Introducing.....

You all know just how excited I have been about this- and now I get to show you why!

When I first had the idea for 'Going Coastal' I knew I wanted something that would speak to anyone on any coast. We've all seen nautical or beach-themed fabric before, but I wanted mine to be different. I wanted it to be both. I had a vision for a little more sophistication, yet fun and playful. And so I present: GOING COASTAL

It all started with that crab! Last year while I was going through my Radioactive-Iodine treatment for Thyroid cancer I had to be in complete isolation for 10 days. I set up camp in my bedroom with my laptop, a few DVD's, a stack of mag's, and some drawing paper. I was flipping through magazines and I saw a picture of a throw pillow with a huge crab on it. I was in love with that crab. I thought, I wonder if there's a quilting fabric with a crab on it and so I started seaching. But non of them had the feel that I was going for. So I started sketching what I would want to find. All of a sudden my mind started racing with ideas....

'Crab Walk' started a whole process but I didn't think he could carry the line on his own. I wanted the novelty of the crab print, but I also wanted to include other prints that would ground him.

A couple years ago I was visiting my family in California and we went to the beach. Northern California beaches are my personal favorite because they remind me of day-trips as a kid. While there I found a whole sand dollar about the size of a nickel. That was my inspiration for my dot. Everyone loves a good dot print and I hope this will become a favorite of many quilters.

Next came the Sea Star. I LOVE finger starfish and you see them all over the place in decorating. Everyone likes starfish so naturally I had to design a print with them too.

With the color Sand Dollar on white background, and the white Sea Star on a color background I knew I needed to design something with more tone-on-tone color. Also, being a quilter and knowing what quilter's like I wanted to design something plant-like and leafy. Different types of seaweed and kelp litter the beaches wherever you go. That was my inspiration for the Sea Kelp print.

Shortly after I began sketching my crab I had the vision for the Bottle Caps. This, I knew, would be my main print. With several caps I could sample little pieces of ideas I had without having to design a whole print from each of them. The beachball was a given. The oars, a life preserver, my crab! It was all coming together. And the surfboard- a little tribute to the Beach Boys. I mean, who doesn't love the Beach Boys!?

And then there was plaid. I can't even tell you how much I LOVE plaid. If you know me, you know I love plaid- always have. Years ago I bought a pair of plaid pants. Yes, plaid pants. And I wore them like crazy until I decided to paint in them. Ugh, what was I thinking!? If they weren't covered with paint I'd be wearing them to market.

Pieced madras plaid fabric always catches my eye and it's EVERYWHERE in the summer and on the beach. Different patches of different plaids all together on one piece of fabric- that's what I wanted to design. I am THRILLED with the result!

So whether you're an East-coaster, a West-coaster, a tropical beach go-er, or a surfer dude/betty I hope you can find a bit of yourself in 'Going Coastal' because YOU were the inspiration. :o)

*If you're interested in having some of this fun line for yourself- ask for it at your local quilt shop. They can order it now from Michael Miller and it should be delivered later on this summer! :o)