Collaboration

Shell Rummel talks Business, Creative Process & Quilting Fabric with Quilt Addicts Anonymous!

Last week I sat down to chat with Stephanie Soebbing from Quilt Addicts Anonymous about my newest collection of quilting cottons for Free Spirit Fabrics, called Natural Affinity.

I really enjoy Steph and as you’ll see, the conversation flows with a relaxed ease. It’s always interesting when two entrepreneurs chat about the personal challenges their businesses face and this conversation goes there in a real and honest way. I am so grateful for the Quilt Shops ( brick and mortar and online resellers) who bring my quilting collections to the quilting community. Big love to Quilt Addicts Anonymous for being such a strong supporter of my brand for so many years.

Have a watch/listen…hope my words inspire you!

Creative Spotlight - Ana Buzzalino

I had the pleasure of meeting Ana Buzzalino at Quilt Market in Houston, Texas a few years ago after she wandered into my booth. We had easy conversation about shared interests which became the starting point for our friendship.

Ana is an accomplished fiber artist in Calgary, Alberta… a skillful quilter and embroidery artist. One glance through some of her recent projects and I instinctively wanted to collaborate with her. As my newest quilting fabric collection, Time & Tide, was just launching, I knew that my ocean inspired fabrics combined with Ana’s artistry would be a phenomenal match. And I was so right:)

“Low Tide at Rocky Point”

“Low Tide at Rocky Point”

The STUNNING wall hanging that Ana created showcases my new collection, particularly the Tides Panel at the top. Ana’s beautiful stitchwork really enhances the fluid, watery flow and movement of the Tides Panel.

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She incorporated several other coordinating patterns from the Time & Tide collection into the oceanscape and enhanced each with hand embroidery. You can see snippets of Ebb & Flow, Urchin, Sea Glass and Pebble patterns gracing the landscape interspersed with some solids.

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Rocks, pebbles and stones are Ana’s speciality… she offers workshops to teach her technique (info below!) and we wanted to showcase them… they are so cool! To add even more texture, she hand embroidered using a variety of shades of 5-weight embroidery threads and then added French Knots with beading details for a bit of shimmer… very intricate and quite a beautiful result.

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A dreamy collaboration that shows how you can incorporate hand embellished techniques and intricate stitching onto quilts, wall hangings and many other home decor products using my fabric lines.

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I absolutely LOVE how this came out… Ana honored my fabrics beautifully and the incorporation of the rocks, pebbles, hand stitch work and beading added a textural component that really appeals to the artist in me, drawing me in for a closer look. An heirloom piece, for sure.

Gratitude to Ana Buzzalino for her many talents and artistry!

Want to learn how to make those gorgeous tactile rocks, pebbles and stones with your own fabrics? Click here for information about her online workshops!

Learn more about Ana on her website: www.anabuzzalino.com

Creative Spotlight - Richele Christensen

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I met Richele Christensen a few years back at Quilt Market in Houston, Texas. She was part of the Tim Holtz and Mario Rossi team who were in the booth next door. The thing about exhibiting at a Trade Show is, if you’re truly lucky, you become connected with the people in the booths neighboring yours… after all, you spend so much time together during those long days. I consider myself the luckiest to have wound up sharing a wall with this charismatic trio… all three of whom are such good people. Through that experience, Richele and I genuinely became friends.

I noticed that Richele had sewn up many of the samples in their booth. I was drawn to her hand stitchwork… so perfectly embellishing each of the different fabrics in the collection. Her talent caught my eye and I took note. When I began considering who could sew for me with my newest collection, Reverie, I immediately reached out to Richele.

My Reverie fabrics lend themselves perfectly to hand stitched embellishments and I knew that by handing the collection to Richele, that she would leave her artistic mark and surely surpass every expectation I had. Her knack for embellishment is so evident in the Sashiko styled stitch work she did for this gorgeous pillow. To my eye, she perfectly matches stitches to fabric, enhancing the patterns in the best way…from subtle to sophisticated. I particularly like how she used a natural thread color for the hand stitching… that brings a cohesiveness to the artistry that is very effective.

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Shell Rummel x Richele Christensen.jpg
Shell Rummel x Richele Christensen.jpg

Want to sew up this beauty of a pillow? It’s a perfect beginner’s project. Richele shares her pattern for the Stitched Block Pillow featuring my Reverie fabrics over on her Blog! She gives clear and concise step by step directions. Her pillow was made from the pretty and warm Powder palette of fabrics but this would be gorgeous in the cooler Celadon palette too… And, so easy to make this one yours by incorporating your own unique style of fabric enhancing stitchwork… This inspires the artist in me!

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Richele also created a fantastic Tote bag with my Reverie fabrics:

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I really like the way she mixed the fabrics here. Here skillful sewing and all the chosen notions and hardware are spot on! After holding this Tote bag in hand, I am hooked and want one sewn up in tons of variations of my fabrics;)

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The two fabrics she used on the Tote bag’s interior are arguably my favorites… simple, clean, sophisticated patterning that was inspired by a vintage Japanese Kimono.

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I absolutely love the creative collaborative process! Even when a creative knows exactly what I am aiming for, I am always blown away when the projects arrive. To see the handwork and know how much care and love went into the process of choosing just the right fabrics…adding just the right embellishment… it’s such a pleasure. I love what I do and am so grateful for talent like Richele, who helps me bring my visions to life so beautifully.


Please follow Richele on Instagram… @caliartgirl

And do check out her beautiful Blog Californiaartgirl.blogspot.com for lots of creative sewing projects!

For anyone interested in making the Redwood Tote, the pattern is by Noodlehead and can be found, here.

