Friday, November 6, 2009

Partnership with Kaufman Fabrics | Giveaway!

At long last I can share my BIG, BIG, BIG news!!! I've been absolutely on pins and needles and can finally tell you about the SUPER exciting stuff that's been going on here. Drum roll please....

Some of my designs have been licensed by Kaufman Fabrics and my very first collection for them will be making it's debut in Spring 2010.

Wahooo!!! Wahooo!!! Wahooo!!! Can you believe it?!? Bolts and bolts and bolts of my fabric rolling off the presses next year! :) I am so incredibly excited and proud. And even though I've known for a few months, I'm frankly still a bit in shock. Starting in April 2010, retailers can start placing their orders and the fabric will hopefully be in stores soon after that! I'm pretty sure will totally dork out and shed a few tears the first time I walk into a fabric shop and see bolts of my designs on the shelves.

As soon as the design selection process is finalized with Kaufman, I can let you know exactly which specific patterns will be part of the Spring collection. AND I'm finalizing the colors on some NEW FUN fabrics that I'll be adding to the Etsy store very soon.

Wow... I can hardly believe it's been only a year since I first put my first fabric designs up for sale on Etsy. 11/6/08 was the day I put my fabric up for sale. And here I am a year later and my dreams of becoming a licenced fabric designer are coming true. When I left the corporate world I wasn't sure I could make this happen but lookie at what I did!!



So in celebration of my extreme good fortune, I'd love to give away a yard of fabric (in any one of my patterns) to someone! Just leave me a comment (make sure there is a way to contact you) and tell me what YOUR big dream is. What's the thing you stay awake at night dreaming about? :) I'll pick a winner by random on 11/18 and I can't wait to hear from you.

Thanks for all your support and encouragement over the last year!

98 comments:

Wendy said...

Congratulations Laurie!! You deserve it.

Ashley said...

Congratulations! I was really hoping that this would be the kind of news you'd be sharing!! I absolutely love your designs!! My big dream? to be able to do what I love as my full time job, instead of having to do this job to support my hobby!

Laura said...

congratulations! it has been so neat to watch you build this career. so very inspiring.

My dream is to be a illustrator/designer - today I'm wading through some new software!

Lydia said...

I love your designs and was hoping this would happen. I can't wait.

Amanda in Austin said...

Hooray for you, Laurie! That is so incredibly awesome. It couldn't happen to a nicer person. Really. Good for you!

ilovebabyquilts said...

AMAZING!!!!!! You really did it! You're living the dream, sister. I always thought your designs should be in a real fabric store. They are every bit as good or better than what is there. If I saw my designs on the shelf in the store I would "fall out" as they say in Baptist churches. Go Team Austin Crafters!!!

Polly said...

You mentored and inspired me in the marketing arena, and now even more so in the "living the dream" arena. Congratulations! If I win the free yard of fabric - you know what I'll be making ;)

Holly said...

Congratulations! that is so exciting.

Right now my dream is to figure out what my dream is. I know that there is something out there that I will be good at, and that will feed my soul. But I don't know what that is just yet! Finding out and working towards it is a dream in and of itself.

Anonymous said...

congrats laurie
pachyderm parade awesome
name alone hilarious
my goal: small projx w/big dreams
dc

Anonymous said...

Way to go, Laurie! We are so excited for you (especially Danielle).

Jackie said...

A giant congrats to you. You completely deserve it. My dream used to be to work as a designer for the Olympic Games. I've been living that dream for 4 years now! So I'm in the market for a new dream after Feb 2010. I think YOU are my new inspiration.

: )

Haley Williams said...

