Sunday, July 22, 2012

Sassaman Book ~ Blog hop! Give Away!


Jane LaFazio: Got your beautiful book yesterday, and here are some questions. I’m fascinated by your fabric design process. Tell us how you go about it
Jane Sassaman: The first chapter of Patchwork Sassaman Style briefly describes my process for 
Free Spirit. Basically I begin an idea with a black and white drawing. Then I play with a repeat of that motif. I enjoy the engineering aspects of making a repeat design. Then I redraw the repeat design as nicely as possible on tracing paper, still in black and white. 
Then I scan the drawing, often in sections which usually need to be pieced back together inside the computer. I work in Photoshop and with my Wacom tablet to clean up the drawing and begin adding extra details and experimenting with color.

 
JL: Your work has such a strong, beautiful nature theme. What are your favorite symbols and what do they mean to you?
JS: Nature as always been an inspiration in my work. I prefer to use plants in my work instead of people. Since plants have the same life cycle as humans, I can make more mysterious messages without such obvious references. In my fabric Mother Natures designs are used as both pattern and symbol. Once a plant becomes part of my design language I will use it again and again. Dandelions, for example, are tenacious, naive, exuberant and wonderfully designed. They show up in my work often.
All fabric line have a theme to coordinate them. My fabrics usually tell a story about my Midwestern environment and portray plants that I know very well.
  
JL:  You mention in your book, an easy threading needle. Tell us about it and the brand you use.
JS: I would retire if I didn't have easy threading needles. They allow several threads to be snapped into the eye instead of threading through it. I use it to bury my threads when quilting. Clover and John James are usually very dependable.
JL: Since I’m such an admirer of your designs, the ‘whole cloth’ quilts in your book really appeal to me. What’s your favorite quilt in your new book?
Jane Sassaman Quilt
JS: I like the whole cloth quilts, too. After all, I design fabric to be "art by the yard" and I am very happy when people use it in big pieces. My fabric is quite suited for home dec projects that let the fabric just be itself... pillowcases, duvets, curtains, etc. It would be hard to pick a favorite quilt in the book, but I'm very fond of the patterns that play off the symmetry in a fabric design. It is thrilling to see the optical effects that develop, like the Broken Star, the Mirrored Triangles and the Radiating Diamonds.


97 comments:

  1. I tend to use the seed pod of the poppy over and over. Don't you just love Jane Sassaman's boldness?!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the look of purple thistles!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Right now, today, it is tropical fish! My current applique quilt is very fishy.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Moon shapes are very appealing to me.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Flowers: Simple yet complex, their versatility are breathtaking.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sunflowers always seem to pop up in my work! Wow these colors and Jane's work just POP! Love Love It!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Leaves - any kind. Right now it is leaves from my vegetable garden.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Water is my favorite element.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Birds, birds, birds close to beautiful flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I Love the centers of fowers - the "business" of the flower if you will! Hibiscus pistils are great - and the stamens of stargazer lilies are fabulous too!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love making flower applique quilts which I learned from Melinda Bula. Thanks for the opportunity to win this fantastic book. Connie in California

    ReplyDelete
  12. So hard to choose!! Leaves, flowers and vines!! Wonderfully curling and tangling vines!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm currently in love with flowers. Doodled or created from bits of paper, realistic or whimsical - they are showing up everywhere in my art journal.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ferns and leaves. love your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm partial to palm fronds. This looks like a great book!

    ReplyDelete
  16. vines. I especially like to use them in borders.

    ReplyDelete
  17. My current favorite design element is the coneflower. I would love a chance to win this book.

    ReplyDelete
  18. There is so much in nature that inspires design for me, but most of all --- curls, swirls, vines, and tendrils.

    ReplyDelete
  19. My favorite design element from nature is undoubtedly leaves. Their shapes and colors are inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  20. All kinds of leaves are inspiring. Years ago I took a class from Jane S. and she mentioned taking a walk and noticing the leaves of nasty thistles. The leaves are spectacular. That comment made me open my eyes to everything around me. Well, Jane S's comment and Jane La Fazio's classes !

