Volume One by Cotton + Steel

Vol ume One / /SPRI NG 201 4

Last year, I had a very big idea.

I flew out to the RJR offices in Los Angeles to suggest that they create a new division called Cotton+Steel. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure I have ever been as nervous or as excited as I was during that presentation. I remember holding the edge of the table during my entire speech so no one would see how badly my hands were shaking. I had spent weeks planning, consulting with the other designers, and talking to people in our industry so I could deliver every last detail of the new company as I envisioned it. One of the most amazing moments of my life was right after I finished my presentation and everyone burst into wide-grinned applause. From that moment forward, the folks at RJR treated me and the other designers with as much warmth, kindness, and appreciation as we might receive from our dearest friends and family.

This past year has been an unbelievable one for Alexia Abegg, Rashida Coleman-Hale, Kim Kight, Sarah Watts, and me. Rick Cohan, the CEO of RJR Fabrics, has embraced our spirit of collaboration, asking us to participate in every decision that pertains to Cotton+Steel. The designers and I have taken frequent trips to LA where we’ve worked on our fabric, built our Quilt Market displays, and spent a lot of time with the RJR folks mapping out the direction of our company. These LA trips have been the highlight of our C+S experience; we have rarely worked so hard or enjoyed ourselves so much.

I’m so grateful to be a part of the process of building and running a company, and for the camaraderie that we’ve all experienced as we’ve put in long hours together. These are my new favorite people. Each of us who has had a hand in the creation of this company – from the designers to the wonderful people at RJR – feel that we’ve been blessed with an amazing experience. I’m not big on quotes, but I do have one favorite:

“Leap and the net will appear.” When 2013 began, I felt I was ready for something big, but I couldn’t have imagined where the year would take me. I’m so glad I called my friends Alexia, Rashida, Kim, and Sarah, and that RJR was willing to hear my big idea. I hope to be working with this amazing team for many, many years to come.

MELODY MILLER

EVER READ THAT LOVE LANGUAGES BOOK? My love language is gifts. Small gifts, quirky gifts, thoughtful gifts... I love to give them, love to receive them. One thing Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve realized in the past several years is that fabric makes great reusable gift wrap. Each December, I sit down and make about 20 new drawstring

Things Melody likes to do: - draw with her kids - visit flea markets - memorize, then forget, lots of random facts - drive fast cars - accessorize - rock climb - problem-solve

bags, and over the course of the year, I make fabric-covered boxes and an assortment of other gift packages. I use and reuse them all year long. // For more gift wrapping ideas, see my book Ruby Star Wrapping.

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ALEXIA MARCELLE ABEGG I approached my first fabric collection, Hatbox, from two directions. As a pattern designer, my scale, proportion, and color decisions are influenced by how I envision the fabric in a finished project. As an artist, I turned to childhood memories of travel out west, and simple watercolor sketches for the foundation of my artwork.

Alexia is co-owner of Green Bee Design & Patterns along with her mom Michelle and her husband, Rob Bancroft. greenbeepatterns.com

When I was a child, my father taught me to always keep a sketchbook and watercolor set on hand, and on family trips my sisters and I would paint each dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journal entry. Those lighthearted memories and creative habits inform my work to this day.

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RASHIDA COLEMAN-HALE

Classical music, sushi, linen, pears not apples, staying at home AND traveling, sparkling not still, gold not silver, tea not coffee and linen... did I mention linen?

CRISS-CROSS APPLESAUCE TOTEBAG: Materials: 1 Cotton Linen Canvas - A(8) 2 Fusible Fleece - 15” x 13” 14 Cotton Prints

2 Lining - 14” x 12.5” 4 Straps - 2.5” x 20” Patchwork - (see diagrams)

A: 2”x 2” B: 2”x 3.5” C: 2”x 5”

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SARAH WATTS

WHEN I MAKE ART, I ALWAYS START WITH INK AND PAPER. Once I’m happy with a drawing, I finish it in Photoshop or Illustrator. The color picking and final edits are more intuitive there, and I love being able to try lots of options. I’m inspired by spooky stories, old treasures and adventures through the woods. Nature will always be my favorite thing to draw.

My favorite pens: Uniball // fine tip Pentel Pocketbrush

My collection, August, is about going after the things that you want in life. It embodies making wishes, following your instincts, and pursuing your goals fiercely (like a lion!). Persistence prevails. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tribute to the Cotton+Steel family and our growing spirit of strength and collaboration.

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KIMBERLY KIGHT

These are the original vintage fabrics that Kim used in creating Homebody.

While I love and work with all kinds of fabric, my absolute favorites are vintage prints from the mid-20th-century. No matter the subject matter, there is an unpretentious, effortless quality that keep these prints relevant to this day. Of course, they were all hand-drawn and hand-painted, so they always feel personal even though the artists’ names are mostly lost to history. It’s a fun and challenging exercise to bring together disparate prints of old to create a new narrative, then to re-work the color and scale to make them work together, and fit the modern printing mills’ specifications. My first collection, Homebody, is a celebration of introverts and recluses, of being perfectly content to putter about the house. The prints are from my collection of vintage feed sacks and other cottons. I hope I’ve done justice to the original designs and they (and you) enjoy their new life on high-quality, soft, strong quilting cottons and silky cotton lawns.

VINTAGE COTTON FABRIC CARE // Store in the dark – even ambient room light can cause fading. Roll rather than fold to prevent stress on the folds, and periodically re-roll. The ideal container is acid-free (not wood!) and allows for air circulation. Hand-wash gently using laundry soap rather than detergent. Never use fabric softener.

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(RE)MIX THEM UP.

There are hundreds of ways to mix and match our prints, but we hand-selected our three favorite combinations and called them Remixes. Each remix uses a variety of prints from each designer plus a few supporting basics to tell a brand new story. Remixes are a perfect way to get a taste of the Cotton+Steel collections. Pre-cut packs available.

REMIX // PONY EXPRESS

REMIX // PORCH PICNIC

REMIX // AT THE ZOO

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