Fabric

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!

Shell Rummel Talks Inspiration, Textile Design and Time & Tide with Quilt Addicts Anonymous

I am always so honored to be asked to sit down and chat about my collections and the inspiration behind them... My warmest thanks to Stephanie Soebbing, owner of Quilt Addicts Anonymous, for this lovely feature.

We had a great time and I was thrilled to be able to share all about my newest collection for FreeSpirit Fabrics, called Time & Tide. Within 24 hours of our interview posting, she was entirely SOLD OUT of Time & Tide yardage (WHAT??!!!:). So run to your local quilt shop and get your yardage in hand, now!

I am creating an ongoing list of shops that have bought the line and I am adding stores as I learn of them. If you are a quilt shop and you’d like to be added to my list, contact me!

We've got a treat for you today! Not only do we have lots of new quilty arrivals to check out, I also got a chance to chat with FreeSpirit fabric designer Sh...

If you love fabrics and quilting and all things sewing, check out Quilt Addicts Anonymous and join the QAA mailing list... Stephanie does tutorials and has a ton of fantastic videos that you will love!

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.

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

It tells a Story...

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Flat Lay Obsession underway, which means anything and everything is fair game. I've torn apart my studio grabbing swatches and products off the shelves in my efforts to show mix and matchability;)  I can tell you that it is completely gratifying, seeing so many of the products we have designed, working so well together, telling a cohesive story with palette and line and vibe. It's a culmination of intention, focus, persistence and patience... the method to my madness;) 

Interior Designers...we would love to work with you! Apply to receive Trade discounts on our product lines. Our current Studio Collection includes casual luxe Belgian linen fabrics, pillows and beautifully crafted wallpapers. We also offer a full range of wool rugs and silk pillows through our industry partner, Surya, as well as a line of Interior House paint in my signature color palettes! 

Fall Quilt Market Recap

When you arrive, your booth looks something like this;) 

A bit of a waiting game...  

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But when the walls are up, the carpet unrolled, the lights working and the samples unpacked and styled, it's pretty fantastic:) Months of hard work to fulfill a vision, realized. Just as it was for last year's quilt market when we launched Soft Repose, our booth continued to be a haven of calm and tranquility. A lighter, softer, gentler touch overall... which is in keeping with the design aesthetic of the Shell Rummel brand

We launched Bloom Beautiful, a rose garden inspired collection that features the prettiest design elements, like roses in bloom, song birds, branches and willows, all in my hand painted watercolor style.  It's a very relatable collection of patterns that mix beautifully with our Quiet Moments collection from last spring... and yes, that's intentional;)  I want my stores to get the most longevity they can out of a collection, so we layer colors and patterns in a way that allows each new collection to build on the one that came before it. 

Integral to the success of our booth at Quilt Market, are the talented creatives who create for us! The details are what make our projects stand out and this year we rocked it. Gratitude, to all who sewed for me, @quiltaddictsanonymous, @sugar_bowl_crafts, @tooheycohen, @bwestquilts, @quiltedcardinal .... (you can follow them all on Instagram). Your work is lovely and you made me look real good:) x 

Of course,  time at a trade show is always measured best by the company you keep.  We were fortunate to have spectacular neighbors, Tim Holtz and his lovable team, as well as visits from some fellow designers. Always grateful for the generous spirit of those we share time with.   

A joy to have Rachel working with me for nearly 10 years and counting! She worked so hard to help bring our booth to life and really, she's the coolest, so I couldn't deny her a design field trip to the Museum of Fine Art Houston to see the Oscar de la Renta exhibition... a highlight of our time in Houston.   

I am amazed at the kindness of the quilting/sewing community! So many shop owners and fabric lovers from all over the globe came by to admire our booth and the lovely projects we featured.  We welcomed the company... they truly are the nicest people you'll ever meet. It's an honor when a store owner/buyer chooses to bring your products into their store and offer it to their customers and we take great pride in knowing that our collections are gaining a following both here and overseas. 

Bloom Beautiful is in pre order now and ships in May.

The collection is available via Freespirit fabrics. 

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Soon to grace our design studio... Microbatch Textiles!

