She a talented one...this Sandi Henderson, a children's clothing designer and maker and a fabric designer...Tracey catches up with Sandi as she readies her second line of fabric and for Spring Quilt Market. Plus, she is giving us a free pillow pattern!   Read Sandi's blog to keep up with her new line and the on goings of her pattern line. Thanks Sandi!  

Spring is “Blossom”ing as Ginger Blossom, Sandi Henderson’s debut fabric line for Michael Miller, flies off store shelves. The QB caught a few moments with Sandi as she prepares for the launch of her second line at Spring Market in May. She offers insight to her fabulous designs and her terrific Ruffle Pillow Pattern … read on!

 Is there a Ginger Blossom project you'd care to share with our readers?

 Oh sure!  Here is a link to the free pattern for my Ruffle Pillows. Pillows are a staple in home decorating and adding a ruffle brings fun whimsical twist to a room!

 So how does it feel to see your drawings adorning fabric on store shelves, and what about seeing people's finished projects, it must be pretty cool.

 It is so cool!  Still a little unreal though. When I received the very first strike offs, I just kept marveling at how they looked just like the drawings and artwork I had sent in, except it was on fabric. Obviously I knew it would be like that, but to actually see it was very cool. And, yes, it is very cool to start seeing finished projects by others popping up around the place.

 You mentioned your daughter as being an influence in your work. Does she have a say in the design process?

 She has a say in that I don't get to work when either her or her brother want something!  :)  But if I gave her any input into actual designs it would be all cupcakes and ice cream and princesses. Cute, but not quite me!  I do have to say though, even though she is only 3, her artistic style is starting to show through and it's very similar to mine. Who knows, maybe 20 years from now she will be an artist herself and we can look back on this interview and smile. She also loves fabric.

 Do you have favorite project? Does your daughter?

 It's probably a little obvious by now but I love to make children's clothing! Making clothing in general is so fun, I can't think of a better way to express "who" you are than by creating something for yourself to wear. And making things for the children in your life is even more special. I heard one of my church leaders once say, "Children spell love, T-I-M-E." Giving them gifts and money doesn't show them love, but they know they are loved when you give them time. To me, when I create something for my children by hand I am telling them I love them enough to take the time to do it.

 What's on the horizon? A book, TV, magazine appearance?

 
Oh boy. There have been offers for the above, but so far I have had to pass on them up to this point due to time constraints. I am very careful about the projects I pick and the time I choose to do them. I'm pretty adamant on being a mom and wife first and a designer second and if the time isn't there, then it's a sign that it isn't the right project to sign on to at that time. I've learned the hard way to not take on more than I really can do. That being said, our schedule for 2008 is looking bright!  We'll be adding a few employees in the next little bit to help with sample making and other odds and ends, which will free up a lot of my time.  So after our pattern line launches in May, I will have the liberty of taking on a book or other large project. I'll keep you posted.  ;)

 
Before all that, a new quilting weight collection of fabric will be debuting at the Spring Quilt Market and so will our first line of sewing patterns!  We are starting with a line of children's patterns, very much like what you have seen from me in the past!

 
How does your blog play into all of this?

The blog (Portabellopixie) is the new wave of keeping in touch with people. There are family blogs, business blogs, and craft blogs. Mine is a little bit of all of them.  I started Portabellopixie the blog when I wanted to give my customers and friends a place to get to really know me. Buying a few yards of pretty fabric and sewing something up with it is fun. But when my blog readers go pick out my fabric, they will have watched the process from start to finish. They know how I picked out my colors, they watched as I went through my strike offs.  Basically, it's a way for me to bring along everyone for the ride. It's also a way for me to really connect with the crafters out there and to hear what they are looking for in fabrics.

Photos and graphics thanks to Sandi.