QuiltersBuzz roving reporter, Tracey Lamphere, gives us a sneak peek of the new fabric collections coming from In The Beginning Fabrics and gives us a bit of an inside look at the company and some of its fabric designers.

 By Tracey Lamphere

 One look at In the Beginning’s spring line-up and it’s an eclectic bouquet of color and characters. From the soft, delicate watercolor-esque Shiki to the sharp-tongued love notes from kitty in XOXOXO, The Cat the Seattle-based fabric company has something for everyone.

Jason Yenter, president for In the Beginning Fabrics explains the company’s fabric focus:

“It is true that we do a variety of looks at In The Beginning, and for

 each of those looks we try and create the best designs we can – whether it is florals, reproductions, contemporary looks, or novelties. We look for designers who can capture the essence of a trend and recreate it for fabric. Some of our designers are actual quilters, and some come from other areas - such as paper products or giftware,” he says.

          First-time designer Keri Beyer of Minnesota launches her Urban Farm this May mixing farm girl fun with city chic. She developed the Wigglestix children’s furniture line sold at Pottery Barn Kids. She has been seen on HGTV’s Design on a Dime and the Today Show.

          Any project is possible with these fabrics she says, including “the zillions of ideas that I have for non-sewers or beginner seamstresses.”

I use a lot of my interior design background and love to create cohesive nooks or rooms with fabric in unusual ways. For example I am coming out with a block of the month at the quilt show that I've never seen done before. Very hip, very now and as easy or as difficult as you want to make it.”

 Fabric is just the beginning she says.

“I am launching an entire line of Urban Farm product to the specialty retail market. It's geared to the “over-achieva-diva” that wants it all and does it all (which describes most women in America!)”

The items include a book this fall, a line of gourmet food, bath and body, products for a home studio (including a sewing lounge).

“The interesting thing is before I was working on a fabric line, I designed my packaging for the product line. It is all fabric – fabric labels, fabric packaging and more. Serendipity struck and the next thing I know I was working with Jason and his mom creating a line of fabric. So I feel it was really meant to be,” Beyer says.

In the Beginning will also unveil new collections from:

• Kumiko Sudo, well-known and respected quilt maker, who brings us Shiki (shown below and available in March). Her collection is based on the beautiful watercolor paintings she creates. The soft colors and “snowball bunnies” have made this collection one of the most popular one in the past five years, Yenter says.

• Wendy Slotboom, a new designer who has worked at In The Beginning for many years as an editor to many of the books and patterns, brings us XOXOXO, The Cat. Based on the antics of her cat, the line is funny and fun. It comes in reds, blues and pinks. It should hit store shelves in April.

See more  fabric on the next page!

• Jason Yenter builds on his popular Floragraphix line with Wintergraphix. “It is based on timeless design elements and traditional holiday colors - but it does not have to be just for Christmas,” he says. The line has a red grouping and a blue group.

He also designed the main print for the 10^th Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop June 18-22. In the Beginning is updating its Website, which will feature galleries of all of its fabrics, free patterns for downloads, a where to buy list, and other company news.