I spent the earliest days of my career self producing a variety of product lines. All of my products began with my hand painted watercolor paintings.  From there, artwork was digitized, color palettes were refined, designs tweaked,  production techniques explored and packaging created to delight.  It was so much work,  ensuring that my artistic vision was fully realized every step of the way. And as I write these words, I recall just how much I loved it all...There's something about the process of creation from beginning to end that is deeply satisfying.  

In more recent years, I have been licensing my art and designs to manufacturing partners who then use my art to enhance their product lines. The collaborating happens between me, my team and the manufacturer and their art director.  Licensing also has elements that are richly rewarding, especially when our vision comes to life with a quality product, and I am fortunate to have many. 

But I've been missing a more hands on approach. So my design team and I have jumped back in and we are about to offer our first collection of self produced, upholstery weight textiles on the most beautiful cotton/linen blend fabric. And, just as I remember, it really is a process;) We are still tweaking to get color perfect, but it's coming along beautifully. We are so excited to soon share the full collection, which features our softly sophisticated, organic designs along with a few other product line surprises.  This collection will be offered to the trade via Interior Design Professionals and Showrooms and we simply can't wait to see what new opportunities may arise.  I'm feeling inspired anew... it's really limitless, where we can take this!  (upholstered furniture, anyone? :)

If you're a Design Professional or an Interior Design Showroom who would like more information about the new collection, (or, if you just plain dig what we're offering:) drop me a line and let me know how you envision us working together. 

~Shell

"Soft Repose" Launch...Thoughts on Fall Quilt Market 2016

So thrilled to have exhibited for the first time at International Quilt Market! I was truly humbled by the love and also surprised and honored by how many kind and enthusiastic customers from the US and abroad, actually sought us out, just to say, " I bought your entire Soft Repose line for my store!" ...Wow!  What a feeling. 

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The Shell Rummel booth came together beautifully and really was a haven of calm tranquility, a place to catch your breath amidst the sea of rainbow bright fabrics that are so prevalent at Quilt Market.  I like that the serene feel of my Soft Repose patterning resonated so strongly with so many and that my booth ambience truly lived up to the collection's name.  Soft, quiet palettes can speak volumes, too. 

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The Coats and Freespirit crafters and sewers created some really spectacular product samples to showcase the Soft Repose Line. As you can see, the patterning (with names like: Infinite Beauty, Raindrop, Tranquility, Steel Magnolia, Touchstone and our signature pattern, Pebble) really lends itself well to softly sophisticated home decor and accessory projects. It's a natural fit for pillows, poufs, modern quilts and personal accessories!  

Over the course of three days we met some of the loveliest people... Buyers from Independent fabric stores all over the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan and Korea... and on and on.  Their enthusiasm was truly awe inspiring!  My heart is full. 

Special thanks to Lisa Kaupp from Design in Motion Quilt Studio in GA, who hand crafted several of the pillows, tote bags and accessory items specifically for our booth from our designs. These samples are so fantastic because they give our customers a visual idea of what they can create with our Soft Repose fabrics! So much possibility...

A big hug of gratitude for my Senior Designer, Rachel who has worked with me in my studio for nearly 9 years, and counting. She plays a big role in every product my studio offers, (and, in addition to our fabric by the yard collections, we offer: rugs, pillows, bedding and bath textiles, house paint, paper craft products, wall art,  invitations and even Judaica) and was a tremendous asset on this trip!  I know she enjoyed her time in Houston just as much as I did as well as having an opportunity to interact directly with our customers,  She can now also add "videographer" to her growing list of talents;)   

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Every product the Shell Rummel studio creates begins with my original, watercolor paintings. There is something uniquely beautiful when you can see the artist's hand in a finished product... That artistry is what makes my collections special.  Warmest thanks to Westminster Fibers for seeing the value in an artist designed collection and allowing Shell Rummel a beautiful showcase for our Soft Repose fabrics at Quilt Market! It was a true honor to be a part of it all ~  

We'll be offering more of our beautiful products as Giveaway items over on our Instagram and Facebook pages, so don't miss out:) 

Shell Rummel Soft Repose Quilt Market wall art