Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Sorbet Color Story

As promised, I'll be sharing a new color story 
every Wednesday
along with the thought process behind it.
and
a
giveaway!
Let's get started with one of my personal favorites Sorbet.  
It's feminine and flattering to many (especially blondes). 
Since I mentioned Blondes I'm going to share something with you:
Before starting Michael Miller one of my many jobs was working as a "customer stylist" for different fabric companies.  When a manufacturing company (apparel, handbags, uniforms; medical scrubs, home accessories, etc etc) needed custom designed fabric I'd come up with the print and color combinations to their liking.  It was a terrific  education.  
I developed a little game with myself;
  Most of the clothing designers I worked with were women and seemed to have predictable color preferences based on;   

hair color

skin color

the state she lived in


Keep in mind I wanted to present artwork that got approved.  
People pleasing 101.  Give'm what they want.
Obviously I wasn't always right, like I said it was a game I played in my head.
This is a girly girl color story. It's one of those trends that cycles in and out of fashion but never really goes away.  
Loved by blondes/ some redheads/light brunettes/a sunshine state fav.
(the lighter the color the lighter the hair)
(the more intense the color the darker the hair)
So there you go, I've shared some of my thoughts, 
now share yours.  
If  "Sorbet" is "YOU" leave a comment and let me know if you fit the profile.
 A yard of each of the sorbet collection prints
pictured above could be yours.

The randomly chosen winner will be announced next Wed. along with a new color story
and
another
GIVEAWAY! 

115 comments:

  1. Firstly are you really up at 1.42 am? Here in the UK it is 9.42am and I have been up for a while even though I am a night owl too :-)
    A very interesting story and one I hadn't thought about... I shall take more note of what people wear in relation to their hair colour etc from now on!
    I like most colours to sew with and even though I am blonde I do like a lot of black to wear. (Hides the wobbly bits LOL)

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  2. I love the stack of fabrics in your photo. They are beautiful. I'm kind of on the light side and I am drawn to those colors, but find, particularly as I age, that I am drawn to all colors! Making up my mind gets harder.

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  3. Great post and idea for a series of posts. I wear some of the colours in the sorbet range but not all. I have very dark brown hair (almost black) and pale skin -courtesy of a mixed Irish, Welsh, french & German heritage. I certainly can imagine wearing skirts made up in Spa Ikat in acqua, coral, & orange. I tend not too wear pinks in these tones. I notice a lot of people dont wear or only wear 'sludgy' colours which always disappoints me

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  4. Love these colors! Of course, I'm loving them thinking quilt, not necessarily clothing. So I guess maybe it doesn't count that I'm brunette. Thanks for sharing some insight!

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  5. Colors like these always remind me of rainbow sherbet, and I always love them! Obviously, that means it doesn't have any relationship to my hair (dark brown) and skin (very fair).

    Lovely and summery!

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  6. These are great colors! I'm a "strawberry blonde", I guess, and hate pastels, but these, these are just about perfect!

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  7. I really like the colors... of course I vary my choice with my mood ;) and my hair is now white and with hints of the original auburn...lol.... isn't wonderful that creativity grows with time... hmmm;)

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  8. Luscious fabric colors and patterns!!! I'm sewing aprons today!
    I tried to make watermelon sorbet last week, this recipe: http://www.seasaltwithfood.com/2010/06/watermelon-sorbet.html
    It was good, but I'd rather just eat the watermelon as is...

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  9. I guess I'm the blonde you're talking about, because I love these colors!

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  10. I'm a redhead and I LOVE these colors!

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  11. I'm a blonde and the color is fabulous. Actually all the colors are fabulous.

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  12. So what do we gray haired grannies like? I am into solids...and prints...and some brights...and some modern...and maybe that's because I color my hair!! lol

    These are very pretty...

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  13. I live in Florida and I'm very much "into" those colors! I'm not blonde, but I used to be (I've been a brunette most of my life), and those colors do great things for my skin tone!!! Besides, I just bought craft ink pads in those colors!

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  14. I don't fit your profile, but I love those colors! Maybe being from Hawaii helps!

