Sit & Sew Radio Quilt Addicts Anonymous

Welcome to Episode 48 of Sit & Sew Radio, a Quilt Addicts Anonymous podcast. This week our guest is pattern and fabric designer Jessica VanDenburgh of Sew Many Creations. I've known Jessica for a few years from meeting her at various quilting industry events, and I spoke with her at Quilt Market in Portland about her brand-new fabric line, Gypsy, for Windham Fabrics, which is due out in shops in October, including ours at shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com (http://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com).
Before we get to the interview, I wanted to let you all know what's been going on at Quilt Addicts Anonymous. We've been pumping out tons of great content in 2018, and the latest is our Hillside (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d98A17cLOT0) and Jelly Roll Rug (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mja_GEzMQ) video tutorials which have been big hits with the quilting community so far on YouTube. And if you missed it, be sure to check out my Free Online Beginner Quilting course (https://www.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/learntoquilt/) which is great for first-timers as well as quilting veterans looking for a refresher course.
We've also been added a fun new Crafting With Kids video series in which myself and my cute little Future Quilter have fun with crafts in hopes of inspiring you and your little ones to get crafty! Check out all of our content at quiltaddictsanonymous.com (http://quiltaddictsanonymous.com) and click on the tutorials tab. Also, be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube by clicking here (https://www.youtube.com/user/StephanieDePasquale).
Now on to the interview ...
Jessica VanDenburgh, pattern and fabric designer
I just love Jessica's work and have been wanting her as a guest on the podcast for awhile now, so I am super excited to get to share a bit of her story and passion with all of you.
Jessica has created many wonderful patterns through her Sew Many Creations brand, for quilts and bags. The idea of her own fabric line was always in the back of her mind, "but I didn’t think that it would ever actually happen because I don’t consider myself super artistic. I don’t think that I draw that well and I don’t have those computer skills either."
Nonetheless, she spoke with Windham about doing her own line and started sketching and coming up with concepts.
“It was an exciting process," Jessica said. "I got to pick all of the colors and make it what I wanted but they polished it up and made it even better than I could have imagined.”
A lot of fabric designers are not sewers, and they don't always understand how their art translates into cutting it up and using it in projects. That's what I love about Jessica's line. As a sewer and pattern designer, she really thought about her her line would be used when creating it and the end product is just beautiful. I just loved how her booth looked at quilt market, and her fabric looked great on large and small-scale projects.
In addition to her new fabric line, Jessica discusses her obsession with Cork fabric and more in our interview. Check out Jessica's website at sewmanycreationsny.com (http://sewmanycreationsny.com).

Welcome to Episode 47 of Sit & Sew Radio, a Quilt Addicts Anonymous podcast! We're so excited to be back with another episode after a break. We're back with an interview with Frank Bennett, the CEO of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.
We spoke with Frank while we were in Paducah for AQS QuiltWeek in April, and things have been a bit crazy over here at Quilt Addicts Anonymous ever since. As soon as I returned I had to hustle to finish multiple projects for Quilt Market in Portland. Check out my vlog that I did by (https://www.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/2018/05/behind-the-scenes-getting-ready-for-quilt-market-vlog/) clicking here (https://www.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/2018/05/behind-the-scenes-getting-ready-for-quilt-market-vlog/) to see all that went into getting ready for quilt market and the different projects I created.
Also during that time we were working on shooting photos for my first book, Simple Quilts for the Modern Home (https://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product/simple-quilts-for-the-modern-home-available-for-pre-order/), which is available for preorder.
After that, we zeroed in on the launch of our FREE Beginner Quilting series sponsored by QT Fabrics. The series consists of 12 videos and teaches you everything you need to know about quilting from beginning to end. It has been great to see some of the responses to the videos and how it has been helpful for beginner and veteran quilters alike. Check out the videos at quiltaddictsanonymous.com/learntoquilt (http://quiltaddictsanonymous.com/learntoquilt) and download the FREE pattern (https://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product/split-nine-patch-free-beginner-quilting-video-series-pattern/) to get a 20% off coupon for the supplies you'll need to get started!
Listen to the episode to hear more about what we've been up to and what's coming next at Quilt Addicts Anonymous.
Frank Bennett, CEO of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Ky.
It was great to chat with Frank Bennett, CEO of the National Quilt Museum, who took some time out of his very busy schedule to meet with me during the week of the big quilt show. It was my first visit to Paducah, and it is clear this is a huge week for the town and the museum.
Frank and I chat about some of the exciting things going on in Paducah during show week as well as some of the exhibits at the museum. One of the big topics is the museum's Free Block of the Month Club (https://quiltmuseum.org/blockofthemonth/) which launched a few months ago. I am super excited to be one of the designers who will be doing a block for the club due out in April. Listen to the episode to hear what my block is and what I have planned. Learn more about the museum's free Block of the Month Club and sign up at the Facebook page by clicking here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/NQMBlockoftheMonth/about/).
Thanks again for checking out Episode 47 of Sit & Sew Radio. Here's a link to the National Quilt Museum website (https://quiltmuseum.org/) if you want to learn more about what it has to offer.

