Sunday, January 29, 2012

Designer Spotlight Sunday: Patty Young

Special treat today:
shares her creative process behind her latest collection:

Hello, everyone! I am thrilled to be participating in today's Designer Spotlight and since more than half of our country is frozen right now, I am here to bring a little color and sunshine into your day! My 7th collection for Michael Miller Fabrics, titled Lush, has begun shipping to fabric stores worldwide, so I thought this would be a great time to tell you a little bit about my inspiration for the line and share some images with you.

Lush came about in my head after a day trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis. The flowers were so colorful and aromatic and the gardens were so green and, well, lush. I just knew I had to do something with the 152 photos I took that day! I came home and started drawing my very first print, which later on became Zinnia Garden.

zinnia-garden

Next I drew the Stargazer print, based on several different photos I took in their Lily gardens. These were a lot of fun to draw...

stargazer

And sometimes, you can use a photo as your basic inspiration then just go rogue from there and add your own touches. That's the beautiful thing about art... you can make it however you want and you will never be wrong!

flower bed

From these three prints sprouted the whole collection. Then it was just a matter of coming up with different colorways and creative names.

lush-sunny

lush-sweet

Now that you know the story behind Lush, I want to share with you some amazing sewn pieces my testers have made to showcase Lush in our new Spring 2012 patterns, which will be in stock on our site in early February.


This is Gretchen, which, for the longest time we affectionately referred to as The German Barmaid Dress, haha. It was originally inspired by a classic dirndl design, but of course, I changed a few things here and there to give it that MODKID look. Gretchen comes in 4 views with different sleeve and hem options. Below are View A (left) and View C (right), but you can see the other two views on the pattern cover in my blog.

Gretchen-blog
Left photo courtesy of Nathalie Bearden (nathaliebearden.com) and right photo courtesy of Kirsten of Oli*beli.


Next is the ChloƩ pattern, a pull-on smock-style dress or tunic which features a rounded-square neckline with a contrasting ruffled yoke, a pair of oversized rounded pockets and a contrast fabric hem band. There are no set-in sleeves to sew, so it goes together in a snap. A wide drawstring cinches the dress tight at the waist for a sweet, girly look.

Chloe-blog
Left photo courtesy of Sam Provenzano (www.puddlejumpersphotography.net). Sewn sample by Andrea Thomas-Lambe. Right photo and sewn sample courtesy of Liz Mouse (www.mommysaidsew.com).

Next is Paige, an adorable and fully-reversible Spring jacket that can also double as a rain slicker if sewn with laminated fabrics. Sew it with a hood for those rainy days or a drawstring collar for a fun and modern look. Have fun mixing and matching designer fabric prints!

Paige-blog
Left photo courtesy of Sam Provenzano (www.puddlejumpersphotography.net). Sewn sample by Andrea Thomas-Lambe. Right photo and sewn sample courtesy of Liz Mouse (www.mommysaidsew.com).

Last, but certainly not least, is our foray into baby and boy patterns, with Natalie and Nate! We've given the classic baby romper a MODKID touch and updated it with some fun details for both boys and girls. Our fully-lined romper means there are no itchy and scratchy exposed seams, plus it looks super cute when the inside fabric peeks out. The romper hits mid-thigh and three snaps in the crotch area make for quick and easy diaper changing. You will want to make this easy project again and again since it comes in infant to toddler sizes to grow with your growing child.

Natalie-and-Nate-blog-01
Test samples and photos by Nathalie Bearden (nathaliebearden.com).

Natalie-and-Nate-blog-02
Left photo courtesy of Angela Marino Photography (amarinophoto.com). Sewn samples by Anna Garner. Right photo and sewn sample courtesy of Kirsten of Oli*beli.

As I mentioned, all patterns will be in stock in just a few days and lots of retailers have already placed their pre-orders, so go ahead and ask your favorite retailer if they've ordered the new MODKID patterns.


Lush is already in stock at numerous fabric shops worldwide.


Thank you all for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed this little creative tour. Leave us a comment and let us know which is your favorite Lush design or your favorite new MODKID pattern. 
 Then, hop on over to Patty's blog for your chance to win a HUGE fabric bundle and a new pattern bundle. Best of luck!!