YAY!! congrats to you!! found you through Spoonflower and it's a big encouragement to see others doing what I'd like to do eventually!

wahoo! Onward and Upward!

ooh and if i win that fabric, I'll make something lovely to decorate my work room in my new house. maybe it'll provide some inspiration :-)

Anonymous said...

hey heard about you on twitter. Just looked at your work and it's so awesome! I didn't know fabric designers got contracts! do you go on tour? does it get really seedy on the road...all the groupies, the loneliness....
I was going to leave a comment anyway but since you asked I'd have to say that i really want to make an animated tv show about a bunch of girls who live in a big house together. It would be so much funnier than any of the cartoons boys are making these days, that's for sure. lot's of textiles on these cartoon, lots of textiles in their thought bubbles, and in their daymares and late night hang outs.
i'm happy to have a new blog to look forward to looking at and also can't wait to see more of your rad designs. Congratulations!xo Juliet

jennifer vallez said...

oh wow! how amazing for you! love spoonflower AND robert kaufman.

my big dream? to design my dolls full time and one day start my little girls clothing line again. it's all i think about. :)

xo

Anonymous said...

congratulations. I've been wanting to try textile design too but hard to find the time working full time. feline@povn.com

sweetfunkyvintage said...

Congratulations to you! I can't wait to see your fabric in production!
Missy

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! You so Greatly deserve this!
My dream is to be able to go to the quiltshop and buy your fabrics! :0)
All the best...

Blueberry Blonde said...

my dream would be to design and sell rubber stamps as well as fabrics; i dream of art

Unknown said...

Congratulations! What a wonderful accomplishment. Can't wait to see your "bolts on the shelf"!

corentine said...

I am very happy for you! This is a great news! My big dream would be to work just for the fun of it, in a place with no rain, no stress, just fun
Corentine / tacotine00@yahoo.fr

Jane Walker said...

Wow, that's fantastic!
My dream is to be where you are by this time next year, LOL!

jane@walkerillustration.com

Malinda said...

I have 2 - 1) Live in Japan full time 2) be a surface/textile designer ;)

animegirlie at gmail dot com

The Reids said...

How wonderful for you! I look forward to stocking your fabric in the future, it is just so lovely!
Shona (www.funkyfabrix.com.au)

Unknown said...

oh my goodness--I've peeked at your fabric on etsy and drooled. :) It's gorgeous! Congrats to you!

My dream...to move back to Germany and live in Europe for a good, long while. :) To let my kids experience all the wonderful things my hubby and I enjoyed while we lived there. :)

monsterbugblankets@yahoo.com

Heather Roth said...

Wow... congratulations. My dream is to be able to live in the middle of a big pile of pretty fabric. My second choice would be to learn how to put what is in my head onto paper to turn into pretty fabric. You are an inspiration!

Natalie Jost said...

Laurie, wow! That's SO AMAZING! How totally thrilling. I REALLY want to not be jealous right now, but dang it! :) I'm very happy for you, your prints are so unique - it will be nice to get them into more hands than you're able to do with Etsy! Can't wait to see/get it myself!

Astonishing, but my dream has little to with fabric or even design. I dream about traveling around the world (or maybe the country) with the girls when they're older. I have this fantasy of taking off for 3-5 years and just going from place to place, homeschooling on the road and experiencing it all rather than just reading about it!

Congrats again,
Natalie
(nataliejost[at]gmail.com)

Rae said...

Congratulations! You have SUCH wonderful designs!!!

I dream about going to Quilt Market someday. Just going would be so awesome!
:)
And maybe I'll get a chance to write a sewing book too. Why not dream big, right?

wendy said...

wow - that is crazy exciting!! congrats!! my big dream is actually similar to yours - to one day have my own textile company and line of fabrics :)

Karen Brimhall said...

Hi Miss Scarlet!!!
I really do give a damn. (I know, bad joke...) I am so excited for your news about Kaufman and your new fabric line. I've only recently, maybe for the last year, discovered this whole world of designer fabrics, and it has inspired me for the same thing! I've been working on some designs for the last few months, and I'm hoping to also become a fabric designer. I grew up around fabric and all sorts of creativity from my mom, and I remember thinking when I was very young how cool it would be to design fabric. So now I'm going to make that dream come true! Thanks for your inspiration. I can't wait to see your line. --Karen Brimhall

Karin Grow said...

I'm so proud of you! You totally deserve it. I covet all the fabrics I have of yours.
I would say my biggest dream would be to have my paintings in galleries all over the world selling faster than I can paint them.

