I'm excited to finally formally introduce my third fabric collection with Art Gallery Fabrics, Dreamin' Vintage! This collection is very close to my heart. From the moment I considered designing fabric, I've been thinking about this collection. It took a couple collections to get here, but I'm glad I didn't try to design it right away. I wanted to be able to do it justice, and I wouldn't have been ready.
Vintage bed linens have been a huge part of my aesthetic and identity, especially in the online quilting community. I started collecting them in 2009, around the same time that I started this blog. I had picked up a sheet or two at flea markets years before, but hadn't collected them seriously. I've always been drawn to vintage fabrics, but quilting cottons and feed sacks are often difficult to find and/or expensive. Vintage sheets were perfect, in Northeast Ohio at the time, they were very easy to find and much more reasonably priced than purchasing vintage fabrics.
I participated in a vintage sheet fat quarter swap on Flickr and after sending away and receiving 80 fat quarters, I was hooked. Shortly thereafter I opened up my shop and started selling vintage sheets. This was a decent stream of income for me throughout college, and more importantly helped me build up my personal sheet stash in a sustainable way. It was a lot of work, and I really enjoyed it for a long time. Once we moved to Madison and the availability of sheets went down drastically, I decided to work towards closing it. It was the right decision, and I still collect sheets for myself.
When I was researching and planning Dreamin' Vintage, I knew it was the right time to pay homage to vintage sheets. I love vintage textiles and it pains me when I see fabrics in the industry that are straight reproductions of vintage prints without being labeled as such. I knew I wanted to draw inspiration from vintage prints, but in a respectful way, creating something fresh and new. I've never considered myself a natural illustrator, so this collection really pushed me to the limits! The central print of the collection took around a week from start to finish before final editing. I'm going to highlight that print in a future post, sharing the progression from inspiration to final print.
Dreamin' Vintage is a collection of twenty prints, split into two colorways: Tickled Pink and Merry Berry. The colors are somehow bright and soft at the same time, I think the final yardage is going to be so vintage looking, I'm so crazy excited to see it! Dreamin' Vintage ships in April 2014, so make sure and ask your favorite shops to carry it! Please and thanks! Looking forward to sharing more of this collection with you over the coming months! For now how about more photos?
My head is exploding with projects ideas for these prints. What would you make with Dreamin' Vintage?
Thanks for stopping by!
I love how each of your collections is so unique...and SO you!!! This is wonderful!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a gorgeous collection and I am loving the colours!!! Can't wait for it to arrive in the UK!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty, Jeni! I know that if I shared these with Haila she would request a quilt just as she did when she saw Nordika!
ReplyDeleteSo excited for this collection! It's so perfectly "Jeni", it makes me smile! You did such a great job with it :)
ReplyDeleteI love this and I never really got into the vintage sheet vibe. Maybe I should start looking for some! Can't wait to see it in shops!
ReplyDeleteIt's so fun Jeni! The colors are perfect and I can't wait to add some of these prints to my stash!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous collection. I think it will make great bath robes for little girls. And wonderful scrappy type quilts. I am thing it would look great in my kitchen as linens, placemats and apron to match. So happy go lucky and carefree looking.
ReplyDeleteso gorgeous, can't wait to see more of each print! Love the new blog layout by the way. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for this collection - I love vintage sheets, but don't have the patience to collect them. I think the fabrics would look great in a granny square quilt :)
ReplyDeleteLovely collection - I can't wait until it is out in stores!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for this!!! Nordika is nearly completely sold out in our shop and I'm having Jeni Baker fabric withdrawal!!! The vintage feel is amazing and I just can't hardly wait!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful and different. I love that your inspiration came from vintage sheets. Still hoarding my Nordika!
ReplyDeleteThis is, I think, your best fabric line to date. I know you must get better with each line, but there is something special in the feel of these colors and prints. Well done. I can't wait to see more and to get some for myself in the spring.
ReplyDeleteLots of great projects with those colors! Such a lovely collection. You are quite talented!
ReplyDeleteIt's got to be in Hexies!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's so pretty, Jeni!! Very you. Those tiny flower prints are so sweet and pretty, I see them as a spring/summery dress for my little gal. With a very twirly skirt. :)
ReplyDeleteThe colours on this one are fantastic! The tiny florals are really great. The embroidery hoop pic is darling! Congratulations, Jeni!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I especially like the blue colorway. Love each of your lines and how versatile you are.
ReplyDeletetotally in love! i just might have to break my budget and get me some of this!
ReplyDeletea wonderful collection Jen, will keep my eye open here in the UK at the quilt shows next year
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! I know I'll make something with the small flowers and large-scale print for me. I wish I had a little girl or niece...