297 comments:

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Jenifer said...

Love the colors! Makes me ready for Spring time! My favorite colors are the purple and pink zinnias in the sweet palette. Great job! Can't wait to get my hands on some fabric!

mary said...

I love them all, but i think my favorite is the flower bed. thanks for showing us how you come up with your designs

littlegirlpearl said...

Love it! My favorite is the flower bed in the sunny palette. So sweet! Would love to try out the Gretchen pattern as well.

buddhabear said...

I love the flower pot and lotus prints. The jacket pattern is great. most girls patterns are for dresses, this is a nice alternative.

Susan Bates said...

This whole collection is beautiful.

Becky said...

I love Patty Young! Her prints are so bright and fun! I can't wait to try the new Paige jacket for my daughter!

Rag Dolls Rising said...

This was so interesting, love seeing your translation from the photos and how you develop a cohesive group of fabrics. Thanks for sharing behind the scenes.
-Diane

panieracerises said...

Hello from France ! I just love the Sculpted Garden fabric !!! thank you for so much inspiration !

Anonymous said...

Stargazer is my favorite. Can't wait to sew something with this wonderful fabric!

melissamo1 said...

Oh, I love those zinnias!!! and those colors!!! Beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

I do love me some Stargazer in Sweet Palette! The whole collection is fantastic, and I can't wait to get my hands on it so I can start creating!

tkocowgirl@msn.com

MegN said...

It's hard to pick a favorite, but between the two colorways I would have to say the Sunny colorway I love the Sculpted Garden print!

chicklegirl said...

The Gretchen dress is adorable--I'd love to make it for my 4 y.o. daughter!

Anonymous said...

Really. How does one pick a favorite? They are all lovely! Well done, Patty! Nyla-Jean, Kingston, Ontario

Deborah Billings said...

I just adore the Gretchen pattern and there's no possible way to choose a favorite fabric or even colorway! They're all just beautiful!!!

Helen said...

I love the sweet palette and the Natalie and Nate pattern.

mindy b. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mindy b. said...

Such an inspiring Spotlight post! The Sunny collection is so much fun!!!
mindy b.
minski39 (at) gmail (dot) com

Shanley said...

The Sculpted Garden in Grass is a favorite too. My wheels are spinning now!

sewkalico said...

I loved seeing the creative process - wonderful! This fabric line is gorgeous!! The clothes are very very and I hope one day I have time to sew my little girl outfits like these!

bruxellina said...

Definitely the Flower Bed print in the sweet palette colour as well as the reversible spring jacket. My nieces would love that. I have three boys so waiting for more prints...

Marthe, Norway said...

Hi! I`m so happy i got to see your great site, I`m a new "addict" to your beautiful fabrics! How can one pick just one favorite, they all make me happy and positive thinking forward. A sneak-peak on the lovely time ahead of us :0) Thank you, and congratulations on your 7`th collection. This is a happy one : ) Best regards, Marthe, Norway

Rachel said...

These are all so cute. I really like the "Twirling Blossoms."

Anne said...

I believe I need the entire collection. Super pretty!

arncar said...

I love creamsicle zinnia garden and Paige if I have to choose - but I really love them all.

After 2 sons and 1 grandson I now have a 1 day old granddaughter - can't wait to sew things in beautiful girl fabrics.

arncar@actrix.co.nz

Kim W said...

Everything in the Sunny palette is so great, but my favorite is the zinnia print. I try to plant them every year.

The Edmunds said...

Wow! What and exciting giveaway! I love the Zinnia Gardens in the Sweet Palette!

Angela said...

I'm so glad I clicked over here, love your design process. The Raspberry colours in the Sunny colour way, but I can't pick between them.
Thanks for a great giveaway

Anonymous said...

I truely enjoyed hearing your story and seeing the photo's that inspired your wonderful new fabric line, (having to choose a favorite would be like choosing your favorite child.) I love all the fabrics in the Sweet collection, however, I sew for my 6 year old granddaughter and show Loves the Sunny Pallet, and asked if I would make her the Gretchen dress and reversible jacket!

Rosalie said...

What an amazing artist! Her drawings are very close to the actual pictures!! Love the brightness of the fabrics. Especially the Zinnia one.

Louise said...

