I found fabric designer and all-around sweet lady, Tanya Whelan (or rather, she found me!), after she posted this image to the HGTV.com Decorating group on Flickr.
Of course, this led to some serious ogling of the rest of her photos, which in turn led me to her blog and her very own Flickr group, featuring pretty things others have made with her fabric collection, Barefoot Roses.
Turns out we were thinking the same thing, because I shortly heard from her and snatched up the opportunity to interview her about fabric style and inspiration. Lovers of Shabby Chic and Romantic style are sure to fall in love with her fabrics, just as I did.
Psst, she’s also got several patterns (some of them free!) available on her blog, like these super-simple Happy Balls that even I can sew.
Name three things that influence your fabric design.
Whelan: The simple and light-filled feeling of unpretentious Scandinavian interiors is always on my mind as I design fabric. Vintage artifacts and historic architecture and interiors like those I saw on field trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art as a kid still influence my design work.
When it comes to fabric: form or function?
Whelan: Oh boy, I love this question. The thing I really love about designing fabric is that it’s so imminently useful. A beautiful piece of fabric is of course great to look at, but I love that, with very few tools, you can make so many practical things from it. You can make clothing, a back pack or hand bag, a quilt or even a temporary shelter with fabric if you had to. I’m laughing thinking of myself marooned on an island with my little rose strewn sun shelter.
How do you curb your inner perfectionist?
Whelan: I’ve struggled with the perfectionist thing over the years. Having 3 kids and being a limited sort of person who can’t “do it all,” and who must get 8 hours of sleep to feel sane, has forced me to prioritize any perfectionist tendencies. I only aim for my version of “perfect” when it comes to my design work because it wouldn’t be worth doing for me any other way. I’m not a perfectionist in other areas of my life (laundry and housework for example) and just try to simplify things as much as possible so that I have time to spend with my family. For me, trying to be perfect in all areas of life just doesn’t pay off or make me happy.
What advice would you give a beginner sewer who wants to tackle one of your patterns? (aka me 
Whelan: My advice (and I must admit that I don’t always do it) is to read through and try to visualize all instructions before cutting anything.
Some fabric collections you’re itching to get your hands on this year.
Whelan: I love pretty much every pattern from Joel Dewberry’s collections and have lots of fantasy projects in my head that use his fabrics.
The sites or blogs you frequent most for crafty inspiration.
Whelan: There are so many inspirational sites that I visit but here are a few that I come back to again and again.
Sis Boom Day Dreams. Blog of my friend and colleague designer Jennifer Paganelli. Jennifer is an amazing and prolific paper artist and fabric and paper designer and every post is filled with her beautiful and inspirational work.
Posie Gets Cozy. I often get lost in Alicia Paulson’s gorgeous photography of her home, life and current craft projects and her really, and I mean really, moving, funny and beautiful writing.
Angry Chicken. Amy Karol’s blog always inspires me and makes me smile with great ideas for hand made gifts and recipes and just her overall simple, elegant aesthetic.
Anna Maria Horner. Anna Maria is such a great writer. Each post tells a story that you want to read through to the end. I just love her photography of her life, design work and family and especially her amazing sewing projects.
Sew Mama Sew. For seemingly endless sewing project ideas and tutorials you can’t beat this blog.
The most expensive fabric you’ve ever purchased, and what you made from it.
Whelan: I once bought a yard of fabric from Britex in San Francisco for $100. It was this beautiful silk with hand embroidery all over it. At the time, I was making these sort of luxe baby blankets and hats for boutiques and had planned to use it for a baby cloche. As it turned out I couldn’t bring myself to cut the stuff so it’s still sitting in one of my fabric bins.
What are your upcoming projects/fabric collection releases we should know about?
Whelan: My next fabric collection for Free Spirit, Ava Rose named for my girl, will be released in the spring. Like my current fabric collection, Barefoot Roses, it’s rosy and vintage but uses fresh, crisp, modern colors and includes a lot more red, which I’m excited about. At the same time, I’ll be releasing a line of modern hand bag and apron sewing patterns which will be available through fabric stores. Later in the year I’ll have a collection of very romantic turn-of-the-century French inspired fabrics that will be printed on home dec or quilting weight fabric (I haven’t decided which yet).
Visit Tanya’s blog, stock up on her fabrics or see what others have made with her collection.
All photos courtesy of Tanya Whelan.