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  15. I love it!!!! I'm guessing you love the Sorbet the best since it's your blog title. It makes me feel happy! Lisa

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  16. Love Sorbet the colorway and the yummy dessert!!

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  17. I, too, am a quilter - so basically I just love beautiful fabric in any color.

    I'd be very happy to win these. Thx for the chance.

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  18. Ah yes, I do fit the profile. I have darker hair and am certainly more attracted to intense colors!

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  19. I love sorbet colors and this new collection! When I got married my brides maids dresses were coral & pineapple everyone thought it was a crazy combination but I loved it and I had some of the most amazing flowers to pull it all together! I will look forward to reading more of your color stories post!

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  20. I love these colors! Living in the midwest, these are the colors that warm me up in winter!

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  21. Used to be a towhead...does that count?

    I love coral, and I sit at my desk in an aqua shirt. This is a sweet colorway - but the grey and tans balance it/grow it up, I think.

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  22. I love the colors and the psychologist in me thinks it's really interesting that people are predictably drawn to certain colors! Like someone else said--I think the older I get, the more and more colors I love.

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  23. What a great way to look at things. Sooo if I was a brunette and now have grey hair, I think that means I love it all and it would all work for me!!! Thank you for this chance!

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  24. Oh my I really feel like these colors would be perfect to make a quilt/car seat tent for my upcoming baby girl...I don't know what she looks like yet but I have a feeling these colorways would really suit her! :)

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  25. I agree with your color theory. I love these colors in the intense shades and guess what, my hair is very dark brown. Thank you for the chance towin these beautiful fabrics. Take care and God bless, Cory

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  26. wow, such a cute fabric range. I'm a red head & my daughter is blonde. I think she will fall in love when i show her this range.

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  27. THESE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! I AGREE WITH YOUR COLOR THEORY! THANKS SO FOR SHARING! BLESSINGS, LINDA

    jldouglas@wispwest.net

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  28. Been a blond for 67 years. These are my colors.

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  29. I love these colors and I have brown hair and olive skin! I think these colors look super on darker skin! I guess that means they look good on everyone.

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  30. lovin the colors you have posted there is so much i can and would do with them from appreal to bags,even jewerly fashion to decor..love them all mix and match i want them, When they coming out.. ready now.

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  31. I love these fabrics, so pretty and fun!

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  32. I like all colors in my quilts. With "retirement" I have moved from the navy/black/brown/tan/grey of work wardrobe to more color. Though I am not a blonde, I am a sunshine state gal and actually have a sorbet top that I wear. It is more a medium than light sorbet. Looks good with summer skin tones. Thanks for the first color board and please enter me into the draw.

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  33. Love the floral pictured! Dark auburn, Texas, lol, but love the gray, too!

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  34. My hair is dark but I do like these colors. Quilting has changed my views on colors. However, prior to quilting, I'm not sure I would have been drawn to these colors.

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  35. Love the colors and patterns!! Born a toe head but now medium brunette but I am currently living in The sunshine state! love your theory!

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  36. I'm a natural dark brunette, but I tend to like to color my hair with red (i.e, like a cherry cola) and streaks of Lighter brown, and I SO TOTALLY agree with your color theory. I myself LOVE the bright bold colors on my body, but I do also love making things out of the sorbet colors you have in your palette - they would go nicely with my BLONDE daughter's hair! I would LOVE to have every single one. They are beautiful!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  37. i'm asian, so my hair is as dark as it gets, and i am drawn to the dark and bold colors. my wardrobe is primarily black w a pop of color here and there. now i'm gonna pay attn to hair color and see if there's a correlation.

    and i love the fabric! various projects are running through my head for my 11 month old and 3 yr old girls.

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  38. Don't fit your profile. Dark Brunette, originally from MO now residing in Georgia. But I love these colors regardless. Reminds me of a 50's beauty parlor. I love all things vintage!

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  39. I'm a dark brunette from Scotland and I wear the darker tones from this palette :-)
    Thanks for the chance to win, and the insight into colour theory :-)

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  40. So beautiful..I showed my 7 year old granddaughter the fabrics and she wanted dresses out of all of them!