Wow, what a giveaway! I love Flower Bed multi, so pretty and the Paige jacket. All the patterns and fabrics are amazing.

carol broughton said...

Love them all, but Flower bed is especially lovely. carolann427@aol.com

shayakay said...

I love the Paige pattern, and I can see it in the Twirling Blossoms in Sky print!

Lindsay said...

LOVE LOVE the Stargazer in the sunny palette! It would be so cute on the Paige Jacket for spring!

lorie said...

My fav is the stargazer from the sweet palette. because it is!!!!

indigo's mama said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
indigo's mama said...

Vivid, fun & just lovely. My daughter would adore so many of these.I can't pick a fave either. I do love the Gretchen pattern though!

KrishasKrew said...

I love the Zinnia in the Sweet Palette! krisha_jones@hotmail.com

Carla G said...

I love the Paige jacket - how cute! And the Stargazer lilies on turqoise is my favorite. :)

Ʀble said...

how fun to see your creative process with this line. I love the way you've depicted the flowers.

MSL said...

Just gorgeous! I love the Gretchen and those Zinna prints.

Anonymous said...

Paige is a really cute pattern which I am sure any little girl would just love to wear.
Judith.

BizzyMom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BizzyMom said...

The Paige coat is aDORable!! And, I love the colors of the Sweet palette. :)

Carina said...

I like the whole collection, the modern interpretations of the flowers are just gorgeous. I also love the Nate pattern and the spring jacket.

Carina said...

I like the whole collection, the modern interpretations of the flowers are just gorgeous. I also love the Nate pattern and the spring jacket.

Sherri Gauthier said...

I LOVE Natalie and Nate...can't wait to sew them up!
Sherri

Marsi said...

Thanks for the inside scoop on your design process! Love the Lush in the Sweet Palette & the lovely Paige/ Spring Jacket Pattern!
marsi@kmdezine.com

Lee said...

I love the Paige pattern and the fabric is all lovely! Modern Lotus in purple one of my favorites! thanks for the great giveaway!

Carpenters said...

What a wonderful collection! Stargazer is my favorite and I could just see my daughter in a Gretchen dress in Stargazer raspberry. So cute!

Molly Peters said...

i love zinnia! as far as the patterns go, it's a toss-up between gretchen and paige...so much beautiful stuff, and thank u for such a generous giveaway!
Molly Peters

Anonymous said...

what a great line! i love the stargazer print, so cute!

Anonymous said...

I love the whole collection!

Ginger said...

As a Mom of 2 boys, I love the new boy's patterns.

ginger c at gmail dot com

Kris said...

So cool to get a glimpse at Patty's creative process. Love how the Zinnia print came to be.

April said...

The Gretchen is my favorite new pattern, great twist on the classic German dress. I really like the stargazer print.

Unknown said...

I love the stargazer fabric..My family and I live in Alaska and I love looking at the stars on a clear winters night...it reminds me of why we retired from the Air Force and stayed in AK and why we love both it's wonderful winter and it's beautiful summer. Thanks...con't creating...

Regards, Charlene Neal

Christina said...

I like the Lotus print in the Sunny colorway. Great collection!

Heather Paulson said...

I love the flower bed pattern in the sweet pallete and the the Paige and Nate Patterns are adorable. I am feeling inspired once again. :)

Sew Happily Ever After said...

The new Paige pattern looks pretty awesome!!!!!!!!! And I simply LOVE ll of the sweet colorway...it's just too hard to pick only 1 favorite! LOL!
sewhappyeverafter at att dot net

Sharon T said...

I love the Sunny palette the best. It's so perfect for spring dresses for my girls!

Patrice said...

I adore the reversible jacket and can't wait to make one!!!

Jessica Finlinson said...

Love the Lush Sweet Palate. Beautiful colors! I love, love, love the blue and green!

Anna O said...

The fabric is SO beautiful!! Thanks so much for sharing your creative process. It's awesome to see how inspiration turns into actual fabric. The patterns (kiddos) are adorable!

Carolyn said...

Beautiful, fresh designs!
Although hard to pick, my favorite fabric is Tossed Leaves in the Sunny Palette. I also like the Paige jacket pattern. So cute!
Thanks for your hard work and exacting efforts!

