Volunteer pansies to greet us! 
Magnolia Miles 
Iris Gradient 
Ring of Fire 
Iris Dancing 
Sunshine 
Paducah 
Cheers! First Martini! 
Inspiration 
Snuggles 
Creative Detail 
Direct it
As we drove back from our first quilt shows in Atlanta, GA and Lakeland, FL in this cautiously emerging 2021 I was in the middle of approving strike-offs for the new collection with Northcott Fabrics, developing a possible block of the month program and working up graphic patterns to translate the extraordinary Frond fabrics for this new collaboration. It has been a challenge to work in a more organized fashion as I usually shoot from the hip, ride the wave, go with the flow… etc. But that isn’t an option here. Northcott has a warm and friendly staff and they are structured and organized which is part of what drew me to the company.
As an artist it has been another mountain to climb. The mountains forged into the spirit of this entrepreneur, the tempering that demands fire, molding, hammering and form. Since my first days of designing there has always been this dichotomy. The art…followed by the translation.
Translating can be difficult. Painting is the reward.
In our world of tiny triangles, intricate piecing and detailed quilting that relies so much on a machine in its prime, a needle change, oil, paper, understanding the directions and basically the stars aligning, Daydreamin’ is the easy collection. Sew two screen printed panels together. 1/4 seam allowance and BOOM you have this amazing -screen printed- 48X43 flower for the center of a quilt OR you cut it in fourths and have some killer Euro Shams OR you cut it into tiny squares and get great depth of color. Modern art invites you to take that creative baton and put your signature to it. That is the spirit of Frond. Screenprinting has always been a passion of mine. The ability to capture the vibrancy and turn a melancholy flower into happiness is the best feeling.
My goal as a quilt historian and love of all things vintage is to have people see this fabric 100 years from now and marvel at it, wonder about it, ask who did this and why is it so different? Why did the quilter design this from this fabric? This is our legacy as quilters, sewists and creators.
When I returned from our quilt shows I was greeted with beautiful volunteer pansies. I was so excited that they lasted through this difficult winter and popped up to say hello in the neighbor’s patch of gravel.
The other day I came through our front door and noticed the pansies were wilted along with some of the other grasses that had begun to take hold. Someone hit them with a weed killer and they were contorting into twisted rust/green stems. It made me angry that someone didn’t see the beauty in the happy welcoming faces of these blooms. I was frustrated that a happy little plant could be considered a nuisance, a weed.
It made me think of our humanity. We need to see each other as beautiful blooms.
I have been so blessed to share my work with all of you and try to translate it the best I can. I am honored to be working with Northcott, grateful to have the opportunity to reach more beautiful creators out there and proud to be a weed. Peace!
Sew What with Frond Design Studios 