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  41. that is so interesting...although i am happy to quilt with these sorbet colors, they are certainly NOT me. and i dont fit the profile either...i used to be a dark brunette, but at age 18 i started going gray! can you imagine! ha! so i think darker colors are more ME. i love getting the background information!!
    can't wait to read more about the other colorways!

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  42. I'm a redhead, and these are definitely my colors! Especially the light orange and gray - I'm working on an outfit in those color (orange skirt to go with a gray shirt) right now. The rest of the colors are gorgeous too. Thanks for the chance to win some!

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  43. I am a fair skinned strawberry-blonde; I was born in Florida and raised in Texas. And I love them!

    rebekahricker at yahoo dot com

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  44. I am not blonde, or redhead, or light brunette but I am a dark brunette living in the deep south and these colors are so me! They are perfect for such things as a summer tan, cool lemonade, home made icecream and swimsuit coverups. Although I do not fit either of your "Profile" people for the sorbert colors, I am a mother to three daughter(and a wonderful son) who do fit the profile perfectly. ;0) Maybe that's why I love this line so much.

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  45. I think you may be on to something! I like my colors a little more midtone/saturated, and my hair is a medium brown/dark dark blonde. My little sister is quite light haired, and hey! These are her colors to a t. Brilliant!

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  46. I'm kinda of dark haired, but I don't think that would clash too much while I was in bed with a quilt made of these fabrics. I have been looking for a line for a quilt for the bed and your Sorbet collection fits the bill, congratulations it quite something.

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  47. You maybe some what right as I am a dark brunette and I like the dark grey the best :) however, they are all pretty and I am sure I can find a blond around here that would love for me to make a quilt for them.

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  48. Here's a read head that loves it! Gorgeous colors!

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  49. Love it - from NC and a gray mixed with brunette. perhaps close enough in profile

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  50. these fabrics are GORGEOUS!! of course i am so partial to anything michael miller!
    Sorbet is so me- even though I am dark haired and love the intense colors too!

    tanisanderson at shaw dot ca

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  51. I love these colors, but my hair may be a bit dark from your profile! :)

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  52. I love the colors and I fit the profile-- lighter hair and live in southern California. These are such happy colors!

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  53. Sorbet, c'est moi! I'm a strawberry blonde whose natural platinum highlights have mostly taken over and I'd wear all of the colors in that group ... and I'd use them in a quilt, too ;-)

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  54. Lovely colours, yes I'm a blonde.

    It's not very sunny here in Melbourne (Australia) in the middle of winter - those colours would certainly cheer things up.

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  55. This color psychology is fun! Interestingly, I'm a blonde but I prefer darker or brighter colors than sorbet. I do live in CA, though. :)

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  56. I was drooling over the fabrics, then kept reading to find out I could win them. SWEET! In our family full of dark hair, my little blondie baby girl stands alone. These fabrics would make some lovely dresses, or maybe a keepsake quilt to remember her fair-haired beginnings.

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  57. I'm a blonde and from the sunshine state and now live in Texas and I LOVE the fabric colors!!

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  58. I love the idea board for sorbet. It's so catchy. I love the pretty peonies print.

    Michael miller started my fabric addiction. Tonnes of talented designer and good quality fabric. MM dominates my fabric stash. I come from a country of vibrant colors so all the collection from Michael miller appeal to me.

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  59. I do not fit your profile, but I think these fabrics are very pretty.

    ginger c at gmail dot com

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  60. I definitely wear some of those colors...corals, oranges, and pinks look better on a lot more people than they think! So I think these would be perfect for some summer clothing...or a beautiful summer picnic quilt! Got to look good when you are eating too. ;)

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  61. Mmkay, my answer on the phone today was totally non-commital and I think it's because my hair changes color a lot. Naturally, I am a bit caramel colored, and I oomph it up with a little bit of red or blonde at time. I would say my go-to colors fall within this Sorbet range, which is why Secret Garden was really a stretch for me color wise. Might be why I love it so much though. And now I am back to non-commital. Uh.. I like it all. lol

    sandi

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  62. Oh my goodness this stuff is just delicious! Love every singe print!