Can't wait to see your fabrics in my local fabric store.
Sincerely, your number one fan and first etsy customer. Karin

Belinda Manning said...

WOW!!! What a great story you have to tell!!! It's so rewarding to watch our dreams come true, and just as inspiring to see it happen for other. It continues to hold open the door to endless POSSIBILITIES. congrats!

mittens said...

congratulations!! I don't know what my dream career is, but yours sounds fantastic! I should say it'd be a dream to have a career like Amy Butler's. I'd love the freedom to design and create a wide arrange to items, as well as be able to travel.

Katy said...

My big dream is to commercial produce my own screen printed fabric, following you over the last year after i saw your fabric on Etsy the first time gives me inspiration and faith that i can do anything i put my mind to WELL DONE!!

Deb said...

Hi, I just found your site via Sew Mama Sew and I must say I LOVE your fabric designs!! I am in nursing school now and my big dream is to graduate in July. My therapy for surviving school stress is to look at craft blogs and dream about the day when I will have time to be crafty again.
Congratulations!!
Deb (birdlakers@comcast.net)

Jennifer Ladd said...

WOW!!! Congratulations! How exciting for you!! And for us, too .... we all get easy access to your prints! Yay!! I think I might even get a little teared up for you, too, when I see your designs in the fabric shop - all you've accomplished in one year - you're an inspiration!

My big dream: to get recognized by Oprah so she can promote my purses for me and rocket me to an overnight success :) Ha, ha

Lucie said...

Laurie, congratulations!!!! Your fabrics are amazing. My big dream is to be able to sew anything. My email LAupperlee@sheppardpratt.org

Kelley said...

Congratulations! what an amazing dream! I am still fine tuning what I want. But I think I would be happiest being able to do what I do now as an actual job. Which means I would be creating, making, playing with my babies, and being successful in time management, if thats a career option! I would love to design fabric also, I haven't launched into it yet, but I love what you are doing! Great work! Your success is well deserved!

leslie said...

i am so happy for you.....so deserved. your talent is enormous and i can't wait for your fabric to roll and roll so i can buy and buy!! congratulations.

Kolleen said...

Tremendous news! I would someday love to give up my day job in favor of selling my photographs and graphic designs.

Tong said...

Congratulations!!! And thanks for the generous giveaway! I would love to have my own bakery one day, and become a mommy.

Mrs. Fix said...

Congrats -- I am so excited for you and your beautiful fabrics. My dream would be to go back to school for interior design.

Auntjune said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Auntjune said...

Congratulations! Your work is so beautiful, I can't wait to see it in stores.
I guess my dream would be to do the things I love to do, sewing, quilting, and drawing as a full time job!

Jenn~ said...

WOOT!!!!!

Well it is about time, I was beginning to wonder what was wrong with all the "Big Guys" and no one was picking you up...but you were just holding onto the secret...hmmmm....

My dream is pretty simple...that my kids are happy and healthy and have everything that they need or want out of life....

Congrats with your News....very happy for you :)

alison said...

Congratulations!! It's great to see you get recognized for your exquisite taste and talent!! Bring on the fabrics!!

Tootles said...

Congratulations! What an experience for you! I lay awake at night dreaming of living in the mountains in cabin (filled with quilts) and being a steward for our natural resources.

Unknown said...

Congrats!

Karen said...

Congratulations to you on achieving your dream.
Mine is small at the moment, to get enough sewn items together to have a little market stall, nothing fancy.

debra said...

felicitations! Laurie! two dreams right now: I'd either like to get hired for the PR firm in Paris for whom I'm consulting, or I'd like to start a company that produces markets and distributes two lines: one for home kitchen and bath with designs by an artist in Spain I've begun working with, and the other for kids and tweens, with designs from an amazingly talented fellow in the US I've been working with for years...and in either case, I want an apartment in Paris, but who doesn't!

Christine said...

