Motherhood and design, see how these two adventures mix at Verna Mosquera’s studio of The Vintage Spool.  Verna continues her guest writing and shows a sneak peek of new fabric line.

Once hooked on quilting, Verna, started designing and has not looked back.

Here is more from Verna:

I began working on layout ideas and sketches. I also took on the hardest but most fulfilling job I've ever had, that of being a mother and raising my two boys Milo, 5 and Nico, 2 1/2. 

I would like to say that my company, grew out of some romantic idea, but the truth is my husband came home one day and said he'd lost his job. We had just moved into our new home and I was pregnant with our second son. I knew I had to do something, he promised to help me and The Vintage Spool was born. Funny thing, less than a week later he had a new job, but by then it was too late. My entrepreneurial spirit had been ignited and it's been a whirlwind ever since. 

Pattern Designs Grow, And A Chance To Design Fabric

We started with 2 patterns and by the end of our first year we had 6. By the time we attended our first market we had 12 designs on the market. (Currently, we sell over 30 worldwide). It was at that very first market where I met Donna Wilder founder and now previous owner of FreeSpirit Fabrics. She was so enthused about my designs and asked if I would consider doing a line of fabric. While I did agree shortly there after, I explained that I not only was a business owner but a full time mother to my two young sons. It is because of this and the tremendous growth of the company that it has taken a while for this line of fabric to come to fruition.

My family and I currently reside in Danville, California where I have a small studio space and am able to design and run the day to day operations of the business while I raise my kids. Crazily to this day I still work with no nanny and no assistant. I can't imagine anyone currently coming into my very organized chaos! 

How do I do it?  Well, I don't sleep much. The lovely bags under my eyes are a testament. I used to be horrified by them, now as I approach my 40th birthday I think they add character. From a very young age my children recognized that quilting and art would be as much a part of their lives as it was mine. I try to involve them as much as I can. Their favorite activity is decorating the house with mommy's fat quarters, their favorite quilt, Happy Hauntings.

Sweet Escape To Debut

Well, enough about how I got here, let me say more about this debut fabric line. When folks would ask me to describe it they would always say, "I envision something romantic and very soft". It is just that. The designs came from a collection of vintage items I'd gathered over the years, bits of fabrics, old postcards, a perfume label and much more. The colors stemmed from vintage millinery flowers and rose themed china plates, all things that I hold dear.

 Why the name Sweet Escape? Because that's what quilting and my creativity has been for me and so many I have crossed paths with along my journey. The quilts that I have designed to go with the line are very personal; each represents a certain Sweet Escape along the way: Seaside Cottages, Amelia's Rose Garden, A Butterfly's Journey, Summer Breeze, Picnic in Paris…See more of the line on my website.

In closing, I must say that there is no way that I could do this without an amazing support system. My wonderful husband and bookkeeper, Miguel, my amazing boys and lights of my life, Milo and Nico, my incredibly supportive parents (and free childcare providers), my dear friend and outstanding decorator, Meredith, my sister in law, Lisa (a public relations genius), the acclaimed photographer, Gregory Case, my unbelievable machine quilter, Lynne Todoroff, the wonderful staff at Select Imaging, and last but most definitely not least the lovely ladies (or elves as I call them) who are genuinely excited about my designs and always willing to pitch in to sew samples when I am in need.

 I've come to realize that creativity for me is what breathing is for others. Without it in my daily life I would not survive. Thank you so much for sharing in this amazing moment in my artistic career.

 Verna Mosquera

Update and Timeline For Sweet Escape …

Thanks for the guest writing and for sharing your talents with us.  Word is that the FreeSpirit sales reps will start to show the line “on paper” to quilts shops in September and the line will debut at Fall Market in October.  There are 30 pieces in this soft colored, romantic line with several florals and coordinating prints.

Then, the scramble will be on (for Verna, and every other designer who has lines coming out this Fall), as Verna plays the waiting game…waiting each day for the UPS man to deliver a “goodie” package of samples of her fabrics…She will then, cut, sew, quilt and finish her quilts and projects in just a manner of days (maybe just hours!) before she heads to Houston for the debut.

Have fun Verna. Thanks for sharing your story and your designs.

Looking forward to seeing you and your Sweet Escape!

(Photos thanks to Gregory Case and Verna.)