View from inside my house. Woodruff Place Victorian neighborhood. Note the sand colors.
We did it. We traversed across the blog-a-sphere and peeked in on a slug of creative friends who have put Succulents to good use. I’m totally honored and proud of the company I keep, my friends and creative colleagues. I wanted to cap off the tour with a little story of where the ideas came from plus a few more thank yous.
The Beginnings of Caring for Succulents
The design process for me starts with pencil on paper. And then again, more pencil on paper, from doodles to realism. I like to explore the range and often land somewhere in the fringe with elements of realism but mostly a whimsy style. Through this process for Succulents, my first collection for Windham Fabrics, I wanted desperately to hangout in greenhouses and nurseries among the warm air that the cacti breathe. As a mid-westerner, cold winter months draw me to those places of tropical relief. And to think it’s only a short trip across town to smell the earthy dirt and moist air, I’ll take it. If I’m going to be totally honest and reveal my absolute nerdiness (which I’m totally ok with) you should know that I’ve been a member of the Cacti and Succulent Society of America for the past 15 years. I subscribe to the technical journal and read it religiously. It’s always a great day when the journal shows up in my mailbox. I dream of traveling to South Africa to witness some of my favorite plants in the wild.
In my not so distant past I had a huge collection – over a hundred varieties – of various succulents and cacti. One of my favorite things is when people bring me cuttings of their heirloom plants. I am thoroughly convinced that plants that are gifts grow much better than plants you buy for yourself. It’s easy to share many kinds of succulents because the less finicky varieties just regenerate in new dirt.
Flux‘s beautiful green typewriter
They don’t mind, either, if you neglect them. In the winter months when they are sitting in all of my south facing window sills, I ignore them until they cry out, playing Mr. Obvious that they need a drink! Being inspired by their funky leaves, sometime fat and transparent, is easily done. Often succulents are totally CUTE, too, so that doesn’t hurt.
BIG FAT THANK YOUS!! Here’s a short list of the humans I love and appreciate their help. (Obs, there are too many to list, but these few need a special shout-out)
Thank you to Jamie MacDougall, my dearest and best friend, who made me lots of dinners and coffee when I would submerse myself into what I was working on so I didn’t have to worry about life details.
Thank you to David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate – truly my right-handed right hand man and bestie.
Thank you to Shannon Brasovan of Practice Indie who is my guru & yogi who has been teaching me how to keep balance in my life.
Thank you to Laura, Sandy, Alex, and Mickey of Windham Fabrics who just plain get me and are total pleasure to work with.
Thank you to Kristofer Bowman of The Inventorialist who allowed me to use his space to take some of the photography seen in the look-book and rushed vintage ledger papers over without questioning me on why.
Thank you to DeAnne Roth of Flux Antiques & Curiosities who allowed me the use of her super cool typewriter that I typed the text on for the collection and inspired one of the color-ways of the text prints.
Thank you to Chris DePrez of Fountain Square Clay Center who allowed me to come in an throw a bunch of pots for Quilt Market last fall.
Thank you to Joey Ponce of JoeyPonce.com who is an all around amazing human.
Thank you to my mom who cleaned my house a couple of times when I couldn’t seem to get to it. And thank you to my dad who has done a ton of ironing for me in the last year.
Thank you to the customers and community of Crimson Tate for entertaining me and sharing in the joy that has been this past year. Thanks for supporting us and for dreaming with me. Soooo good! Don’t forget, today is your last day to enter the drawing for one of fourteen complete fat quarter bundles of Succulents.
THANK YOU TO MY PRECIOUS LITTLE LOVERS WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. Drop by their blogs and give ’em some sugar.
March 15: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
March 16: Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography
March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts
March 18: Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare
March 19: Karen McTavish of McTavish Quilting Studio
March 20: David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate
March 21: Meghan Eschbaugh of Calvin and Carolyn
March 22: Brooke Starnes of Crimson Tate
March 23: Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts
March 24: Samantha Howard of Bobaloo Kids
March 25: Amy Garro of 13 spools
March 26: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts
March 27: Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio
March 28: Heather Givans of Crimson Tate
In closing, comments that celebrate who inspires you, helps you endlessly, or make you happy receive a big hug and high five.
xoxo
Heather
Heather Givans 
Wonderful way to weave all of this beauty together. Inspired by many, rely on a few, my husband, the significant other, is the one who makes it work!