That is terrific news. I dream of designing, clothing and fabric the combination of the two keeps me up late at night. Going over different ideas, different fabrics combining the two. Once I get an idea in my head I can't stop adding and changing it. Again it is so exciting, and I will be looking for your fabrics!

Farscapegirl said...

Congrats! I really don't have a big dream, just a bunch of little ones. I want to open and etsy shop and start selling my fabric creations, but still need to build some inventory that is good enough to sell. LOL I get better with every project so here's to sticking to it!

dana said...

congrats to you! I've been admiring your gorgeous fabric for a while (and finally made the connection of who you are through the Babes in Biz site). This is my kind of giveaway. Thanks for hosting!

And one....I would love to write a book or design for a company. The book excites me the most.

Debbie said...

Congratulations! I dream about children's clothing design. It's my passion and fortunately it's what I do.

kdmade said...

Congratulations! My big dream is to go back to school for an art degree and switch from being a science teacher to an art teacher. Actually, I'd really like to teach both because I love both subjects, but I'm not sure how many schools have that kind of position:)

groovinmama said...

Wow -- that is extremely exciting! Congratulations!

My dream? To find a way to merge my creative outlet with some form of income someday ... however that may work itself out.

melissa said...

hooray! this is so exciting for you. i've admired your fabric for a while.

i am a mom, and my dream is to run sumer camps and creative workshops with kids b/c this is the kind of thing that complements me as a mom and parent and helps me to be a better mother to my own kids. i'm working on it. its slow going with three little ones under the age of four. but hopefully i'll be in a position to make a big move in the direction i want to go in time to hold some crafty spring break workshops! cross your fingers.

again, congratulations.

melissa

morgan_melissa@att.net

The Fam said...

I have two dreams floating in my head right now: I want to go back to school to get my Montessori teaching credentials, and also to foster children in our home.

Your fabric is fantastic, congratulations.

shannoncarman at yahoo dot com

Shannon Wingard said...

Wow!! That is definitely a dream coming true! I myself hope to be a full-on textile designer. I'm currently working as a graphic designer as of now but I have a small business "Art Is Hard Designs" where I screen-print my own images.

Congruatulations and Good Luck!

www.artishard.org

VO said...

Ohhh. Dreams do come true. When I was a kid I used to wait for Walt Disney to drive by my house and see me doing handsprings and twirling my baton. I love that you are realizing a dream. I want the very same thing for me. :-) http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/vo

Beth H said...

Hooray, Laurie! & congrats! that is such exciting news! Your fabric is so lovely, so I'm not at all surprised. : ) My dream is also to have some of my own designs licensed - my illustrations on fabric & children's products. You are an inspiration!

Angela Deal Meanix said...

Your collection is inspiring and it is so excellent that you have a contract with Kaufman. If I'm honest, I get a little bit of envy wrapped around the beautiful idea that there is enough space in the universe for all kinds of creations and success. I dream of being satisfied with who I am and trust every choice is the exact one that will lead me to my authentic self. I have 3 major projects that I would love to see come to fruition (if I could just get them going!) ... 1. sell prints of my artwork (this is my unannounced site ... www.angeladealmeanix.com if you feel so inclined) 2. patent and license a jacket design with some very convenient functionality and 3. Find a publisher interested in my small book about transformation (a subtle book about how we are all energy:). So there you have it. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to express that ... and of course, to win some beautiful fabric.

carrie said...

Congrats!!!! That's SO amazing!!!!

My big dream is to have a retail store again (possibly in a cute little cottage instead of a strip mall this time)... or work as an Imagineer at Disney ;) I can't decide.

You are allowed to dork out... if there was any time to do so, now is the time ;)

Anne Marie Beard said...

Laurie,

My big dream is to publish my own handbag patterns and sell them internationally!

I love your fabric & am thrilled for you! I cherish my little chair embroidery art piece that you made.

xo, Anne Marie
http://www.AnneMarieBeard.com
http://www.HandmadeHappenings.com

N. said...

How exciting for you! Currently my big dream is that we will wake up one morning and find a house that wants us to buy it!! :D

sloeginfizz said...