    ReplyDelete
  21. Clouds are my favorite inspiration! Great review and would love to win this book!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Any random pattern in nature catches my attention. Especially shadows from leaves on a solid surface.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Of late, leaf shapes have been drawing me in for a closer look. The varied shapes and textures are very pleasing to me… they seem to compliment most any other fabric or design. I really like your blog and am marking it as a favorite for future visits, thanks for the Sassaman give-a-way!

    ReplyDelete
  24. current favorite design element--and an old favorite--the curl of a fern before it unfurls. I really really reallllllly want this book! Pleaase pick me :-)

    ReplyDelete
  25. I really like hosta leaves for quilting lines. I'd love to win a copy of the book. Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love tree elements - bark, branches, and leaves.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Coral! The hard corals have awesome repeating patterns of star shapes where the arms were. I have an embarrassingly large collection that I turn to again and again. But after that are pebbles, bamboo, enchinaceas.... the list is long. :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. The first comment didn't go, I love your colors,and all your randitions of flowers..... Thank you jane

    ReplyDelete
  29. My current favorite theme from nature is the peacock--birds, feathers, "eyes" of the feathers.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Leaves, over and over and over again. I've been drawing leaves forever!

    Marilyn Weyman on FB but Wabbit on Blogspot.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wow those designs are fabulous! I am a gardener and constantly marvel at the colors and shapes Mother Nature designs. These fabrics are so vibrant and unusual, I just love them. Thank you Jane for bringing this book and these fabrics to my attention

    ReplyDelete
  32. I use lots of flowers. Right now I am painting and art quilting lilies. I have all shapes and colors in my garden.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love the forms of nature, both flora and fauna. I always come back to spirals. They are abundant in nature - sea shells, opening fern fronds, a cat's tail, etc. Jane Sassman's style has always drawn me in and captivated me. Thanks for the chance to add this beautiful book to my library. If it is half as good as her first book, it will be a keeper.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Leaves! I haven't met a leaf I didn't like. I constantly use your first book as a reference guide.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I am finding myself drawn to leaves these days!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Leaves are my favorite design elemnet from nature!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Leaves are great. Shuttermom77 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am a big fan of dragonflys. I am currently working on perfecting a free motion dragonfly to use as a signature on quilts.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love flowers and hearts and incorporate them in my quilts. Judith, Texas

    ReplyDelete
  40. Mine is butterflies and feathers

    ReplyDelete
  41. Right now it's leaves and flowers, especially gingko leaves and red poppies.

    ReplyDelete
  42. The Texas sky - from puff clouds and shades of blue to striking sunsets/ sunrises to stormy skies

    ReplyDelete
  43. The 2 Jane's together. What could be better. Like both of you.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Leaves, blossoms (especially columbine), and deer-have had so many fawns in my yard this year. Watched a video yesterday about how Jane designs fabrics. Enjoyed your blog post. Thanks for the opportunity to win the book.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Though I do not like purple thistles in real life because of fast propagation of the thorny plants, I do love them as images on fabrics. I also like purple iris' and ferns. Thanks for the giveaway as know there is a wealth of good quilty information in Jane Sassaman's new book.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I think my favorite design element lately is probably birds. thanks for a chance to win Jane's book.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love tendrils. From pumpkin vines with curly tendrils to the fern frond tendrils in some of Jane's designs, tendrils turn me on! Thanks for a great giveaway, Jane LaFazio. This is such a great book! :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. I am into landscapes at the moment, so look at the desert where I live for inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Poppies and seed pods are what I'm using lately

    ReplyDelete
  50. Coneflowers and ferns.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Leaves, leaves, leaves. There is such variety, always something new to work with. And lately teasel has popped up in my photographs. I haven't drawn it yet, but it's all along the highways where I have traveled.

