March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats in the house Is Amazing

sarahsharpIf you haven’t met Sarah of {no} hats in the house, you need to know her.  As a majorly talented and speedy quilter, Sarah can be found paper piecing fabric swatches the size of her pinky nail.  PINKY NAIL! She amazes me and overwhelms me in her ability construct sophisticated beautiful work in what seems to be three minutes. (I know this isn’t true but she always seems to whip things together in no time flat.) Wait until you see what she has to say about working with Succulents.  When we discussed the possibilities creating a pattern that uses my fabric, she texted me a photo of her sketch and crying ensued.  Seriously.  The execution is even better than the drawing, so hold the phone.  Amazing.

Head over to Sarah’s blog and check out what she created and don’t forget to leave a message on her Succulents post for a chance to win fat quarter bundle two of fourteen courtesy of Windham Fabrics!

March 16: Eric Lubrick chatting about photographing Succulents

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Image by Eric Lubrick

That kid Eric Lubrick is a dream.  He’s so talented and kind.  I cannot express how much I dig that dude.  He’s one of those cats that you say “Ohhhh!  I know him!!!” And I’m honored to call him friend.  In fact, he and his wife Cris are succulent fans from way back.  Scroll through their blog and find all the plants.  Dreamy.  Check out what he has to say about photographing my look-book for Windham Fabrics.  I mean, I’m not gonna lie, I was super stoked to be able to style the photographs but this kid knows what he’s doing.

Find his and his wife Cris’s lifestyle blog at http://oartooar.com

Find Eric’s portfolio at http://www.ericlubrick.com/

Happy Monday, y’all!  This big ol’ blog tour will yield fourteen fat quarter bundles being given away.  Be sure to let us know what you think about these projects, these fabrics, these plants each day for MULTIPLE chances to win one of fourteen FQ bundles.  What what?!!?  Move to Eric Lubrick’s blog for the first chance to win!! Amazing.

xoxo

Heather

Succulents is HERE! And I couldn’t be happier. Can you tell?

Photograph by Eric Lubrick

Image by Eric Lubrick of ericlubrick.com

I’m pretty sure the squealing, yelling, and general bursts of crying joy have been a bit much. I apologize if it’s gotten out of hand.  I just can’t stop.  I continue to try to encapsulate the absolute magnitude of my awe but, I fear I haven’t quite captured it yet. Seriously, being asked to be a Windham Fabrics designer is one of the most thrilling things that has ever happened to me.  It’s like getting picked to work with your best friends on a major project, you pick the theme (SUCCULENTS), and you play.  Oh wait, this idea seems to carry me through my life everyday as I interact with this community of creative professionals in Indianapolis and beyond.  Each day is filled with people I deeply love and enjoy being around and I often say in wonderment “is this my life?”  I’m so honored and happy to be doing the work that I am.  There is a full circle of happiness that surrounds me and it’s a great place to be.  We definitely welcome you in to that circle of happiness at Crimson Tate whether it be in our physical space on Massachusetts Ave in Downtown Indianapolis or whether it be on the interwebs as the place where you connect with us, we’re glad you’re here.

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Image by Eric Lubrick of ericlubrick.com

To kick off a major celebration of Succulents, my debut collection for Windham Fabrics, we will be traversing the interwebs, peeking in on those creative professionals and seeing how they have used and interpreted the fabric.  From Eric Lubrick  (who is the bad ass photographer that took all of the photos in the Windham look book) to peeping inside the brain of world renowned quilter Karen McTavish (who my grandma loves) we’ll be traveling around this cool community gathering inspiration.  Here’s the rockstar line-up:

March 15: Heather Givans (me!) of Crimson Tate :: http://www.crimsontate.com

March 16: Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography :: http://oartooar.com/

March 17: Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts :: http://www.nohatsinthehouse.com/

March 18: Lindsay Lefevere of ellesquare :: http://www.elle-square.com/

March 19: Karen McTavish of McTavish Quilting Studio :: http://www.crimsontate.com/

March 20: David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate :: http://www.crimsontate.com/

March 21: Meghan Eschbaugh of Calvin and Carolyn :: https://calvinandcarolyn.wordpress.com/

March 22: Brooke Starnes :: http://www.crimsontate.com/

March 23: Matthew Wheeler of Kapa Quilts :: http://www.kapaquilts.com/

March 24: Samantha Howard of Bobaloo Kids :: http://www.crimsontate.com/

March 25: Amy Garro of 13 spools :: http://www.13spools.com/

March 26: Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts :: https://materialgirlquilts.wordpress.com/

March 27: Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio :: http://www.heatherjonesstudio.com/

March 28: Heather Givans (me!) of Crimson Tate :: http://www.crimsontate.com/

Thanks for getting out the word to all of the succulent lovers in your life!  I think you and they will enjoy the next two weeks of Succulent joy!  Windham Fabrics is giving away fourteen fat quarter bundles during this hop!  So follow along, let us know what moves and inspires you.  The next two weeks are gonna be amazing.

xoxo

Heather

Crimson Tate’s Fireside Holiday Gift Guide

Happy Holidays, friends!  Let your people know what you’d love to have under the tree this year!  We’ve created an easy guide to help the process of selecting.  Click on the photos to be directed to Santa’s workshop where your sections can be made.