The collection is beautiful!
I love this collection. What an amazing accomplishment. Can’t wait to see what comes next. Hope to make it to your shop again on my next trip to Indy.
Congratulations to you, Heather. A wonderful collection that contains your passion and “fun-ness”. I am always inspired by my soon-to-be DIL, Miss Meggie, from Calvin and Carolyn. She, too, has passion for all things fabric, color and design. Hoping to stop in at Crimson Tate in 2 weeks and see your collection in person. Best to you in the future!!!
My husband is fabulous – he makes me want to be a better person and inspires me every day. I’m truly the luckiest woman on the planet.
Thanks so much Heather for sharing your vision and fabric with us.
Wonderful news to hear that ‘Succulents’ have made it to Duluth, Minnesota! What a beautiful collection of fabric. I still can’t decide which one is my ultimate favorite. But then, now that I can purchase it, I won’t have to pick just one favorite. Congratulations, Heather! Amazing, amazing.
Thanks for hosting the blog hop for Succulents. I enjoyed visiting everyone’s blog and seeing their projects.
congrats on some gorgeous work, all around!
Love this collection and all the love you put into it. Can’t wait to share the first quilt of many I’m making using it. My hubby who buys me Crimson Tate gift certificates is a great inspiration but you and David REALLY inspire me with your energy and enthusiasm and love of fabric!
My wonderful husband is who inspires me every day – he makes me strive to be a better person. Thanks so much Heather for sharing your ideas and fabrics with us – can’t wait to see the next collection!
Loved the blogs and the fabric is beautiful. Will be down to get some. Congratulations Heather!
It has been fun to see all of the ideas and fun photos of your fabrics in action!
I enjoyed the hop and look forward to finding Succulents at my LQS.
So so proud of you, friend. You really did it!! Cacao!! 😍
xoxoxo I supes love you, Melissa.
It’s been a wonderful hop to celebrate a wonderful collection. Thank you so much. I’ve enjoyed following along, I look forward to reading more about Scandia and am defintiely looking forward to using some succulent fabrics as soon as I can get some ordered. I’m also looking forward to seeing what comes next. And you are so right about succulents not minding neglect. In fact in my house they thrive on neglect, as that’s pretty much what my house plants seem to get most of the time, but I never foget them and they never cease to bring joy.
Heather, I’m just so happy for your success with Crimson Tate and with Succulents. I look forward to seeing what’s coming next!!! I can’t wait to get started on my quilts for my half brothers in Arizona!!
Thanks so much for the wrap up blog post. This fabric line is beautiful.
I really enjoyed reading about the process you went through to create your succulent line. We lived in Tucson, Arizona for a short time when we 1st got married. I love the dessert there, it’s very beautiful. Best wishes with your next line and congratulations on your success.
Yayyyy! Dana! You won!!!! Please send me your contact information and I’ll forward it on to Windham! heather@crimsontate.com — and thank you for the kind wishes. I love the desert, too!!!
I have enjoyed the blog hop and everyone projects with the fabric
I really enjoyed the blog tour and thank you for sharing your design process.
Enjoyed reading a little about your creative inspiration for this line. Can’t wait to see the next! Congratulations on a fabulous line 🙂 My husband is a huge inspiration source in my creative process.
What a wonderful blog hop so many ideas and with great fabric to boot…..My helper and inspiration is my daughter…….And my grandson…………..
Congrats Heather!!! Succulents is a great fabric line!!! Can’t wait to see what you design next! 🙂
My husband supports my quilting my being a great dad. I’m also inspired by beautiful fabric, nature, and artwork.
OMG Heather…we have got to be related some how…I have been a member of the African Violet Society for decades :0) When I was a kid I would ave my money and ride my bike to Delhi Garden Center down the road and buy african violets that bloomed in a variety of colors and some with variegated leaves and some with the lacy frilly edged leaves…..I even asked for house plant/african violet books for birthdays and Christmas….talk about the nerd!! Your fabric is lovely and you can see the passion in it…your shop is adorable and om my list of happy places to go if I am feeling a bit blue…..I hope to meet you one day soon!!
The person who inspired me (and my mom) to quilt in 1980 was a little elderly lady named Sadie.After 2 years, I had to go back into the work force. I have joined a quilt guild now that I am retired and now I have more than 50 ladies to inspire me and I have tired to inspire others with my knowledge. Thanks to all that made the Succulents trip through all the blogs and reading the stories and seeing all the wonderful projects that were made with this beautiful fabric collection.