ReplyDeletethis is FABULOUS!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on it! I will make a quilt for my bed.
ReplyDeleteI really love this collection! As I did your previous ones, by the way. I think this is perfect for so many things. Little girls' summer dresses, drawstring bags, pillow covers, make-up pouches and so on!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous! As a fellow vintage sheet lover I adore it! I made my first Giant Star quilt top last weekend, and my 9yr old asked for a 'purple vintage star' quilt for her birthday in a month! So cute, a great tutorial too. I need some Dreamin Vintage as well though...
ReplyDeleteOh Jeni it's divine! I've been stalking for pictures! I love both your other collections, and had almost 30 yards of Nordika shipped all the way to Australia! ( thanks Dana @ Winter Creek Cloth- she is awesome).
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for April to get hold of this great range! :)
You nailed this one Jeni - I love the entire collection in both color ways and would love to buy all the fabrics which I rarely do!. I can picture a vintage nursery theme- crib sheets, bumpers, quilts etc. For adults I'm thinking pillowcases would be lovely esp. with AG fabrics. Will any of the prints be offered in xtra wide? Wouldn't it be fun to make sheets too?
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful collection! Nice job.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful, Jeni! I love the whole collection! Congrats- you make vintage p.r.o.u.d.:)
ReplyDeleteI'd make the design at the end of your blog! It's a wonderful collection of fabrics ~ all the colors I love.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful collection! I'm sure I would make a quilt...but they would be beautiful made in to anything!
ReplyDeleteI know someone with 2 brand new twin girls...it would be fun to make them matching quilts, each done in a different colorway!
ReplyDeletePretty! Pretty! Pretty! I can't wait for these to come out. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI really like the patterns and colors! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulously cute and wonderful line of fabrics! Thank you for designing these! I cannot wait for these to become available in Finland!
ReplyDeleteYou really did a wonderful job with this line of fabric. I love it! Growing up my sheets on my bed were the blue, light blue, lime green and purple flowered sheets. Wish I still had them. Now you recreated it for me! Great job. Can't wait to get my hands on some!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful collection of fabrics!
ReplyDeleteSeriously drooling! They are stunning! Looooove! Cannot wait to sew with it! Great job girl!
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely fabulous!!! I cannot wait to see it available!
ReplyDeleteI simply cannot WAIT for this to come out; it's the fabric I've been waiting for to start my first quilt! It's just perfect :)
ReplyDeletexo,
wink
I love this collection so much! The colors and the designs are amazing. You did a perfect job :) Can't wait to get a few yards of these <3!
ReplyDeleteYou nailed the retro colors and a couple of those prints are very familiar from the 60's and 70's. Love this collection.
ReplyDeleteJeni, I love your story, and the collection is so wonderful! I'll definitely be on board for this! Question: when quilting with sheets, do you have to stabilize with interfacing, starch, or anything like that? Use a different machine needle? I have two bedspreads and some sheet sets from my grandmother, and I want to make a quilt combining these. Are there websites out there about this?
ReplyDeleteJeni I like your 1st 2 collections a lot but this one is the best so far. I can't wait to get my hands on it. Which color way? Both of course. I could never choose between the two. Congratulations. It is a beautiful line.
ReplyDeleteJeni, I love what you said about not wanting to reproduce a vintage collection, but instead create a new one inspired by vintage fabrics. I think you hit the nail on the head - it looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThe collection is lovely and Art Gallery has the finest quality cotton on the market--in my opinion it has such a beautiful feel.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping you would do a vintage style collection like this Jeni :) it all looks just lovely. p.s. like the new blog layout, I love every time I hop over here you make a little tweak here and there ;) so neat! xo
ReplyDeletejeni, jeni, jeni! congrats on the THIRD line! :) although i've been quiet, i still follow you and have been soooooo happy for all that is gong on with you!!! this is a fabulous collection. i can see where you drew the inspiration, yet, YES, you did definitely paid *respect*. this is YOURS!!! awseome!!!!! can't wait to hear about the whole creative process! hugs to you...and of course, to george! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite...so far! I love this line!
ReplyDeleteStellar collection! I can't wait for its release!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to gobble up this collection!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulous collection! It has taken me a little while to recoup from my own quilt market adventures (with C&T Publishing as their online marketing manager -- but I don't work there anymore) and I really don't know how I missed this collection! I lived in Eastern Southern Ohio for a few years and the vintage finds at the local thrift marts were truly out of this world! I love how you spun this in your own direction:)
ReplyDeleteI work at Quilter's Haven in Menominee Michigan and we just ordered 12 bolts from this collection and I can't WAIT til they get here. I just love them! Art Gallery has the best feeling quilt fabric on the market in my opinion. Glad they have you designing!
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