Welcome to Episode 46 of Sit & Sew Radio, a Quilt Addicts Anonymous podcast. I am very excited because today’s guest is Bari J. Ackerman, a painter, textile designer and home décor designer.
I’ve admired Bari J.’s work for a long time. Her Instagram feed (https://www.instagram.com/barij/) brings me joy every time she shares an image. I just love her curated maximalist style where more is more. Someday when I have time and budget, I would love to get just an ounce of her style into my home.
Before we get to the interview I would love to tell you a little bit about what is going on behind the scenes over at Quilt Addicts Anonymous. I am recording this in the one day I have off between vending at the International Quilt Expo Chicago and AQS QuiltWeek Paducah.
It has been a crazy week and it is about to get crazier. Make sure you come visit us at Booth #2106 and mention you heard this podcast to get a FREE pattern with any $10 purchase.
We also have buy three, get the fourth free on all Quilt Addicts Anonymous patterns. And we are bringing yardage from the new Kaffe Spring 2018 (http://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product-category/fabric/free-spirit/kaffe-fassett-collective-spring-2018/) fabric lines and Tula Pink All Stars (http://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product-category/fabric/free-spirit/tula-pink-all-stars/). We also have some new goodies at the shop including Alison Glass Mariner’s Cloth (http://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product-category/fabric/andover/alison-glass-mariner-cloth/) knit fabrics and Tango (http://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product-category/fabric/quilting-treasures/tango/) from QT Fabrics and Ink & Arrow.
 
Bari J. Ackerman, painter, textile designer and home décor designer
And now onto the interview. Bari J. got the design bug when her children were small and she wanted to decorate her home in something other than items from the Pottery Barn that would also be in everyone else’s home.
Before long her creative endeavors led to designing her own handbags, which led to a business and before long designing her own fabric for the bags and then her first fabric line.
Now she has created 16 collections of fabric, art for wall paper, home décor and wall art.
Check out Bari J.'s art and collections at her website barijdesigns.com (http://barijdesigns.com).

Welcome to Episode 45 of Sit & Sew Radio, a Quilt Addicts Anonymous podcast. This week we are bringing back Malka Dubraswky to talk about her new fabric collection, Mark to Make, for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. You may remember Malka from her appearance on Episode 7 of Sit & Sew Radio, which you can listen to by clicking here (http://sitandsewradio.com/episodes/episode-7-malka-dubrawsky-jazz-impressions-at-the-san-jose-museum-of-quilts-and-textiles/).
Before we get to the interview, we want to tell you a little bit about what is going on behind the scenes at Quilt Addicts Anonymous. The past week or so has been all about getting ready for our first trips to Chicago and Paducah! We are vending at Quilt Festival Chicago April 12-14 and then we’re going right to Kentucky for AQS QuiltWeek Spring Paducah 2018 April 18-21.
If you are going to make it to one of the shows, we’d love for you to come say hi! We’ll be at Booth #2007 in Chicago and Booth #2106 in Paducah. Mention Sit & Sew Radio at our booth and get one of our $12 patterns for FREE with a $10 purchase at either show.
We’ve also been spending a lot of time and effort on content generation for all of the Quilt Addicts Anonymous fans. In addition to the Sit & Sew Radio podcast, we’re pumping out new video tutorials all the time. All of our videos for the Dimensions Block of the Month are now available on YouTube, and we also have an exciting 12-part video tutorial series in the works. Check us out on YouTube here and subscribe. (https://www.youtube.com/quiltaddictsanonymous)
My first book is also in production and photography should be happening soon, which is super exciting. The book is scheduled for release this fall. There’s also new patterns on the way and some magazine patterns later this summer. We are really excited for what 2018 will bring here at Quilt Addicts Anonymous.
Malka Dubrawky, fabric designer, dyer, author and blogger
Malka went to school to study studio art and turned to art quilting when she was at home raising kids. She received lots of recognition, and was featured in several publications, but eventually moved over to the modern quilting world when her desire shifted to creating more functional textiles that would inspire other quilters.
Today we’re talking about her latest fabric collection, Mark to Make. This is Malka’s first true batik fabric collection that is produced by a major fabric manufacturer. We also discuss her increased productivity since moving her studio to her home, sewing garments and what inspires her outside of the sewing and quilting world.
Learn more about Malka and her work at her website stitchindye.com (http://stitchindye.com).

