Kaari Zabala: Change and Creativity

by Linzee McCray @seamswrite

If you notice something new about French General fabrics, that might well mirror a change in designer Kaari Zabala’s life.

Two years ago, Kaari and her husband Jon moved to a home on an acreage about an hour north of her brick-and-mortar French General store in Los Angeles. They also added two new dogs, Gilly and Freddy, to the family. “We were ready for a shift in perspective and that’s been reflected in our work,” says Kaari.

Mixing New with Old

And while French General fabrics continue to derive inspiration from French textiles of the 1800s and 1900s, Kaari’s most recent lines share a shift in palette, adding new hues to the classic reds, pearls, and grays in her beloved previous lines. Bleu de France is colored in rich shades of French blues, while Chateau de Chantilly includes shades of clay and tea. “We’ve recolored these 19th-century prints to give them a fresh look,” says Kaari. “They feel a little more contemporary, appealing to modern quilters as well as to those who’ve enjoyed our fabrics all along.”

Chateau de Chantilly is so-named because the textiles it’s based on came from a vide grenier or “attic clearing” of a single chateau. “Every once in a while, a dealer will call and ask if I want all the textiles from a vide grenier,” she says. “While we often mix and match, for this collection, we kept those fabrics all together.” Kaari finds these bits and pieces while scouring the French countryside during her summers in France. She also offers week-long creative retreats in which participants shop the brocantes and flea markets, stay in a chateau and eat (and learn to cook) French meals, and spend time absorbing a stitching technique from a guest teacher.

Vivé la France

This appreciation of France came to Kaari through visits to the country with her Francophile mother and it has colored Kaari’s life for decades. She and her sister opened the French General store in Manhattan 25 years ago, then Kaari reopened it when she moved to LA in 2003. Fifteen years ago Moda approached her about designing fabric and she’s since done 40 lines, including holiday fabrics.

Those quilting fabrics, as well as the interiors fabrics she designs for Fabricut, fill one of her favorite spaces in her new home, a dedicated studio that overlooks citrus and avocado orchards. Kaari’s studio is bathed in natural light from six big sliding glass doors that overlook the swimming pool and orchards beyond, a big change from working on her dining room table. “It’s a calm space where I can try out different techniques,” she says. Studio tables provide ample surfaces for her efforts and may someday serve students in workshops.

Passion Projects

The studio is also where Kaari delves into some of her other passions, including the six-year-old Navajo Quilt Project for which Kaari and Navajo quilter Susan Hudson gather fabric, sewing supplies, and finished quilts for the Navajo Nation. Kaari also collects late-18th century applique quilts and is documenting the techniques, fabrics, and provenance of her collection of 50 quilts for the California Heritage Quilt Project database.

Textiles obviously reign supreme in Kaari’s life, and she’s grateful to have connected with Moda. “I always thought ‘antique fabric will run eventually out’ and reproducing it created so many options,” she says. “It opened a whole new world for us and I love seeing what people make, from curtains to little girls’ dresses to quilts.” Designing for Moda allows Kaari to continue her creative journey with textiles and to offer her vision to the quilting community.

For more with Kaari visit her website, frenchgeneral.com and follow her on social media @frenchgeneral.

Chateau de Chantilly is a sweet collection of florals and small prints all found in an old chateau in the South of France. Sometimes on our French Getaway retreat, we are lucky enough to get an invitation to a private vide grenier - a clearing of the attic. When the stars are aligned, we often find a trunk full of 18th and 19th century French scraps that are perfect for our fabric collections and quilt designs. Bright shades of rouge, clay, pearl, tea and roche are combined to make a classic French palette with a fresh, modern appeal. - Kaari

I love blue and white quilts, and I love blueberries, so the combination was a fun one for a fabric line! I’ve combined florals, checks, stripes, and tiny prints to bring you a fabric line I’m calling Blueberry Delight. The colors are fresh, and I’ve added a touch of cream to the whites for a soothing look. They remind me of a bowl of blueberries and cream. I’ve designed four new patterns for this fabric line that I hope your customers will love. From blue lambs, birds, and baskets to a pieced quilt inspired by a vintage block, there’s something for everyone.

- Anne

A childhood spent in England and Hong Kong and semesters spent in India and Senegal left a mark on the way Katharine Watson sees and illustrates the world. But today she finds inspiration right in her own backyard.

“I’ve always been drawn to shapes found in nature and flowers,” says Katharine, who surmises that working alongside her floral designer mother deepened nature’s appeal. “There’s something about the symmetry and colors that I connect with.”

Flower Press, Katharine’s first line for Moda, reflects that connection. It features bold florals, fine-lined foliage, and curvaceous vines in tone-on-tone and contrasting jewel-toned hues. Soothing blenders and leaf patterns complement the spirited blooms and echo the movement of trellises twined with vines and wind-blown foliage.

Flower Press is based on linocuts, imagery Katharine cuts into a linoleum block with a knife or gouge tool. Ink is applied to the block, which is printed by hand or with a hand-operated printing press. She’s delighted with the way the Flower Press fabrics preserve the texture of the original block prints. “The designs have that speckled, handmade feel,” she says.

