We’ve always been fans of Liberty of London’s coveted, luscious cotton Tana Lawn fabrics and the detailed, floral and whimsical prints they’re known for.  Though the luxury brand is a British icon, it has heretofore lacked an American presence. But that’s all changing.

Liberty seems to be teaming up with strong, reliable brands that we love all over the place these days. And being the brand loyalist I am, I’m a bit giddy to see the convergence of Liberty prints all over my every day go-to sources.

Recently, Liberty teamed up with Kaffe Fassett and Westminster Fibers to produce classic Liberty prints on quilting weight cotton in new Kaffe Fassett colorways. (Would be good for a man quilt, no?)

Now Target is about to release a range of Liberty of London wares from clothing to bikes, all featuring killer prints. Tomorrow a Liberty/Target pop-up store in NYC near Bryant Park opens for just a few days. It sounds amazing and you can bet I’ll be checking the blogs and Twitter for details since I’m not there. And then maybe to assuage my jealousy I’ll sew my own dress and pillows out of our own Liberty from the shop.

As if that wasn’t enough, Liberty has also hooked up with MAC, which might as well be the official makeup of Suppose (if only they’d give us free stuff) as it’s all we know how to wear. The Liberty/MAC collection features sweet but edgy limited edition colors in a variety of products for making your face lovely.

And of course the packaging shows of Liberty prints in a way that makes you want to buy it all, even though you’re not low on makeup at all. I’m such a sucker!

Way to go, Liberty, on making your way in the American marketplace, and with the right collaborations. You know where I’ll be shopping this weekend.

Tonight we had Creative Guild meeting so it’s about time that I put up some photos from last month’s meeting, eh? Here’s what some of our ladies were up to in February.

Emma Jean is the lucky inheritor of this vintage appliqued quilt top.  Anyone know what this block pattern would be called?

Jennifer’s been on a softie kick.  Here she’s got Hector Giraffe, Polly, and the monky who’s name I forget but who has the most awesome plaid pants & suspenders.  I believe these are all from Softies Only A Mother Could Love.

Nita recently made this ultra sweet Oliver + S Birthday Party Dress for her brand new niece with the AH Spotted Owl print. I’d wear it.

That’s just a taste of all the amazing things our guild members have going. More show & tell from the Suppose Creative Guild soon!

Sometimes its surprising to me that there’s not more overlap of the worlds of fashion and quilting, both having a foundation in textiles.  But the trendy art of one can seem worlds away from the traditional craft of the other. I always say that it doesn’t have to be so, and apparently Jean Touitou knows it too.

Jean Touitou is head of French fashion labels A.P.C. and Madras, and was the kid playing guitar on the right in that photo. (At first I thought it could have been a young Zac Posen.) The log cabin quilt on the wall was made by Touitou’s mother and now hangs in his Paris studio, just a part of his quilt collection.  Touitou even put this photo on a t-shirt for his upcoming Fall collection. But that’s not all.  Via style.com…

He and his Madras co-designer Jessica Ogden are currently at work on a quilting project (part art exhibition, part retail initiative) for which they dug fabric out of the A.P.C. archives and delivered it to women in India who have been specially trained in the handicraft style of the American South. “My mother was a quilter,” Touitou explained, “and so was Jessica’s mother. We share the obsession.”

It’s unclear what exactly this quilting project is, but I am oh so curious (and will update appropriately).  I love that these fashion elite appreciate the contributions of quilting and find the influence of patchwork in their own design aesthetic.  I likewise think that there is a lot in the fashion world that we can glean for use in our approach to patchwork and quilting.  In fact, I’ll be starting a new series here on the topic soon.  Keep on the lookout…

I’m happy to report that we are making good on the scheduled sewing nights. Recently Jennifer and I rummaged through the scrap bin and each made a Polly from the book Softies Only a Mother Could Love.

Adorbs, if I do say so myself.  But I’d like a lil rabbit boy to keep my lil rabbit girl company. (Mine is on the left, Jennifer’s on the right, in case you were wondering.)

The mastermind behind children’s clothing patterns Oliver+S, Liesl, is genius.  I would probably take advice from her on anything, anytime.  Luckily, she’s given some over on the Oliver + S blog over the last several months with her principles for fabric selection.  She explains how to use color, prints, solids, and a little restraint to get the most sophisticated look for the children’s clothes you sew.  Most of these principles can be applied to patchwork and other sewing as well. A summary:

• See the child before the outfit
• Think sophisticated and understated
• Look at the supporting fabrics in a collection, not necessarily the central prints
• Solid colors and neutrals can ground a bright, busy print
• Be eclectic; don’t be afraid to mix collections
• Look for updated versions of traditional prints
• Tonal and two-color prints look very fresh
• Approach juvenile prints with caution

Read about them in detail here (and start from the bottom).  I’d like to add a “hear hear” to Liesl’s tips.  They mirror the way we approach fabric choices for projects in the shop, perhaps we’ll talk about some of our own principles for picking fabric for quilts one of these days.

