Hi Quilting friends...

There is a new fabric designer getting ready to "WOW" us! Be on the look out for Amy Schimler!  She is a talented and successful artist, illustrator, blogger, and designer, (You may have seen some of her goods at Baby Gap, Target or at a bookstore!) who has crossed over into textile designing.  She just signed a contract to design for Robert Kaufman fabrics and will have a fabric line coming out in August.

We became "internet friends" through QuiltersBuzz and I instantly fell in love with her fun and whimsical designs--she has a website and has recently started blogging at Red Fish Circle.

These images show the "flavor" of Amy work...we will have to wait the see what her fabric line will look like...however, I think  I can talk Amy into giving us a sneak peek when she gets the fabric strike offs.

I invited her to share her story...so here is Amy: 

Hi Gina and QuiltersBuzz readers,

Here is a short bio of my journey as a textile designer.           

Ever since I can remember I have been inspired by color. My love of fabric began while growing up in Miami. My parents would take me downtown to the vibant fabric district to buy materials to sew my clothing.

I spent many years focusing on drawing and painting, in addition to sewing, and even belonged to a ceramic studio for a while. In every medium in which I worked, color and pattern would dominate. After painting on ceramic pieces I decided it would make more sense to be painting on a friendlier material, such as fabric.  I enrolled as a Fiberarts Major at Massachusetts College of Art.

I remember the day I first set foot in the Fiberarts studio and I knew that is where I belonged. It felt so right. I was fortunate enough to be living in Providence, RI at the time and followed up my studies with textile design classes at the Rhode Island School of Design. I couldn't believe you could make a living designing fabric!       

I found a rep in NYC and worked for a few months, but this was before computers, so every design was hand painted in gouache. I also started a family at this point and kept my hand in the paints, however hand painting designs was tedious and balancing work and family was a difficult juggling act. I kept working throughout the years, but the turning point came with computers.

Although I missed the tactile experience of the paints, the versatility of designing on the computer allowed my work to progress more rapidly. I worked for a short time at Carters, designing for children's clothing.

I soon found a design studio in NY to represent me. Almost immediately, I started selling to companies such as Baby Gap, Graco, Absorba, and Target. I mostly design for the children's clothing market but also sell to the gift market. I am now a freelance artist at American Greetings as well. It is so much fun to go into a store and see my work on different products.

 I was inspired to produce my own line of fabrics but as I researched it out it seemed to make more sense to work with an established fabric company.

I am excited to have just signed a contract with Robert Kaufman. They produce quality fabrics with a wide breadth of themes.

I think it will be a good fit as I tend to design in multiple genres.  It will be a collaborative effort and I can't wait to see what develops.  You can see samples of my work on my website at www.amyschimler.com.

Amy also recently illustrated a book by Piggy Toes Press titled "Ten Friendly Fireflies". The fireflies light up! A fun read geared for young toddlers. (This is just one of her books that she has illustrated.)

You can also see and buy some of her works at CafePress.  She has mugs, children's clothing and adult clothing.

See, I told you Amy will be one to watch.

Put her blog and website on your "check back often" list. 

I can't wait to sew up something fun with her fabric line. 

(All photos and images are copyrighted  property of Amy Schimler--Used with her permission.)