Friday, August 28, 2015

The Great Pattern Hack Challenge WINNERS!

 And the winners are.... Drum roll, please.....
Grand Prize- Jessica Bustos!!
 Grand Prize:
10 amazing sewing patterns
15 yards of MMF fabric: winner's choice
Your own feature on Making It Fun!
A Janome DC2015 Sewing Machine!!
Total value of the prize $1,000!
 You can find Jessica on her blog, Lil Luxe Collection, where she talks about her Great Pattern Hack process.
Jessica is also on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest
Stay tuned for our special blog feature on Making It Fun starring, Jessica!
  
........................
 
Runner Up- Paola Phillips!!
Runner Up:
6 sewing patterns
10 yards of MMF fabric: winner's choice
You can find Paola on her website, Sweet Julia, where you'll find more adorable photos and a description of her hack!
Paola is also on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest

........................
Honorable Mention- Kari Steiger!!
 Honorable Mention:
5 yards of MMF fabric: winner's choice
Total value of the prize $60!
You can find Kari on her blog, that's sew kari, with more details about her hack!
Kari is also on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
........................ 
Thanks very much to everyone who participated in the Great Pattern Hack of 2015!! This was a difficult decision since ALL of the submissions were amazing.
 
 ...and to our lovely sponsors!
Congratulations to our winners!
Happy sewing and have a great weekend everyone!
xo,
Kait 

Friday, August 14, 2015

Cotton Couture & the Ventana Quilt! (+ a giveaway)

Several months ago I asked the talented, Nydia Kehnle if she would make an Autumn inspired quilt for us using Cotton Couture... I think she nailed it :)
Nydia used the Ventana quilt pattern which she designed with Alison Glass for the Skill Builder Series. The quilt teaches foundation paper piecing with a top press technique and it's pre-cut friendly!
 Love that colorful matchstick quilting!!
 If you would like to view the Cotton Couture colors that Nydia chose for Ventana, Please click on the link below--

We'd love for YOU to make this quilt! 
Together with Nydia, we're hosting a giveaway... you'll have the chance to win a bundle of Cotton Couture and a copy of the Ventana pattern!

28 Cotton Couture fat 1/4's
1 yard Cotton Couture for the binding
4 yards Cotton Couture for the background
1 copy of the Ventana pattern!

Just let us know your favorite quilting technique and/or a technique that you'd like to learn.
 **Congratulations to Mary on Lake Pulaski who said,
"My favorite quilting technique is paper piecing - love the accuracy!"

Happy sewing and have a great weekend everyone!
xo,
Kait 

Friday, August 7, 2015

Behind the Scenes with Sarah Campbell!

By now, I'm sure you've heard about our newest licensed designer, Sarah Campbell. Her first collection with Michael Miller is called Melodies.

We want you to get to know her, so, for our next "Behind the Scenes" segment, we've interviewed the one and only, Sarah Campbell!!
Q: Can you please give us a brief intro to who you are and what you do for Michael Miller?
A: I'm a textile designer and painter of patterns and my first range for MMF, "Melodies" has just begun to ship to stores. It's built around a favourite theme of bright birds and leaves with small geometrics and spots.... my second collection is being sent to the mill as we speak and the third is busy hatching...
Q: What's your favorite piece of work that you have created, your favorite project or your favorite part of the work day?
A: I love the early morning, especially when I wake with an idea that just has to be painted down before I do anything else - it happens!
*at home with Sarah...
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Recently, I traveled to Guadalajara to run a course at the HardToFind art school - "adventures in painting patterns". I also work with West Elm on a regular basis so there are always exciting projects to develop for them, and then there's the new collection for MMF to be painted.
*HardToFind Art School - Adventures in Painting Patterns
Q: What are your goals for the future, both work wise and life?
A: My main goal is to stay on the planet making new and interesting work for as long as possible..

Q: What are you doing when you're not creating or at work? What hobbies do you have?
A: I dig my allotment when I can... and cheer on my grandsons at their football matches.

Q: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
A: I have a habit of making terrible puns - and laughing at them!

Q: Do you have any tips or inspiring words for others?
A: For me, faced with a new project or challenge - my first instinctive response is usually a good signpost.

Q: Do you admire any artists?
A: Very very many - in textiles, the designer and painter, Sonia Delaunay, is pretty high on my list, I love the inventiveness of Alexander Calder, the sensuous colour and forms of Matisse, the brilliant wit of Picasso, the dancing lines of Dufy, the poignant portraits of Rembrandt.... I could go on -  and on! 

Closer to home there are many makers whose work I admire and enjoy - it's a double treat to put beautiful flowers into a jug made by a friend, to sew a pal's hand-made ceramic buttons on my jacket.

There are also all of the 'unknowns' - the designers, makers, embroiderers, weavers, cloth-workers, lace-makers, knitters - that have clothed our world over the centuries.
*two of Sarah's favourite jugs...
Q: What is your favorite...
Color: How could I choose?
Animal: I like making my own creatures!
Season: Maybe the Spring, but they all have their charms.
Movie: So many - but I always love that last line in 'Some Like it Hot' - "So what - nobody's perfect!"
Book: George Eliot's 'Middlemarch'
Vacation spot: Vacation? That's an interesting idea...
Food: a tomato sandwich - made with tomatoes that have been warmed in the sun, fresh bread, butter, salt and a basil leaf - and left to stand for about a half an hour on a pretty plate so the juices permeate.

Q: What else should we know about you and your work?
A: I love new commissions and collaborations - I've been invited to be a part of a human library as part of a new project in London, the Museum of Empathy - I'll be a sort of talking reference book!

And, last year I made a greenwood table from start to finish!
*greenwood table
Q: Where else can we find you?
Twitter: SarahCamDesigns
..................

Thanks so much, Sarah! We can't wait to share some sneak peeks of your next line!!

To view the Melodies collection by Sarah Campbell, click on the image below...
Melodies is in stores now!
http://www.michaelmillerfabrics.com/shop/collections/melodies.html

Happy sewing and have a great weekend everyone!
xo,
Kait