I think Suppose’ own Oliver+S outfit passes the test.  Meet my aunt Marianne, a clever lady and an adept seamstress.  She made this Birthday Party Dress in Westrade’s classic Tiny Posies print with the button tab in Kaffe Fassett’s Shot Cotton in Watermelon.  Don’t you just want to make a whole bunch! What would you choose to make it in?

I realized that I haven’t gushed about Little Folks yet on the blog, and I’m shocked.  You may have seen it around. This is Anna Maria Horner’s newest collection, and rather than regular old quilting cotton, it’s printed on the most luscious, silky voile. (Rhymes with wall, toile…)  There are also coordinating flannels, oilcloth, dobby dots, and solids.  I squeal inside whenever I look at them.

When the collection arrived, Jennifer knew just what she wanted to do with it first. Before we could even put the bolts out on display, she was working on a scarf inspired by this one from Anna Maria’s blog.

She has since made more, as have many of our shop friends, and how could they not! It only takes about an hour and it’s such an easy way to use and wear a favorite print.  To make your own, check out the Little Folks Voile Scarf Tutorial.

Jennifer (my right hand lady) and I have so many projects we want to do, it’s making us a little bonkers.  So like good organized girls we made a list and started scheduling (softies this Thursday!, pre-cut freestyle next month…) The first thing on our list?  Freeform blocks with Hope Valley.  This is the newest collection from Suppose favorite Denyse Schmidt, and we are obsessed. What’s new, right?  So, inspired by DS’s improvisational style and these, we picked out about 10 fat quarters each, plus a shot cotton here and there and just started cutting and sewing away.

Here are our first wonky log cabin blocks, J’s on the left, mine on the right. We were both drawn to the New Day and Piney Woods colorways, so they look like mateys.

Jennifer got all tricky with the center of her next block.  We’ll do a few more and then set them into a background and square them up before putting them in quilts.  I must say, sewing without rules is such a nice break from the pressure of perfect cutting and perfect seam allowances and perfect corners. Try it next time you feel intimidated by a project.

And for some more Hope Valley inspiration, have a look here.

You’ve spent all that time crafting a totally personal, unique, handmade gift. So why not wrap it up in one-of-a kind handsewn gift wrap too? Or if you didn’t quite have time for handmade gifts this year, this is a quick way to spiff up that present with just a touch of handmade care. Not to mention, it’s a great way to recycle paper grocery bags and other paper around the house.

Let your creativity run wild and try whipping up some custom stitched gift wrap with instructions at our Stitched Holiday Wrapping tutorial.

As the shopping days left till Christmas wane, we are still finding more decorations to put up and trying to finish those last handmade gifts, not to mention scrambling to get in our online shopping before the shipping deadlines. If you feel like we do, and don’t have an extra moment to dream up the perfect gift, consider some suggestions.

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1 - Amy Butler Softwares : $29.29 : for the techie sewist
With over 22 fun projects & patterns in Amy’s modern style, we find this pretty irresistable.

2 - Kaffe Fassett’s Quilt Romance : $24.95 : for the book snob sewist
This is Kaffe’s newest book, with breathtaking photos and quilt patterns that will go straight to that must-do list.

3 – Kinkame European Taupe II Quilt Kit : $55.10 : for the world-travelled sewist
Soft colors to pacify any room with this wall-hanging sized quilt kit including fabric and pattern.

4 - Sweet Harmony Handbag Pattern : $12.95 : for the trendy sewist
The latest and greatest bag pattern from Amy Butler, best of all, this bag definitely won’t have that “home crafts” look (you know what we mean).

5 – Mother Earth & Her Children Puzzle : $18.95 : for the game-loving sewist
This puzzle is based on the award-winning quilt that will amaze long after the puzzle is finished.

6 – Rouenneries Jelly Roll : $35 : for every sewist
French General’s Rouenneries fabric collection has pleased young and old alike. Here we have every print in a sweet little bundle.

7 – Paper Dollies : $16 : for the young-at-heart (or just young!) sewist
Just because you’re grown up doesn’t mean you can’t play with toys on Christmas morning!

8 – Liberty Of London Tana Lawn : $36/yard : for the sophisticated sewist
For someone who won’t indulge on themselves but should, 2 yards of a Liberty print can become a runway worthy blouse or skirt.

My mom has a rule: no shopping for yourself before Christmas. I haven’t quite adopted that rule myself, and with stuff like this around, how could I?

Just remember, orders must be placed by Sunday, December 20 to arrive by Christmas Eve with Priority Shipping.

There’s so much to be excited about lately, you’d think we would hit overload, but not possible.  Just like it’s always possible to love another friend or another child, there is always enough love in our hearts for more fabric.  Like Nicey Jane.  Check out this sweet little slideshow Heather Bailey put together to show off her new line, then check out the complete collection here.