Welcome to Episode 44 of Sit & Sew Radio, a Quilt Addicts Anonymous podcast. This week we have two Stephanies on the show! Joining me is Steph Skardal, whose quilt "Going Up" won Best In Show at Quiltcon 2018 in Pasadena, Calif.
Before we learn more about Stephanie Skardal, we have some awesome news to report. Sit & Sew Radio was recently named a top five sewing podcast by the Art Gallery Fabrics creative blog. We are thrilled to get this sort of recognition for the podcast and want to thank all of our past guests and listeners for helping to make it possible. Click here (http://www.agfblog.com/2018/03/listen-while-you-sew-.html) to check out the top five list so you can add some other great sewing podcasts to your favorites.
Also, we have lots of great new stuff for you to check out at shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com (http://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com). We've recently added Cotton+Steel basics, pre-cuts and canvas to our fabric lineup, in addition to Alison Glass Sun Print 2018 pre-cuts. Just go to our See What's New (http://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product-category/see-whats-new/?orderby=date) section to check out all of our newest arrivals.

Steph Skardal, award-winning quilter and designer
Steph Skardal likes to enter her quilts into shows simply just to share her work. Little did the mother of three young daughters know that she'd reel in Best In Show honors at QuiltCon 2018 for her original quilt "Going Up". Skardal works part-time as an ecommerce software engineer and finds time to quilt an hour or two each day while the kids are at daycare.
She has only been quilting seriously for about 2 1/2 years. She joined a local open sew group through her local quilt shop which helped her perfect her technique and get to where she is today.
In the interview Steph and I discuss her award-winning quilt and the process that went into creating it and much more.
Learn more about Steph and see more of her work at her website stephskardalquilts.com (http://www.stephskardalquilts.com/).

Welcome to Episode 43 of Sit & Sew Radio, a Quilt Addicts Anonymous podcast.
If you have been anywhere near your phone or a computer and you follow the who’s who of quilting celebrities on social media, chances are you heard the news that FreeSpirit has gotten a new lease on life. The brand that is home to some of the most well-known fabric designers in the industry was purchased by Jaftex, a family-owned company that also owns Henry Glass, Studioe, Blank Quilting and many more popular sewing industry brands.
Scott Fortunoff, one of the fourth-generation owners of Jaftex came on the show to talk about the acquisition, how they plan to make FreeSpirit profitable and how this was the deal of a lifetime.
The Kaffe Fassett Collective, Tula Pink, Anna Maria Horner and many other big designers are staying on with FreeSpirit under the new owners, and much of the support staff will remain in place as well.

Scott Fortunoff, fourth generation owner Jaftex
Scott and I also talk about the history of Jaftex, how it has evolved over its 88-year-history from Scott’s grandfather selling imperfect goods and leftover fabric lots to creating women’s sleepwear to acquiring fabric manufacturers that sell to retail chains and quilt shops. And with the acquisition of FreeSpirit, Scott is hopeful this means Jaftex will be around for his sons and nephews to be the fifth generations of Fortunoffs to run the company.
You can learn more about Scott on his blog, Tales of a Fourth Generation Textile Executive. Click here (http://studioefabrics.net/blog/#.WpgYfJM-eqA) to check out his latest entries.
If you would like to shop FreeSpirit fabric, we have lots to choose from over at shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com (http://shop.quiltaddictsanonymous.com/product-category/fabric/free-spirit/). We are expecting to the complete line of Tula Pink All Stars to ship any day now. Plus, we have fabric from Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Anna Maria Horner and FreeSpirit Essential Solids.