01_fireside_cover 02_everysewer 03_Aurifil

Aurifil Thread is a thoughtful stocking stuffer and a necessity for any sewer. Choose a large spool in a variety of colors or a coordinating set of small spools. 100% Cotton. 100% Lovely.

04_Sewing Kit

Our Sewing Kits are collections of our favorite sewing notions poured lovingly inside a mason jar… already wrapped and ready for the giving.

05_Gift Certificate

Choose a Gift Certificate so that your loved one can choose! Gift Certificates from Crimson Tate don’t say, “I had no clue what to get you,” but rather, “I knew you would want to coordinate your own fabrics, dearie-lou!” Gift Certificates can be applied to all fabrics, notions, classes, and gift items at our brick & mortar store in Downtown Indianapolis.

06_beginningsewist 07_Simple Sewing

Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing is chock-full of simple sewing ideas for beginners. Find modern inspiration and quick projects here.

08_Pin Cushion Cuff

The Pin Cushion Cuff is a cute and functional sewing accessory. Don’t forget to load these bad boys up with straight pins for an even nicer gift!

09_Gingher

Gingher Scissors reign supreme. A good pair of sewing shears will last decades with sharpening as needed. Bam in your face.

10_hoarder 11_Charley Harper Bundle

The Charley Harper bundles of organic cotton arrived just in time for ultimate holiday merriment. These fabrics elicit audible gasps from fabric aficionados from the Midwest and beyond.

12_Cotton + Steel

Cotton + Steel Pre-Cuts are popular modern fabrics full of vintage color and design inspiration, and a great way to give a nice variety of fabrics.

13_Follie Bundle

Scandinavian designer Lotta Jansdotter’s Follie is vibrant and fresh. Adorn your favorite fabric collector’s shelves with fun and Follie.

14_quiltingenthusiast 15_Wonder Clips

Not just useful for binding quilts, Wonder Clips put the fun in functional for a wide array of projects!! Choose the box of multi-colored clips for project after project of color-coded joy!

16_Olfa

The Olfa Rotary Cutter makes cutting simple for quilters! Available in 45 MM and 60 MM blade sizes. Measure twice, cut once!

17_Forest Abstraction

We’ve kitted Violet Craft’s Forest Abstractions Quilt for avid paper piecers and woodland creature lovers! Kit includes fabrics for the quilt top and the pattern.

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19_Denyse Schmidt

Holy cats! Show that special someone you really care this holiday season with the big box of Denyse Schmidt Modern Solids fat quarters. 75 stunning fat quarters to make you feel like the kid with the biggest box of crayons.

20_Thimbles


Our Artisan Sterling Silver Thimbles are a beautiful accessory and absolutely functional. The fingertip-like ridge blends clever ingenuity and comfort. Choose from thimbles that are bezel-set with stones, or ones with bee or heart motifs.

21_Oliso

The Oliso Pro Smart Iron is our favorite daily sewing tool. It gets super hot, increases your speed in the sewing room, and it’s just downright enjoyable to use. You’ll surely be the winning little elf with this thoughtful gift!!

22_crimsontatelovers 23_T-Shirt

Celebrate the upcoming release of SUCCULENTS by Heather Givans for Windham Fabrics with your very own Baby Toes T-Shirt! The Softy McSofterson shirt features Heather’s original artwork that appears in the fabric! How cool is that?! A true must-have for Crimson Tate fangirls and boys.

24_Indiana

I HEART Indiana Pillows add a touch of Hoosier pride and comfort to every room. Keep checking back for our ever-changing styles!

25_Harriets


Choose from our wide selection of Harriet Headbands in slim and original widths. A perfect stocking stuffer, or join the Harriet-of-the-Month club for a gift that keeps on giving.

26_Tote


Show off your Crimson Tate love when you’re out and about with the Crimson Tate Tote Bag! Manufactured and sewn in the USA with 100% recycle materials!