Heather @ The Beating Hearth said...

So pretty. I love flower bed. Thanks for the giveaway!!! This would make a luscious quilt.

Lynne said...

The Paige pattern and sunny palette are my favorites.

Daydreams and Reality said...

I love, love, love Flower Bed and the Paige Jacket. I hope I win!! I would sew up a storm for my 11 granddaughters!

Hoot Couture said...

Love Lush! Your designs & color choices are vibrant & spirit lifting ~ they remind me that Spring will be here soon :-) Picking a favorite is difficult- I'll say twirling blossoms for now...

Micmacker said...

I'm a sucker for zinnias, and I'd love to try out the print on that sweet jacket!

Jerry said...

My favorite is Flower Garden in the sunny colorway!

Rachel said...

Love the Chloe Pattern and the sweet palette!

Rachelq8@hotmail.com

Sharon T said...

Love the Modern Lotus in Creamsicle and the "Gretchen" pattern.

sharon(dot)terrell(at)yahoo(dot)com

blandine said...

Hi!
I follow your blog from France.
I am a fan of you work, so colorful and joyful!!
The new collection is awesome.
I really like Natalie and Nate as well as the printed fabric, that's why it's so hard to make a choice... Stargazer!! :)

Thank your so much

Paula said...

I love it ALL, but I also love the Flowerbed print!!!

Nana B said...

Beautiful fabrics my fav is the Sweet Pallette.

willemijn said...

Hi,
I totally like the sunny pallette, the fabric with the flowers and greens are adorable! I must make that in a jacket for my little girl!
My best,

Willemijn

Kristie Gilbert (BOO! Designs) said...

I am totally loving Happy Dot in Sky... it compliments this collection perfectly and would go so well with so many other lovely fabrics as well. Congratulations. I loved seeing your inspriation and how it turned into fabric!

Apun Ujjin said...

They all my favorites but if I had to choose I love the Zinnia fabric and the Chloe pattern. I love all of Patty's collection, great job!

Julie Murphy said...

I'm definitely going to make a Paige soon. My favorite patterns are Vintage Daisies and Twirling Blossoms.

Kim Nugent said...

I love the new fabrics and the raincoat pattern! So perfect to brighten up rainy spring days.

mez said...

I love the White Flower Bed fabric and the Paige pattern. They are really lovely.. Mary

Megan said...

So hard to just choose one, I love the Zinnia print in the summer palette, just gorgeous!

Anna said...

Love the "Modern Lotus" fabrics! Such a gorgeous fabric range!

reesgirl (at) hotmail (dot) com

Tanya said...

I love the whole new line. My favorite pattern would have to be Natalie and Nate. Wish my kids were still babies :(
Tanya
tjdc@tds.net

Jessica said...

love flower bed, can not wait to start to create

Natural Feed said...

Flower bed is my fav... it feels like Spring in Michigan, so this just keeps those warm days ahead in mind!

karen @ Smarticle Particles said...

I love the zinnias!

~ Lollipop Doodles ~ said...

Congratulations again! You are such an inspiration! I love the zinnias..it's like a gorgeous garden in the Spring time!

Kate S said...

I love the Gretchen and Chloe dresses! And the Zinnia Garden print in BOTH colorways is just wonderful!

Raeann said...

I love the Zinnia fabric. Your fabric is so pretty. I am also liking the Gretchen pattern.

Literacy-chic said...

I love the Lush Sunny palette! I will probably get three of the 4 new patterns eventually, but I especially like Paige and ChloƩ. I'm a HUGE fan of ModKid Patterns and Patty Young fabrics!

SarahB said...

Such cute new patterns! Lush is beautiful and I think my favorite would have to be the Zinna print because it reminds me of all the zinnias we had in the garden when I was growing up. I like both color ways but think I'd go with sweet for my girls. :)

Samah said...

I am amazied by the ociany color of LUSH SWEET PALETTE collection. I can think of many ideas to use it I really wish i win this give away.

elizlind said...

I love the stargazer fabric!

Anonymous said...

I love your space ! And I love your patterns, they are every little girls dream !

Sheryl said...

I like the zinnia print. The Lush Sweet Palette is really pretty. I love sewing little girls clothes.These fabrics would surely make some cute outfits!!

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