In Michigan you are never far away from a Great Lake. It is one of the wonderful things about living here. The eastern coast of the state is considered the Sunrise Side as you can see the sunrise every morning over Lake Huron. My collection, is reminiscent of blue waters and sky and the warm colors of sunrise. - Laurie

October Delivery

MS 2303 Eccentricity 88" x 88" AB Friendly

MS 2301 Bounty 75" x 75" FQ Friendly Featuring Sunrise Side & Moda Crossweave

Dark Colorway

MS 2302 Graphic Light Colorway 55" x 60"

MS 2001 Hawthorne 50" x 50" AB Friendly

I love the changing seasons in Kansas, especially fall. It's the time of year I add layers to my home decor with soft, comfy quilts, runners and pillows. Fluttering Leaves features a fun twist on a fall print with a sprinkling of florals, leaves and geometrics. All of this in my classic KT palette to create projects with rich autumn vibes to cozy up your home for the season.

=Lynne

It's the perfect evening for dancing around a campfire in cadence to nature's song. Wrap a quilt around your shoulders stitched up with a melody of romantic indie blooms, rich texture, and color. Cadence is the perfect collection for creating your favorite projects with a boho chic vibe.

October Delivery

Henry David Thoreau said, “Summer passes into autumn in some unimaginable point of time, like the turning of a leaf.” Our Bountiful Blooms collection re-creates that turning point when the rich colors of Summer blend easily into the subtle hues of Fall. This transition in the beautiful desert land where we live brings a lovely mixture of thriving florals, changing colors, and perfect weather. It’s impossible not to savor this incredible season and become swept up in the bountiful joys it brings. We are smitten with this group and know you’ll love creating with Bountiful Blooms!

September Delivery

Making a home surrounded by flower gardens and cozy soft colors is what brings me such joy. No matter where you might live, being able to bring some that softness into our daily lives is a way of taking a deep breath, of welcoming tranquility and comfort.

With a fresh color palette that you can mix for seasonal quilts & projects, or including all the color families for a scrappy garden of colors, ‘Ellie’ envelops these airy, fresh, cozy feels for your home, and to share with those you love. Take a deep breath & welcome Ellie into your home!

I have had a cobalt blue and coral colored fabric line in my head for several years. I pictured pretty flowers, sweet ginghams, dainty calico prints, polka dots, ginghams, and stripes all scattered across backgrounds in shades of blue, coral, and peach. I could just imagine adding in a beautiful green and one of my signature grays to round out the color palette. Now, I have brought this collection to life and I hope you love it as much as I do. I am so proud to present to you Peachy Keen! - Corey

What does it mean to be lighthearted? To me it means to be cheerful, full of love, and enjoying the simple things in life. Some of my favorite people have been lighthearted and full of hope, even in the middle of difficult treatments and challenging times. This collection is a tribute to them. It includes some of my favorite bright and cheery colors, with lots of pink and of course some red and aqua mixed in for good measure. Its happy prints and florals are playful and beautiful, and the basics are the perfect addition to any special project.

I’m am so honored to be a part of the Stitch Pink program this year. Too many women I love and adore have fought a battle with breast cancer over the years and watching them fight has been both inspiring and life changing. My hope with this collection is that we can do a lot of good through raising funds for important services and research as well as encouraging those in the middle of treatment. We love you and we are cheering you on.

- Camille

Stitch Pink 2023's QAL will feature Camille's quilt, TB 273 Adore. More details coming soon!

Quaint Cottage is your answer for all things Cottage Core! Think warm vintage wallpaper, calico flower fabrics, streets filled with little romantic houses, hidden closets papered with delicate illustrations, and lace curtains. Quaint Cottage is the perfect fairytale escape for anyone who loves to sit down with their beloved copy of pride and prejudice, light some drippy candles, enjoy the tiny pops and scratches from their record player, and imagine a world where social media doesn't exist. Make your new favorite comfort quilt and create your refuge from the everyday with Quaint Cottage.

September Delivery

48378 11

Panel is approx. 36" x 44"

Large Blocks are approx. 10.75" x 9"

Small Blocks are approx. 4.5" x 5.375"

•30 Prints •100% Premium Cotton

Precuts do not include the panel. JRs, LCs, MCs & PPs include 29 skus plus two each of 48370, 48371, 48372-14 & 18 and 48374.

Making Waves, being bold, chasing your dreams and checking yourself is the inspiration behind Shelancia Daniel’s new line “Creativity Roars”for the Creativity Shell. In her continued effort to use creativity to raise awareness about youth mental health, the bright colors and bold designs behind Creativity Roars prompts sewists to make something different while having fun with the fabric collection.

Give me a W…give me an I…give me a N…what does that spell? WIN!!!

You will definitely win the hearts of your sports lovers with All Star. All Star is a vintage sports inspired collection that has prints for young and mature athletes and sports enthusiasts. Its classic blues, reds, golds and cream are the perfect mix for the artwork in this collection.

All Star would not be complete without a perfect pennant panel and cut and sew sports activity book to inspire future athletes with fun games and activities. Also, you can keep your All Star warm with two great quilts, Sporty Stripe and Game Plan. All Star is the perfect collection to complete your sports themed room!