27_shipping

:: MY MY MY :: New Fabric for Windham Fabrics

OMG.  I’ve designed a line of fabric for Windham Fabrics and the powers that be tell me, it’s time to start showing the world what I’ve come up with!!  I’m excited to share what has consumed and inspired me over the past few months!!!  Take a look here and come back soon for more unveiling.  Eeeeeeekkkk!!IMG_5003

Is Lotta Jansdotter the New Solid? And other thoughts about Houston Quilt Market 2013

Seriously.  She’s kinda brilliant.  That Lotta Jansdotter is Freshy McFresherson.  I am so happy that Windham Fabrics wooed the queen of Swedish design to their line-up of stellar cast members.  Of course, Lotta Jansdotter is not new to the world of sewing and textile printing.  She has been making handprinted textiles for years.  As a fellow printmaker, I’ve admired how simple her techniques and results are.  In her third line for Windham, she gives us a soft palette perfect for late winter early spring wearings.  Take a visual tour around her booth —–>

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Lotta Jansdotter gives you something to think about.  The roughness and sometimes crude nature of the printed surface is very pretty.  I like that her designs retain that hand printed quality, even though they aren’t hand-pulled prints. (Although all of my favorite printmaking teacher Kathy Reeves would tell you that spotty surfaces is shotty printing, but I like it in this instance.  Sorry Kathy.)  Here’s a closer view of one of those spotty fabrics, this photo taken from Windham’s website.

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The happy news is that this collection is set to be shipped from Windham in early February and obs will be living at Crimson Tate.  If you can’t wait to see it in its entirety, check out both collections on Windham’s website.  One is named Mormor and the other Sylvia.  (Sylvia is Lotta’s granny–her mormor).

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Sylvia is a fantastic range of black and whites which we’ve ALL been waiting for.  Thank goodness.  You’re gonna like it.

xoxo

Heather

If you’d like to use any of the photography seen here, please email me at photouse@crimsontate.com I’m sure we can work it out!

Lotta Jansdotter’s Newest Fabrics Were Announced

Windham Fabrics just announced Sylvia and mormor, Lotta’s newest collections scheduled to be in stores in February.  We’re kinda like a Lotta Jansdotter mecca here in Indiana.  Image

 

Read more about her new collection here on Windham’s blog: 

http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a01156fbc60f3970c019aff8238f1970d

We may or may not be working on our own Sylvia quilt RIGHT NOW.  Did we get a lil’ advanced yardage?! Shhhh.  We can’t say until October 1st.  We gave a blood oath to our buddies at Windham.  Hold on.  

 

xoxo

Heather

 

 

Quilt Market in Portland Spring 2013 – First Impressions – SUCH DESIGNS for the Win.

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In Portland, anything goes.  Laid back.  Hipster.  Grunge.  I’m thoroughly enjoying the culture found here.  Portlandia isn’t far off.  From funky funk doughnut shop VooDoo Doughnuts to the permanent food cart village found right next to my hotel, it’s pretty swell.

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But enough of that for now (although I have more to share and say on the topic).  What I really want to share is my very first impressions of Quilt Market Spring 2013 opening day.  I packed in a lot of appointments Friday touching base with many of the lines of fabrics I don’t get to see unless I’m at quilt market.  By far, my favorite is EVERY SINGLE PIECE of fabric found in SUCH DESIGN‘s premier line called Collage.  Carrie Bloomston is love and light.  She’s generous in spirit and inspired by painter Mark Rothko and environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy, to name a few.  She’s a girl after my own heart.  I love these dudes, too, and their use of color and design.  Check out a few of the products made with her new collection for Windham Fabrics (who I also love desperately).  Note all of those vibrant turquoise and electric purples.  I’m seeing this electric color palette everywhere in more modern manufacturers.  Ohhhh man.  It’s good.

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And then I stumbled into the booth of Cloud 9 Fabrics and the home of Rashida Coleman Hale. Ohhh man. Her color choices will coordinate beautifully with COLLAGE.  Again, the color found in these guys is sophisticated electricity.  And what’s not to love of Rashida’s aesthetic?  Small patterns in rich color.  Keepers. And when paired with linen, whoa.

Rashida Coleman Hale Koi Rashida Coleman Hale Koi Rashida Coleman Hale Koi Rashida Coleman Hale Koi Rashida Coleman HaleThere is SO MUCH MORE to share. Truly, this is just a teeny tiny drop in the bucket of all of the photos and thoughts I have about what’s happening here at quilt market. I’m so happy to have found a few moments to relay my love of Windham and SUCH Designs, Rashida Coleman Hale and Cloud 9 fabrics.  I can’t wait until tomorrow!!  I can’t wait to share what I’ve seen.

xoxo Heather