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!

Introducing Time & Tide, Shell Rummel's NEW Quilting Fabric Collection

FreeSpirit Fabrics presents Time & Tide by Designer Shell Rummel

This video was specifically created to introduce myself and my collection to Quilt Shop owners but it has been well received by quilters and sewers too, so I’m pleased to now share with a wider audience. During the video, you’ll get a little tour of my design studio on the Gulf Coast of Florida and hear how I became a textile designer. I also share my design inspiration for this collection which is so dear to my heart. So, grab a cup of coffee or a cuppa tea and enjoy a glimpse of Time & Tide, my newest quilting fabric collection for Free Spirit Fabrics.

My designs all originate as hand painted watercolors which add a natural organic feel to my fabrics…something uniquely beautiful for the modern quilter.

I’m counting on my sewers, crafters, embroidery artists, quilters and all around Shell Rummel fans to help my brand grow by reaching new quilting customers. Hoping Time & Tide resonates with you and that you’ll share this video and my story with your local quilt shop. Ask them to bring the line into their stores so you can create something amazing, inspired by the beauty of sand, sea and sky.

Time & Tide is available for Pre-Order now via Free Spirit Fabrics and ships to stores in January, 2021.

Creative Spotlight - 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:)

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.

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

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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.

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.

FB Live with Sew Worth It

The Backstory…

When I relocated my art and design studio down to Florida part time, I decided I wanted to relearn how to sew. I had, of course, learned on an old Singer sewing machine many moons ago…but I was rusty for sure and in all these years, sewing machines have become kind of fancy. So I reached out to my local quilt shop to help me make this important decision. I ended up purchasing a BabyLock Jubilant from Sew Worth It in Sarasota thanks to Aaron, the most patient quilt shop owner on the planet;) I never mentioned that I happen to design fabrics for a living…I was simply all about the sewing machine.

I picked up my new machine curbside and masked (sign of the times), handed Aaron my business card and drove off, happy as could be. A week later, his lovely wife and business partner, Allison, noticed the business card on the desk and made the connection that the lady who had just bought the Jubilant was also a Free Spirit Designer. She reached out and we hit it off right away. Allison and Aaron invited me to be a guest during their regular Friday night Facebook Live video venue. We began planning a Facebook Live so that they could introduce me and my collections to their Sew Worth It customers. Some things are simply meant to be.

We went Live on Facebook in June at the Sew Worth It store. What a fantastic experience! To date, the video has been viewed over 5,000 times… what a thrill! I loved having an opportunity to meet so many SWI long time customers and share the design inspiration behind my quilting fabric collections. We shared gorgeous projects created by my talented design friends for my current collection, Reverie, and I introduced my latest collection, Time & Tide which is now available for purchase via Pre sale. Sew Worth It is still taking pre orders for Time & Tide if you are interested in yardage or fat quarter bundles:)

My gratitude to everyone who popped online to join Allison, Aaron and me during the FB Live event. We had a great crowd with lovely comments and a very successful night of Reverie sales and pre-selling for Time & Tide… THANK YOU!!! Your waves, smiles and kind words meant so much. I’m delighted to see so many new faces following my adventures on facebook and Instagram. That support and interest in my brand and product lines goes a long way… I’m so honored my collections are resonating with you.

Enjoy the video over on Facebook. My segment begins around the 13 minute mark;)

Creative Spotlight - Floriane Harpster

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.

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.”

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“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