September Delivery

Plenty of fun, plenty of color and oh so sweet!

This newest collection of prints has the perfect balance of sweet birdies, geometric shapes and plenty of dots. There’s even a dotted stripe! It was fun adding black into this group. I think it makes the rich bright colors POP and adds lots of contrast. It’s always a great idea to add a little bitter with the sweet. No matter what you’re inspired to create, I hope you have “plenty” of fun working with these “sweet” prints! - Barb

In difficult times, our creative community often leans-in to its abilities and makes effort to do what we can to help ease the suffering of others. Whether it’s making facemasks for frontline workers or quilts for people displaced from earthquakes or floods, we try to reach across distances to share our care and to try to turn feelings of helplessness to hopefulness.

When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in March 2022, I felt the urge to help in some small way. As the atrocities unfolded, I, and the rest of the world, learned about the significance of sunflowers not only in the Ukrainian culture, but also as a symbol of strength and renewal. It was with this in mind that I designed my “Sunflowers In My Heart” t-shirt to honor and celebrate the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people. When I learned that Chef Jose Andrés and World Central Kitchen had stationed their operations in Ukraine and several surrounding countries to feed Ukrainian refugees, I was deeply inspired by their commitment and bravery. We made them the focus of our t-shirt fundraiser to help amplify the humanitarian work of this extraordinary organization.

“Sunflowers in My Heart” is a collection that expands on the sunflower image I created and radiates happiness into each of the supporting prints. The warm golden yellows chase away gloom, the grassy greens grow optimism, and the deep blues reflect a sense of tranquility. I hope you stitch your own bright joy and love into every seam, uplift someone’s spirits with your creations and ultimately send as much positivity out into the world as possible. We sure need more of that. - Kate

September Delivery

Panel is approx. 36" x 44" Blocks are approx. 9" x 8.5"

Desert Oasis is a fabric line that is dear to my heart. Many of my happiest memories growing up were made in a truly majestic place, Lake Powell. This is a place to celebrate the beauty of nature. I have found more peace among the sparking water and warm sunshine of Lake Powell, than anywhere else on this earth. It is where I go to become grounded with the earth, to be washed in its beauty.

All the designs in Desert Oasis are inspired by this home away from home. Each piece of art was carefully crafted to emote the joy of escape, adventure, warmth and peace that can be found in your travels to a beloved location awash in sunshine and cool water, red rock mountains and magical cliffs.

In Desert Oasis I created five gorgeous new flow fabrics, each color matched to a beautiful element found in the landscape of Lake Powell. They are so rich and full of natural beauty. These are the grounding fabrics for the line. There is a panel showcasing an original landscape painting of the mountains and water sharing a sentiment that will inspire you to, “Lose yourself in nature and find peace.” This fabric line is packed full of fabrics celebrating the red rock mountains and cliffs, warm sands, soft textural plants, unique rocks and pebbles, the culture of the area, the crisp blue sky and the healing sunshine. Of course, no Create Joy Project fabric line is complete without some flowers, so I painted a loose, wild floral using all the colors and textures I found in the Lake Powell landscape, and it is my favorite part of the collection! I hope you love it as much as I do!

I invite you to discover each design in Desert Oasis, and hope that as you do, you will feel the joy that I have cherished throughout my life while exploring Lake Powell, and that as you create something you love with this fabric, you will feel the sense of adventure I used to bring this fabric line to life!

- Love, Laura

When we designed “Main Street”, we had no idea that our very own Main Street in our small town of Fort Morgan, Colorado was about to be selected for a huge, made for TV renovation by a national television show. Even though they really didn’t want or need our help and ideas (sigh), we are so excited to see what they do with our little hometown. Whether you grew up in the big city or a town of 300, everyone has a “Main Street”. From the street signs, to the shop names, to the simple, calming color palette, this line just feels like home. We can’t wait for the TV show, but we are even more excited for the fabric collection.

October Delivery

Imagine yourself in a quiet, aged cottage surrounded by fragrant gardens where life is slow and sweet. You feel the earth under your toes as you garden barefoot. And the scented blossoms you picked adorn the kitchen table where you reminisce with friends over a slice of Granny's apple pie.

When you visit the cottage at Evermore, life feels sweet, simple and sentimental. My new collection for Moda, Evermore, was created from my heart as a place that feels like home... a place where we are all welcome, loved and comforted.

September Delivery

Marigold brings together a selection of designs with the natural world as a common thread. Whether influenced directly through the flowers in my garden or via the medium of a nature documentary, this collection captures the beauty, spontaneity, form and organic feel of the living world. I chose a color palette heavily influenced by late summer flora to create rich and colorful prints. Perfect for bringing some outdoor loveliness inside to enjoy. I hope you have fun creating with these fabrics for all your projects!

Most days you can find me in a comfortable sweatshirt, lounge pants, hanging at home but every now and then I love a good look at me outfit, hair down, makeup on let's go out kinda day! Gilded is that look at me, show me off kinda fabric! It's the perfect touch to make any project pop!