Shell Rummel Reverie Quilting Cotton Fabrics can be found at a Quilt Shop near you! Can’t find it? Contact Free Spirit Fabrics to locate a retailer. Or, search “Shell Rummel Reverie Fabrics by Free Spirit Fabrics” online for a list of resellers.

Creative Spotlight - Barb Brandt

Shell Rummel x Barb Brandt

For those who follow me regularly on Instagram, you know that I am always on the lookout for talented creatives to collaborate with. It’s not always easy to connect creatively so when I do meet someone who not only truly gets my vision but also understands how to make my vision come to life, well, that’s a big win/win!

I always think of Barb Brandt when I want to see beautiful, textural hand work in projects that feature my fabrics. She knows exactly what I mean when I ask for precise Sashiko stitching that still feels natural or, organic hand embellishment that’s not too fancy but still feels special. Lucky for me, Barb speaks my language and her work always delights and surprises. So naturally, I thought of her when I needed a few items sewed from my current quilting fabric collection, Reverie. All Barb’s gorgeous projects were featured during a special Facebook Live, hosted by my local quilt shop, Sew Worth It. There is a link that will direct you over to watch the video at the bottom of this blog post:)

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Look at this beautiful Boro Rice Bag she made using my Reverie fabrics from Freespirit Fabrics. The stitchwork is fantastic! Little embroidered and beaded accents that perfectly complement the fabrics.

Shell Rummel x Barb Brandt
Shell Rummel x Barb Brandt

And then she whipped up these adorable cosmetic and travel jewelry bags… I think it’s the details that make them extra special.

Then, because I am obsessed with Kimono’s, Barb sewed up a a truly special women’s robe/kimono. I love the length of this… It is accentuated with deep side slits and a tie belt. It features 4 coordinated fabrics from Reverie and it turns a simple robe into a sophisticated look. This one is begging for a coordinated pajama set (hint, hint:)

And finally, I asked Barb to make an exaggerated large, artsy tote bag that also featured some hand stitched embellishments. She added a solid painters canvas for the body of the tote and added leather handles for durability. I can envision this bag created in linen for an even lighter, beachy look. This bag idea is a great way to use up some of your Reverie scraps and a fun way to get creative with the addition of spontaneous stitching details.

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Watch: the Facebook Live Video that I did with Sew Worth It Sarasota:)

Follow: Barb on Instagram: @barbbrandt3 and reach out to her directly for inquiries about any of the lovely projects she sewed for me!

Pattern Sources:

Modern Japanese Rice Pouch pattern is by Karen Stevens …https://www.kzstevens.com/shop-1/modern-japanese-rice-pouch.

Kimono pattern is by Seamwork patterns https://www.seamwork.com/catalog/quince.

Creative Spotlight - Floriane Harpster

Shell Rummel x Floriane Harpster Collaboration

When Floriane Harpster photographs her quilts, people take notice. I mean, how can you not be impressed as her husband balances on a boulder in the middle of Joshua Tree with a heavy quilt in hand?:) She has an eye for these things, and that is just one of the reasons I have collaborated with her on several quilts to date.

Flo sews/creates very interesting, graphic quilts that have an underlying story. There is a simplicity to her designs… I find them very different, often a bit quirky and always with an air of comfort. The way she presents them in photographs always catches my eye…unexpected locations that make you take notice.

Shell Rummel x Floriane Harpster

Our most recent collaboration involved my current quilting fabric collection, Reverie. She created two quilts featuring my soft patterning. Both were featured during a Facebook Live with my local quilt shop in Florida. Viewers were just as taken with Flo’s unique quilting style and the way she honored the softness of the Reverie fabric line. I was so proud to share her hand work.

When Flo sent me the quilts to share with the audience during the Facebook Live show, she graciously included the following: “Shell Rummel’s fabrics have always inspired me. I’ve used her collections since I first started sewing and quilting 11 years ago. I grew up in France, lived in Paris for many years. I now live in New York City and find inspiration in architecture, art and nature. Shell’s art interprets these perfectly, mixing toughness, fluidity, intricacy…”

“The 1st pattern I created was inspired by both beehives and The Vessel, a new structure, part of the Hudson yards in Manhattan. It illustrates the connection between earth and sky, nature vs the concrete jungle.”

“The 2nd pattern brings me back to my French roots. Paris is ‘divided’ by the river, la Seine. It flows roughly westward, cutting the city in two: when facing downstream, the southern bank is to the left and the northern bank is to the right. I called this pattern “Rive Droite, Rive Gauche” which, when translated means Right Bank, Left Bank. Once again, it interprets the symbiosis found in a lot of cities. “

Her modern art quilts, as you can see, are quite lovely… An honor to work with such talent.

Please follow Flo on her Instagram page: @quiltsewknitrepeat

For all other inquiries related to her cool quilt art, please reach out to her at quiltsewknitrepeat@gmail.com

Little Works of Art...

I really love when a design collaboration turns out even better than anticipated. Such is the case with these beauties... a series of clutch purses (featuring my quilting fabrics from the Quiet Moments and Soft Repose collections) sewn and hand embellished by Barb Brandt. The quilting / sewing / crafting community is very loyal and tight and I have been fortunate to meet and then work with some of the best.  Through my Instagram and real life connection to Stephanie Soebbing from @quiltaddictsanonymous, I was introduced to QAA customer, Barb Brandt @barbbrandt3 who expressed admiration for my fabric lines. After seeing Barb use one of @maychappell 's patterns for a clutch purse to spectacular effect,  we decided to collaborate on a few of them using my fabrics. The bead work is delicate and perfectly accents and highlights the patterning of my fabrics. A really stylish and modern project that you, too, can create! 

Shell Rummel Barb Brandt collaboration
Shell Rummel Barb Brandt collaboration
Shell Rummel Barb Brandt collaboration
Shell Rummel barb brandt collaboration