Wow!! So exciting. Congrats and I love your designs!!

tammikins said...

This is so exciting!!!!! It is my dream as well to become a licensed fabric designer!!!! I was so excited to have discovered Spoonflower a few short months ago to get me on my way, now to just figure out the next steps!!!!

Elizabeth said...

my dream is finding a partner, having some babies, and getting to stay home with them. and having lots of good family times. not a glamorous dream, but a great one. :)

toya said...

i just found your blog and really love your designs. i am just up the road in georgetown, but sometimes miss living in austin. how lucky you are to be following your dream and living is that cool city!

my dream is about to come true when we adopt two teenage brothers, hopefully before christmas. i am looking forward to making the holiday a special one for them.

LollyChops said...

I just knew this was gonna happen for you Laurie! You had the guts to take a leap off the corporate ladder and follow your dream! It's well earned and well deserved!

So my big dream is to design stuff full time. Like you. The corporate ladder is just hanging on to me for all it's worth. Congrats again!

Unknown said...

Congratulations Laurie - you're hitting the big time.

I'd just like to do something creative for a living. Not sure what!

jan said...

Bravo!!! Laurie, you have the talent, the drive, the smarts, the self awareness, and the courage to make your dreams and goals real. Always have. You go girl - love being in your corner and cheering you on.

Megan V said...

Amazing!!!! Yet I'm not even shocked at all. Like, seriously. Come on. ;)
Congratulations!!!

I dream every day about jumping into the self-employed pool. Designing, styling, making and photographing my way through life.
I dream it every day and every night.

Hopefully someday I can make it really happen, like you did!!

Anonymous said...

My dream is to take my Monsterlove project, (checkout my web-site! www.sara-hasslinger.com) and make it into a career. ie...community centers, school district,and more! It is community art therapy, and so much fun;) I would love to be able to feed myself by doing this!
congradulations on your acheivements!

Cynthia Strickland Studio80 said...

How exciting! I can only imagine the thrill and pride you must feel. It is also one of my dreams to have my fabrics in print by a major manufacturer. Way to go! and Best of Luck! By the way, I love your designs.

Kevin said...

hey that's AWESOME! are they going to pick the donkey fabric? :) All the best!!!!

Abby said...

I found you through Sew, Mama, Sew, and I love your fabrics! Congratulations on realizing your dream. My dream is to hand-bind books using cloth I embroider with my own designs.

Little Miss Shabby said...

How very exciting! I must admit being a fabric designer would be an amazing dream come true--combined with my love of designing quilt patterns that would just be perfect. Congrats on your big news--can't wait to see which fabrics are chosen. =)

• • Christine Terrell • • said...

I was so excited to hear this news! What a fabulous achievement.

Anonymous said...

Laurie - Congratulations on your fabric designs! You're a girl after my own heart. One of my dreams that I'm currently just at the start of pursuing is my own online store - featuring creations made from your fabrics, perhaps? Pillows, quilts, stuffed animals...who knows?!

hand pecked debb said...

My big dream is to be able to run my own stationary design studio as a full time job. One day I hope my stationary can be picked up by Anthropology.

lesley [smidgebox] said...

laurie, what wonderful news! how exciting for you :) i have several dreams, but the most immediate ones are to design my own fabric [sound familiar?] and to start the stationery division of my little shop this time next year. time will tell! thanks for the impetus :)

Nicole said...

Congrats on your fabric! That is very exciting!

My biggest dream right now is to just be able to find another job, especially since my current one will be gone in the next few months.

she said...

this is going to sound naive, but my big dream is to find love. i found love 3 years ago and right now i'm not with that person. the way things were left leave the future uncertain. i hope with all my heart that there IS a future with that person, but if there isn't, i dream of finding someone else i can trust as much as i trusted my first love. i'm in a strange limbo now, and i'm learning a lot about myself. but i'd love to have someone's heart close to mine again.

congratulations on your newest venture :)

Jingle said...

My dream is to do scrapbook design work for a major company. I don't want to design product, so much, I just want to create using the product. I would LOVE to do that! It would be even better if I could do it for a living!

