Friday, January 30, 2009

Kid's Apron & Chef Hat

Cupcakes print in a terrific tutorial by Joanna of Stardust Shoes and the hat tutorial of course
and it's reversible! ( the ever popular dumb dot)
and let's don't forget the boys
stripe c323 and party dots

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Corduroy Carnival Bloom


Carnival Bloom has been a VERY popular print, so we're very happy to be able to offer it on 21 wale corduroy! I won't bore you with all the technical obstacles but most printers don't advise doing prints this detailed and on a dark ground on corduroy because they can't guarantee full color coverage because of the surface texture..... well......they did it!!!!



Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Christmas Fairies Tree Skirt

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Who doesn't love Christmas projects?
and who doesn't find themselves around mid December wishing they had the time to make all the projects we have in our well intentioned heads and hearts?!

Joanna at Stardust Shoes has come up with a great idea: a 2009 Advent Calender Sew Along. I think it's such a great idea, I'm applying it to all things Christmas (I love wrapping presents, decorating, yadda, yadda, yadda).

Sooo, with that in mind I'm going to slip in this Christmas tree skirt pattern by Marinda Stewart made from our just released; Christmas Fairies.
and just for a goof it can always fill in for last minute party wear!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Messy Hands sneak Peek

Messy Hands is a really fun print group in primary colors. Perfect for Heather Bailey's Happy Stacker and Joanna's tutorials: mini quilt, wrist rattle, baby rings, and baby blocks
and how about this attention grabbing quilt "Circles and Squares" by Marinda Stewart? Don't expect the little one to fall asleep on this!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

CPSIA

We sent this email to our customers today.

Click here
for the letter and test results
Pls. note: if you have questions pls email: info@michaelmillerfabrics.comm

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Michael Miller in Domino!

I love using fabric on walls, so of course I love this months' issue of Domino featuring our fabric for an ingenious small space storage solution. (great idea for a dorm room).

and while you're checking out magazines: There's a great article in Sew News featuring Paula Prass. Love that studio, see it here !

Monday, January 19, 2009

Cute Critters

These are from the category Cute Critters in the new release. Here's Birds of Norway. I love the way these Bohemian colors jump off the Jet Brown background. Will definitely be building on this color story in the next release.
Grass Menagerie

same print in Blue. I call this Restoration Hardware Baby Blue. We've got a ton of coordinates to go with it in the previously released Silhouette Kids Collection.
and then of course, equal time for the girls!
and if you need a plush baby blankie backing: check out the Big Harlequin made to match

Friday, January 16, 2009

Autumn Flower Fairies

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Here's a few of the soon to be released Autumn Fairies. The panel above measures approx. 43" x 22" -24". I say approximately because the repeat measurements vary due to the finishing process after printing - there's usually some shrinkage.
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we've done the layout below in all the Fairy groups. There's a total of 12 rectangles (2 rows of 6) and 36 small squares (2 rows of 18).
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This opens up all kinds of possibilities! ( I can picture just framing and hanging)..... here's a couple ideas from the previous flower fairy groups on our free quilt pattern page.
Perriwinkle fairies soft book
and of course quilts........ below the Flower Fairy Quilt


Thursday, January 15, 2009

Christmas Fairies sneak Peek

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This is the latest installment of Cicely Mary Barkers Flower Fairies. Here's their fun official site.
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the engravings and printing are beautiful and this was no easy job!

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Andalucia Ebay Launch


More fun stuff going on!..... check out the Ebay Launch featuring Andalucia! Patty Young's debut line for Michael Miller Fabrics. (inspiration galore!)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Jungle Jam sneak peek!

Today's sneak peek is one of those, "if you liked ____ you're gonna love this" kind of deals. It's also one of those stories that you'll need to have read the previous post to understand my reasoning behind building on a color story from one release to another.
Ta da! ... It's Jungle Jam with critters by Shawn.......
and it goes with...... the previously released Pod Posey Collection.
which goes with.........
below left: clown check, clown stripe and kid check (my personal favorite is color candy)
as well as........below right: all the Pod Posey coordinates
Key colors: Orchid, Kiwi, Clementine and Azure.
....and let's not forget the trims! Ruffle Rac and Bias trim
and just in case you need some place for your eyes to rest (this means a solid, non print) we've got our Jet Brown; (think really dark like chocolate/esspresso) it matches the dark brown grounds in most of our prints. Those of you familiar with it may wonder, why so dark? yes I realize it borders on being interpreted as black, but keep in mind: that means if it's not in a big expanse of ground you can sometimes mix it with black ground prints. Another positive is it makes for great contrast with the other colors in the print. Black ground prints are usually big sellers because all the other colors look great on it (It's all about the contrast). Jet brown is just an updated version of Black. If you're wondering why the name "Jet Brown" that's tommorrows story.....

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Pet Deer sneak peek!

Back again with another sneak peek from the upcoming January Release. But first bear with me for a little background: One of the things we do at Michael Miller is build on a color story from one release to another. I do this for a couple reasons;

1. Color trends don't just pop onto the scene out of nowhere. They evolve over time. It takes awhile for our eyes to adjust, accept and like a new color or combination of colors. I usually experiment with a new (edgy) color in a small way in one release and then expand on it in future releases. Such was the case with the color I call Orchid (pink with a violet cast to it).

Here it is in the the top color in "Feeling Groovy" first released in Summer 07'
This was the beginning of color stories to come Orchid and Spa.

2. If I build on a color story with multiple releases it gives the retailer a chance to build on groups as they sell through and always have something "new" and "fresh". ( same logic used in "wardrobe building" when a designer uses colors that work together in progressive collections. I really appreciate it when the blouse I buy today goes with the skirt I bought in the previous collection!)

So here it is the latest installment of Orchid and Spa (the sweet print in the middle is "Pet Deer")

Friday, January 9, 2009

Snow Monkey sneak peek!

We're on a roll now..... Snow Monkeys by Shawn. We couldn't resist putting this on flannel as well as cotton. Just in case you need something to go with it; clown check, clown stripe and the always handy pindots below. We've got these in enough colors to go with just about everything we run. (yes, these go with Bot Camp too!) The color palette below is the retro palette that I've used in all the Dick and Jane prints as well as most all of the kid prints.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Bot Camp Sneak Peek!

It's the New Year and we're back in the saddle. In the midst of preparations for our 1st release of new prints for 09'. The newest collection samples will be shipped to the salesmen mid January but I plan on leaking them to you between now and then.
We ALWAYS get a lot of requests for BOY prints, which is why it's no surprise that the Tot Town Collection by our own Shawn has been so popular. It's also great when someone else acknowledges it: Thanks True Up!
and now for today's sneak peek.............(if you liked Merryville-you're gonna love Bot Camp!)......drum roll please.............!