 5 new patterns to go with our in between collection, Gypsy Rose. The fabric won't arrive in stores until late November but the patterns are being ordered by stores right now and are selling like hotcakes!  Especially this one.... stockings & strawberries. A design idea that one of my assistants Keiko came up with!  Making me happy right now...

Talk to you soon.