Love your fabric collection.
Thanks for all the inspiration from your bloggers!
Look forward to seeing what comes next…
The line is truly gorgeous! Congratulations and thank you for sharing. I have enjoyed the blog hop. The pictures alone have been a true treat to look at.
Heather, from your giant smiles, enthusiasm, to your fun designs, to the gorgeous photos, and more. The blog hop, Crimson Tate, and all the succulent fabrics and projects have been awesome. Keep up the good work and keep smiling. Hmm, sounds like you are an inspiration!
The world is excited for you… Yes you.. One of us, who made it to the big stage, and is now accepting a standing ovation. So proud of you Heather. You have done something pretty incredible , with lots of pizazz, hoopla, and well deserved accolades. Succulents will never be the same! Crimson Tate will forever be attached to them! You are an inspiration. Thank you Heather for the fun blog hop, and your contagious enthusiasm . Dreams do come true!
The collection is wonderful and I can’t wait to buy some. So great for the Spring and Summer months.
Love hearing more about your process and what inspired you. Love succulents and understand their odd ways.
Not to get all mushy, but you inspire me! Your shop, your fabric line, your attitude — and your friends! I loved getting to know them all through this blog hop!
This has been such a fun tour. Definitely can’t wait to make a project.
Thanks for such a fun hop! I get inspired and supported by my dear husband. He views quilting with puzzlement (just cutting up fabric and sewing it back together?!) but if it makes me happy he’s all for it.
My hubby is who inspires me daily. Loved the hop and meeting all the designers. Your fabric will never go out of style, it is beautiful. Thank you for being so up beat! Thank you for the giveaway.
It’s always interesting to me how much everything around me is inspiring. Kids playing and creating, squeezing lemons (for 2 hours!) with my husband, visiting with my Mom and Dad, and hanging out with my siblings when I’m lucky enough to do that. Thank you for this delightful line that sends me back to an earlier time in my life. It’s stirring all kinds of movement in my heart.
Such a great hop featuring a beautiful fabric collection… I am sad to see that it is over, but I have so many projects spinning in my head, I’m good for awhile! Thank you to bloggers like the ones featured who always inspire me, I only wish I didn’t have to work, so that I could dedicate much more time creating!!
I really enjoyed following along and seeing all the creativity. My favorite was the little girl dresses, probably because I’ve recently become a grandma to an adorable girl baby!! I am in love and can’t get enough of her 🙂
What a great line of fabric. Can’t wait to see the next one!!
Wonderful fabric, so fresh and original! Great inspiration along the way, too, and SUCH generosity by the folks at Windham. Whoa and wow. Congrats to you! Even if you’re unseasonably cold still (where oh where is Spring in the mid-West and out-East?) your heart should be warm, knowing you’ve created your very own fabric line, and provided more inspiration for SO MANY of us out here in blogland! Thank you!
Congrats to you on such a fabulous line!!
Heather, I find peace in reading about your journey, your love for succulents, inspiration in designing this collection and seeing it coming to fruition (Double High 5)…I can’t wait to sew and quilt with it in my home. It’s so calming to see all those greens together and how harmonious they are. Can’t wait for the post on the Scandia quilt…
Former Midwesterner myself (Wisconsin) so I feel your need to escape the cold months:)
Congrats on the launch and thank you for such a breathtaking collection.
May your second collection will be equally as tranquil.
Congrats again on this beautiful fabric, it is almost as awesome as you are! I’m inspired by my surroundings daily. My girls, their dad, our farm, the country views out of our windows. I feel blessed everyday that I get to live, work and raise our family here in rural, Central Indiana.
What a fun collection and blog hop!
This collection is amazing, so fresh and different! I love it and can’t wait to use it to make some of those cute paper pieced succulents!
Thanks for sharing! Beautiful collection, can’t wait to see the next one! My Mom and hubs are my inspiration and greatest supporters ❤
I love this collection, you did a great job. I loved reading about your inspiration!
Wonderful job – love the fabrics!!!
Love love love the collection. Can’t wait to see the next one. Hope you are getting more succulents in your shop. I still need some more of the grey so I can pet it. 🙂
Congratulations, the fabric is really beautiful!!! Can’t wait to see the next one.
Dianne
I just love this line!!! I ordered a kit but I really need the whole bundle. Thank you for such beauty.