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  63. I swing back and forth between blonde and brunette color choices, it really depends on the day and my mood! Btw, I have always been a brunette!

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  64. I scrolled down to look at the pic, and saw "Is it YOU?" and thought "TOTALLY! I LOVE it!" then I read your post and had to second guess because my hair is so brown it's almost black. That didn't stop me from wanting a circle skirt made from that fabric that is draped out.

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  65. I realy love the colors in this collection. I am usually a "bright color" girl, but love the Sorbet group. I do not fit the profile--I have reddish brown hair. Thanks for the post

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  66. Ahhhh, I love these cheery colors! (AND, I have blonde hair;))!! LOVELY fabrics!

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  67. I've never quite figured out my "colors". I know that I don't look good in red - beyond that anything goes!

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  68. I love the colors, but more for my daughter instead of me, which is why I'm posting this. She's not blonde, but brunette, and she's very spunky and happy.

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  69. I'm a mid-brunette, but I love those colours. I'm a summer for my colours and many of those shades would work in my wardrobe, or bedroom.

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  70. what beautiful colors!! I love all the bright colors, they made me smile, and isn't that all that matters? :)

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  71. OHHH I am in love with those colors...they are so pretty..I'm blonde, but could see a great summer quilt out of those fabrics!

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  72. I love this collection. I am thinking granddaughters!!!

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  73. I don't fit the profile completely. Though I don't wear these colors, I love to create with them!!!

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  74. Even though I don't fit the profile, I love this line. I love working with fabrics that are fun, bright & happy.

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  75. Okay, so I don't fit the profile of Sorbet. I WANT to put brighter colors in my drab collection of fabrics. Can I be in the drawing anyway? Just think, you'll be saving a fellow fabric lover!!!

    :)

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  76. Love the fabrics shown... as a "white hair" I like bright saturated colors... an adjustment from my brown hair days!
    wtrstone @ aol . com

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  77. I fit the profile pretty close. I have dark hair, and I am usually drawn to darker shades. My favorite color is pink, but I do prefer the darker shades of pink :)

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  78. I love these colors. I tend to gravitate toward happy light prints even though I am a darker hair girl LOL. I am really digging the Mini Mike prints right now...they would definitely coordinate with these prints.

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  79. hill.shonda@AT&T.netJuly 7, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    I LOVE the Sorbet collection, even though I don't really fit the profile, I seem to prefer lighter colors. I am a true medium brunette. Pink more especially, my very favorite color, which actually in that category I do fit the profile, hot pink is my pick!

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  80. I fit your profile pretty well I must say!! I'm blonde hair blue eyed and I crave a sunny state. I currently live in the grey midwest but my husband and I are trying to make the move to sunny Colorado! I LOVE this sorbet collection!! I'm newly inspired and have a few projects that these fabrics would be PERFECT for. I need a few new couch pillows, wicker basket liners and for fun I'd love to spruce up my basket on my Townie!!! Anywho...good job on the fabric profiling!!! lol -Cheers, Kristen

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  81. I'm not a blond, but I really like these colours! They are very cheerful!
    Hm, and you're right about the colour and hair - I have dark hair and usually prefer to wear intensive colours. I never thought of it!

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  82. I'm a brunette with a redhead's complection. I would wear any of these colors and wrap myself in a quilt made of them too!

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  83. The fabrics are beautiful. When I was a young child, I was very blonde. Now I'm light ash brown, getting more ash than brown lately. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  84. I was a blond but you know what comes with age? Hair coloring kits! :) Love this fabric and would love to make a summer quilt using this fabric. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  85. What great fabric! Thanks for the chance~Amy

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  86. I love these yummy sorbet colors, especially the large floral print. What I could do with it! I am a grey haired grandma who is now a highlighted brunette. I was a light haired blondie when I was little though! I love brights too.

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  87. I love the fabrics too! I would love to test out your game. I am not from a "Sunshine" state, but I do have blond hair and fair skin.