Unknown said...

My big dream is to write a book - I'm not sure about what yet, I am only 26 and I'm not sure I am experienced enough in anything to write a book about it, but it is my long term dream/goal!

~Brooke
brooke.malko@gmail.com

I just bought a new house and am dying to make some precious pillows! This yard of fabric would be great!

Sarah - craftyFOLK said...

My dream is to license my designs as well! You are an inspiration to us dreaming big:) Congrats and I hope I win!

craftyFOLKshop (at) gmail (dot) com

J. Christina Huh said...

My big dream? To make a living with my on two hands. No cube space, no bosses, no awkward employees!

-Christina jchristinahuh (!at) gmail (dot!) com

Anonymous said...

Congrats!
To work in my studio during the day, not at night after the "paying job"... creating what I love, not just what I get paid for!

AA
aliceann80@hotmail.com

boltandfrolic said...

Your designs and color pairings are wonderful; congrats to you!

I love bunnies, and love to use my talent as a graphic designer to bring more beautiful rabbity imagery to the world. ( My dream is to do this full-time : )

boltandfrolic@gmail.com

Tammy said...

Oh, I'm so excited for you! I'm going to check out your shop right after this post and ogle your products :)

As for my dream, I can't stop dreaming about my future house. I don't know when that will be, but almost every time I catch myself daydreaming, it's dreaming about that home. I really want a nest! I also find myself dreaming about perfume-making, but that's more of a far-fetched dream.

We'll see, though...you never know where life (and etsy!) may take you :)

My username is "brinnet" and I can be contacted via Etsy convo.

sfer said...

My big dream is time. Havint time to do all the things I want to do. I know it's an impossible dream, and it will probably never come true (there's NEVER enough time for EVERYTHING), but I can't help to wish for some more of it...

Thanks for the opportunity. And thanks also to paper'n'stitch, where I found about this giveaway :-)

Contact:librosfera(at)gmail(dot)com

Digital Misfit said...

Congratulations! Your amazing fabrics will be a wonderful addition to the lovely Kaufman line. How very exciting!

My ultimate dream would be to lead an art therapy group with street kids in Eastern Europe. I am not sure I will ever have the time or money to make it over there, but I can keep dreaming.

heidig@gmail.com

Wendy said...

Congratulations on your new line! I really feel like I'm living a big dream right now. I'm enjoying working a 3 day work week and sewing on a 4 day weekend. How much better can life get?

Kaci said...

Wow Laurie! Congratulations! That's so exciting!

My big dream is to grow most of my food (75% or more) for at least a year. It's one of those goals that will happen later in life and I'll spend from now 'til then practicing in my smaller garden.

Thanks for sharing the great news with us and for the opportunity for some of your wonderful designs!

-Kaci
kaci(at)kacihampton(dot)com

Tara said...

Hi Laurie,

My big dream is actually very simple. I dream of living with my husband in a lovely house in the countryside. I'd love to have a very ecofriendly lifestyle, a small orchard, some chickens in the backyard and on the inside lots of bookshelves filled with lots of books! Of course, I need to get a little sewing nook to myself :)

indigohoney(a)y7mail.com

jvw home said...

LOVE,LOVE your fabrics and so excited for you!!
My BIG dream is to finally have a home decor store out in Bee Cave, Tx. (backed by someone with the $$)to let "creative moi(!)" outfit it with slipcovers/upholstery/fabrics(including yours!)/window treatments/antiques & elements with a modern twist! I have the vision/design know how...just need that person to back me! Until then, my other dream is to win the 1 yd of fabric!
Thx for the fun dreamin'!
(found your fabrics via Sanctuary blog)

http://jvwhome.blogspot.com

Rachel said...

That's awesome! I look forward to seeing your prints. My dream is to travel the world and become fluent in at least 2 other languages. Really fluent. Not just senior-year-of-high-school fluent.

weeshi said...

You are an inspiration to me and your fabric designs!I'll be waiting to see you at the fabric store soon.