    ReplyDelete
  52. My current favorite design element from nature is flowers: Some are symmetrical. Some are not. When I choose to draw or photograph them, I don't have to decide whether I want symmetry or not. Nature decides for me.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I enjoy going to wildlife refuge to look for birds and other wildlife. I also look for wild flowers or berries.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love leaves but I am also fascinated by thistles.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I live in the middle of the Kansas prairies. My favorite natural element has been the prairie grasses.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Flowers are most usually my favorite design from nature though trees come in next.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Birds, blooms, butterfles, water and mountains.

    senstrings at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Sunflowers and daisies! Thanks for the chance to win.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I love seashells and other spiral forms! The dimensions are so unique and inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Poppy pods and Japanese ensos appear frequently in my sketches and paintiings. ~Denise

    ReplyDelete
  61. I would say the wave, either in water or sand. they are very interesting. AS is Jane's work

    ReplyDelete
  62. All different kinds of trees!
    Thanks for the chance to win this great book-
    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  63. Definitely flowers! Thanks for a chance to win a copy of Jane's book.

    ReplyDelete
  64. My current favorite design element is the hummingbird. I am enthralled by the shape of their body, wings, and beak. The body ratio is so different from most birds. I love the deep bold colors, and the vibrant color contrast on the males. I love to watch their erratic flight patterns.

    ReplyDelete
  65. I tend to like leaves and flowers. I use them a lot in my quilting as well.

    ReplyDelete
  66. I love floral shapes. Whenever I doodle, I draw flowers.

    ReplyDelete
  67. I like to use the colors of fruits and vegetables! Love and have a lot of Jane S.'s fabrics. Thanks for hosting in the blog hop, Jane L.!

    ReplyDelete
  68. I really do love poppies - the delicate seeming petals and the very strong pistil and stamens...

    ReplyDelete
  69. Loving succulent's right now and the bright flowers they can produce. Just amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  70. I love Jane's fabric designs--flowers are my favorites!

    ReplyDelete
  71. I guess it woud be the peacock feather! So beautiful! Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  72. Trees! I use trees a lot! As well as leaves and flowers!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Favorite design element is probably a leaf. My drawing skills are limited, so leaves are manageable. Also, there are so many varieties! All beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  74. Leaves -- pieced, appliqued or printed on fabric -- are always nice.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Tree trunks. Love Jane's fabrics!

    ReplyDelete
  76. I love all the textures and designs of sea shells. There are so many different kinds.

    ReplyDelete
  77. My current favorite are just big beautiful flowers because they remind me of summery days and being outside.

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  78. I love flowers of any kind. This year pink primroses appeal to me most. I would love to win a copy of Jane's book and learn to make her beautiful quilts
    Kathy Ryan
    backntexas@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  79. Great blog and I would love to win the book!

    ReplyDelete
  80. Sunflowers would be my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  81. I like fabrics with lots of leaves, ferns, grasses, etc. They can be both center stage and in supporting roles. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Flower petals of all kinds.

    ReplyDelete
  83. As much as I love flowers, I tend to go for leaves and tendrils in my quilt projects. I so hope I win this fabulous book; thanks for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  84. My current inspiration from nature is a photo of an amaryllis that I grew in my house this spring. It is lime green and cream and dark cherry red.

    ReplyDelete
  85. There are so many that it's difficult to choose. I guess I will pick (pun intended) the 4 leaf clover. I just recently used a real one in a journal page I made for a "green" color book that a member of my artist book group will compile from the pages she receives that everyone in the group is making for her. We are doing a "True Colors" (Lynne Perrella) type project in our group! Such fun. Thanks for the giveaway offer. I appreciate the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  86. I love Jane's use of pattern and color. Can't wait to look at the book. I also love your painters tape tutorial!! OMG - fascinating use of that tape.

    ReplyDelete
  87. I love pomagrante seeds as a design. I also love Jane's use of large scale prints, I need to use some I have, and would love Jane's book as a helper.

    ReplyDelete
  88. I think that I would choose leaves as my favorite design element from nature... both bright green Spring leaves fresh on the tree, and brilliantly colored Autumn leaves as they put on their breath-taking last "Hurrah"! Thank you for the chance to win this book-- it looks wonderful! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  89. Right now I'm fascinated with trees, thinking a lot about things like deep roots and being content in one place for a long time. Thanks for a chance to win Jane's book; she's a favorite of mine!

    ReplyDelete
  90. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Basically I am a painter and I like to make these types of pics. Great work! I love it.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting JaneLaFazio.com!

Related Posts with Thumbnails