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  88. Oh yes, I am from the sunshine state of Calif and this colorway would be so perfect for my grandaughter Eme, she is light brunette with hazel eyes. I just love all your dots and I'm glad to see some in this collection. I can feel a new quilt calling me!

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  89. I'm a brunette with blue eyes and rarely give much thought to what color will look good on me. I like to were a color based on how it will make me feel, some days it just has to be pink, others purple, etc. I adore the collection.

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  90. Blonde and loving all of the light fabrics.

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  91. This was the first color board I was drawn to at Market. Let's see, I'm a red head now but have also been a blonde.

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  92. I love these colors, it reminded me of ice cream (I guess that's why you named it sorbet) but it's a fun line. I want to make a quilt out of it for my teenage granddaughter (or maybe myself).

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  93. well, I am light brunette. I love red & raspberry color on me. But also brown and green! Not much blue, which you do not have in the fabrics showed ;o).
    So, I fit (hopefully), please pick me!

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  94. Hmmm...I used to be a blonde but am truly a brunette (lightish) these days. I have fairly light skin and while I don't live in the sunshine state, I'm definitely a sun/beach kind of girl! I love aquas and corals and yellows. The floral print that's draped over the stacks of yardage is divine!!

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  95. Love the color, love the fabric, love the thought

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  96. I'm a medium brunette and like the darker corals and definitely like the turquoise/aqua. Fun!

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  97. I think I fit the profile--I have red hair, not too dark and not too light, which probably describes the colors i'm drawn to.

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  98. I'm a brunette--at least for now!

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  99. I grew up loving Baskin Robbins "Daiquiri Ice" ice cream, which was the most beautiful shade of light green. I have since grown to love sorbet, not only for the deliciousness, but because of the gorgeous colors and scrumptious flavors. These fabrics are just as yummy and capture the fun, youth and happiness that bring me back to my childhood. I can't wait to create with them!

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  100. I love your Sorbet collection prints and I have brown hair and live in PA.

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  101. Lovely fabrics - not sure if I fit the profile (brown, going white early!) but love the freshness of them. I'm a MN girl. :)

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  102. I'm happy and love to surround myself with vibrant, happy colors like these! They are full of energy which is what I need running around after my sweet 11 month old baby!

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  103. Oh LA LA , This color has my name all over it... Of course I am a blonde... LOL. I just think these are very lushious.. and would love to have them. of Course I think my daughter will probaly take what ever I would make from them as she is into this color also! Thanks for the great color story

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  104. I <3 these colors!!!! Especially the aqua.

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  105. I didn't want to leave this question on the current giveaway posting, so decided to leave it here. I don't see a way to follow you via GFC or via e-mail. I don't facebook or tweet/twitter, so don't know what else to do to follow you. Help!

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  106. I think you're right about the darker the hair, the more intense the color, but I think it probably has to do with skin hues (dark versus light). I'm a hispanic brunette and I love intense colors.

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  107. I have been a fan of Michael Miller fabric for many years. I made a quilt for one of my granddaughters using the horse fabric of pink, aqua, green and blue. I mixed some of another artist who is now deceased in this quilt and they went very well. I can share a picture with you after the 1st of the month when my camera comes home. I would love to win some of Michael Miller fabric.

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  108. Blonde hair, fair skin, living in GA ... I'd say I fit the profile perfectly. No wonder I just love these colors! Thanks!

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  109. Quite effective info, thank you for the post.

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  110. soooo pretty!!! I want to jump in it and swim arnd all that happiness and maybe take a bite out of it while I'm there.

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  111. I could make a beautiful peasant skirt out of this stuff

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  112. This is so pretty; love the combination of colours. All material colours seem to compliment each other; this would make a very beautiful disappearing nine patch for one. This would be a beautiful addition to work with. Thank you,
    Marg

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  113. Ding Ding Ding - I love these colors - always have! I'm a blonde from Florida! The colors remind me of summer and some of my favorite memories spent at my aunt's beach house.

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  114. Absolutely Stunning!

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  115. This is one of greatest blogs I’ve read since ever. Your site contains a lot of useful information and I’m sure many people will like it as I do. I'll keep visiting your blog very frequently.

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