Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

2019 is the year to finally start organizing all the mess that was left behind in 2018! Maybe one of your priorities this year is to start fresh with a clean sewing room, bedroom, or in my case, desk space. At least for me, it hard to concentrate when everything is all over the place and not in their “right home,” and nothing is more satisfying than knowing where everything is and having it all in order. In case, you’re ready to begin revamping and reorganizing your space for this year, here’s some projects that are on my sew list this month that can get you started on your organization journey!

1. Rope Bowls: These fabric bowls with handles make them perfect to transfer from room to room. Add your fabric scraps, quilts, or anything that needs to always need to be moved around the house and into its own little home.
2. Mail Organizer: I love this project because most people usually have their mail on one basket or just tossed on a table or counter, and this is the perfect way to have your mail all in one place. It has pockets to make sure each envelope can be prioritized and a section to separate mail that you’ve already opened.
3. Sewing Clutch: Small sewing notions just tend to get lost in the mix all the time, but with this sewing clutch, you can have everything in one place. This is also perfect for traveling, and can be used for more than your sewing supplies..you can keep your toiletries in it too!
4. Binder Cover: Winter break is over and it’s time for all the kids to go back to school. I remember when I went to school, the first thing that would get damaged was my binder. This cover would make sure the corners won’t get ripped, and you can keep your important notes/pens in the front!
5. Quilted Journal: These journal covers are great to sort out all your journals or even use them to cover any books you want to preserve. I especially love this from a design aspect if you just want to stop staring at mismatched book covers on the book shelf, this is a fun way to add color or cohesive prints to your book covers. Great for a nursery book shelf too! This is an easy project to get beginner sewists of any age comfortable with machine quilting too!
6. Triangle bag: Don’t just sew any old pouch! Keep your things from rolling out of your bag with this triangle purse that's stylish and can stand on its own on any surface.

Hope these projects can help you start your new year on the right foot! If you have any tips on organizing your space, please leave them in the comments below, I would love to read them!

Happy Sewing,

Jannelle

Hi Makers, 

Hope you're all enjoying 2019, so far!

This year, we're planning BIG things here at AGF and super excited to share all of them with you, these next couple months! With that, I'd like to announce that our AGF family is getting a little bigger and I'd like to introduce you to our newest designer - Alexandra Bordallo! Currently residing with her husband and young son in Spain, Alexandra's whimsical style caught our eye, and we just knew she had to be part of our talented team.

Here's a little interview I did with her, so you can get to know her a little better and hear about her background!

1. Can you describe your creative path and what brings you to where you are today?

As a kid, I enjoyed making woven bracelets with my friends and I took painting and piano classes. When I was age 15, I bought my first sewing machine. I’m always trying to challenge myself to learn new sewing and quilting skills. I also have a knitting, crochet and embroidery obsession which also are my favorite fall and winter activities.

Being a mom has changed my perspective in every way. When my son was born, I wanted to spend all my time with him. I was working part time as a social worker and selling my sewing creations on my Etsy shop. I built my sewing brand and was sharing my creations on my Instagram account, just for fun. My love for sewing and fabrics are the reason why I started to learn how to draw and design repeating patterns. In September 2015, I took my first surface design course. I've been learning so much by following Bonnie Christine’s Skillshare classes! She’s an amazing teacher and her advice encouraged me to follow my dream. I started drawing and designing repeat patterns all the time.

I focused all my energies into only one industry and started calling myself a fabric designer. I keep learning and practicing. I often work late nights just to finish a repeating pattern or draw some new sketches for future designs. After five years of hard work with a few ups and downs, my dream finally came true and I can't wait to sew with my own fabrics soon.

2. Describe your design style.

It’s a tough question. I think my work is constantly evolving and I like to experiment with new drawing techniques and materials. My style often includes hand drawn inky lines, naïve motifs, quirky sketches inspired by nature and everyday objects.

3. How do you find inspiration and organize it?

Inspiration comes from people around us, feelings and experiences. I love being outside in nature with my family, reading books with my son, listening to music and taking photos as future inspiration. I start with an idea or object to draw as reference. When I do not know what to draw, I often draw flowers and from there everything begins to flow again. All my designs start with hand drawing in my sketchbook. When I have a bunch of sketches I am happy with, I scan them and start coloring in Adobe Illustrator, building the repeating pattern. I can spend hours recoloring a design. Color is everything!

4. When you're about to sit down and begin designing, do you have a certain ritual you have to do in order to begin your creative process?

I need to wear comfortable clothes, a pair of leggings and a big t-shirt. I have some nail polish on my desk and I often find myself painting my nails when I feel overwhelmed. Recently, I decided to draw directly with ink pen into my sketchbook to avoid my stupid perfectionism voice and just draw without thinking too much.

5. My spirit animal is....

A dragonfly!

6. Five things you can't live without....

My son, water, music, my sewing machine, and....my son :)

7. Do you have any goals lined up for 2019?

Last summer, I released my first sewing pattern, the #2in1summerbag and I’m writing new patterns to release with my first fabric collection. I also would love to learn how to sew garments for myself!

Please make sure to give Alexandra a warm welcome and stay tuned for more to come!

Keep creating,

- Sophia 

Hello Makers, 

Happy 2019! With a new year in our midst  we are filled with different emotions. Some of us are feeling accomplished and grateful for the year they had and excited for what 2019 will bring. You may also be feeling overwhelmed of the idea that maybe you didn't succeed in everything you set out to do in 2018 and a little discouraged to start 2019. What ever you may be feeling, let it all go, breathe deep and and remember to be present. Live each day for today and enjoy each process of your life one day at a time. One way I like to calm my mind each day to reflect on being present is to pick up a project that slows my mind.  I love cross stitching, crocheting and would love to learn how to knit in 2019. Another goal I have for 2019 is to get into EPP and after the past couple months of following along with the Farmer's Wife Sew Along hosted by Angie from GnomeAngel (Check out this hashtag to follow along too! #FW1920EPPSAL) I am so motivated and beyond excited to begin.

Below are some of the amazing work  Mister Domestic and Sarai  has created this past month for the Farmer's Wife Sew Along using AGF Color Master boxes!  They are EPP machines and they are so extremely inspiring and motivating.

Haven't been following along, don't worry check out the past posts below to get you up to speed! 

Month 1- Farmer's Wife Sew Along

Month 2- Farmer's Wife Sew Along

Month 3 - Farmer's Wife Sew Along

Blocks Created By Mister Domestic  (Above)

Blocks Created By Sarai   (Above)

This past month they had a break in the sew along for the holiday's and Sarai got a head start on sewing her finished blocks together. How stunning is her quilt already?! 

Make sure to head over two these wonderful makers IG and follow their EPP journey and for fun and helpful posts!  

Happy Sewing in 2019, 

Meli