If anyone had told me that I would be ecstatic about my long-awaited fabric arriving 11 days prior to hopping on the plane for my first International QuiltMarket, I'd have thought they were crazy!
But after bracing myself for an arrival date of May 2nd or May 3rd, and actually receiving those oh-so-exiting fabric laden boxes 3 days BEFORE that date, it really, truly did feel like Christmas!
What a huge blessing it was to get my fabric a few days early! Every minute counts at this point. Thanks, David (CEO of Benartex), for working so hard with the mill in Korea to make this happen. I almost had to cancel and wait until Fall Market, which I really, truly, did not want to do.
I can't tell you how excited I am to FINALLY be able to share these images with you! My fabric was created from collages of hand-printed textures that I made 3 or 4 years ago on good ol' Gretchen, my giant etching press. Let me tell you, it has been extremely difficult to keep these images under wraps for so long!
This is my favorite print. At least for today.
I'm super happy with how it turned out in all the colorways.
This pink polka dot one is also among my favorites, but at this point it's just a small border flanking one of my panels. Hopefully next time I'll be able to have it in a full print.
There are 7 prints in 3 colorways (including 2 panels: one of birdhouses, one of butterflies), plus some luscious blenders in "solids" and stripes.
Can you say color? As you can tell, I obviously do not have an aversion to bright, saturated chroma!
Next time we'll bring in a bunch of gorgeous neutrals, but we had to stop somewhere.
I had already cut off all the borders to the panel sections by the time these pictures were taken, so here is the bird border in the 3 colorways. This is not a print - it's a border on the birdhouse panels.
This one, however, is a print, and it's called Chatter Chain. Because what bird doesn't like to chatter? Okay, I'm sure some birds don't, but work with me here (wink).
I had also already cut apart the butterfly sections. Here are the two butterflies that come in a single, 24" wide panel. They're 16" square, the perfect size for so many things! Quilts, wall art, applique on skirts and shirts, etc etc.
So, without further ado, please allow me to introduce you to The Garden Club!
I have a huge list of people to thank regarding this fabric line - I have been blessed with so much help, encouragement and support along the way. But it's really late at night (edit: morning) so after market is over I promise I'll do a full write-up with booth pictures, my "how I got started" story, and all that fun stuff. And all my thank you's. But now I've got to hit the sack so I can have energy to sew up a storm this week. I'm not sure if I'm going to have time to post again before market, so if not, wish me luck! And thanks, everybody!
Love love love them! I see the 7 layer studio design in everything which happens to be a favorite of mine already. Can't wait to hear/see how everything goes at the quilt market!! Yay!
Posted by: Dorie | May 02, 2011 at 01:30 AM
Beautiful! Good luck Shelley!
Posted by: Oyuna | May 02, 2011 at 03:24 AM
LOVE your fabrics. They are so fun and so beautiful! Way to go:) I'm so proud of all you've accomplished
Posted by: Jenna Baker | May 02, 2011 at 04:23 AM
Good luck Shelley! Your fabrics are beautiful and I can't wait to get my hands on some! After a week + of sewing, Market may just seem like a vacation! You are doing great things!
Posted by: Katie | May 02, 2011 at 04:25 AM
Love them! My favorite color combinations, they make me want to go to my sewing room this morning instead of going to school and seeing all the children. :)
Posted by: Melinda Baum | May 02, 2011 at 04:32 AM
it's beautiful!! congrats :)
Posted by: Sarah E. | May 02, 2011 at 08:18 AM
I love them all! Congrats!! We are so proud of you!
Posted by: Sunny Price | May 02, 2011 at 08:48 AM
Hooray! I'm so glad you have a few extra days with this! Keep in mind that those of us in Utah can help you with this when you get here--don't make yourself ill. Can't wait to see you here!
Posted by: Edith Songer | May 02, 2011 at 09:29 AM
Thanks so much everybody! I'm so glad you like them. Katie - yes, by the time I get to Utah it WILL feel like vacation after working so long and hard all month. This last week is going to be brutal = not much sleep on the horizon. Edith, you know me well - I'll try to get to bed earlier tomorrow...a sick me is not going to be any fun. Not to worry - there will be plenty to help me with once I get off that plane even with me working like a maniac here. See you soon! Can't wait!
Posted by: shelley | May 02, 2011 at 11:11 PM
They are delicious! I love the colors! Can't wait until they are all available. They just warm my heart and make me smile!
Posted by: Beverly Atkins | May 03, 2011 at 01:11 PM
Congratulations on your beautiful fabrics,Shelley! I still remember the times you helped out in Judy's shop. Who knew,right?
Posted by: Deanne Werth Morris | May 04, 2011 at 08:10 AM
Shelley...these are so beautiful and prove how talented you are!!! Good Luck at the show. I look forward to hearing how it goes :)
Posted by: wendi Lane | May 04, 2011 at 02:05 PM
Shelley - so darling prints - LOVE LOVE LOVE the butterflies!!!! Best of luck - I do hope I will see you when you are here in Utah!
Posted by: Chimge | May 04, 2011 at 06:14 PM
I would like to be a reader of your blog please. here is my blog http://www.lydknitgurl97.blogspot.com
Posted by: lydia | May 06, 2011 at 06:36 PM
I have to have some.... I can not wait to see it in my hands...
Posted by: Shannon Margaret | May 07, 2011 at 01:26 PM
Wow! I Love them all!! Good Luck, I can't wait to purchase some of these!!
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | May 10, 2011 at 06:50 AM
beautiful!
greatings from Ans (Holland)
Posted by: Ans | May 18, 2011 at 12:43 PM