This month, my quilt, “Window View” is in the May 2016 issue of American Quilters Society!
Some have asked me about the whole process. How do I get a quilt in a magazine? It goes like this.
First, I am contacted by the fabric company I am currently working with. In this case, P&B Textiles. “Hey, we have a new collection coming out called Love In Bloom. Would you be interested in designing a quilt using these fabrics?”
If I have space in my calendar and can work in their time frame, I say, “Yes, send me the scans and I will see what I can do.”
They send me high-resolution jpegs. At this point, if I don’t like the fabric, if it doesn’t make gasp, if I don’t have an attraction to the fabric, I say, “No, this is not for me.” The fabric companies want the best representation possible. If the fabric doesn’t make my heart sing, it is not fair to them. Wait till I find a better match. Then I fall in fabric-love and I get busy in EQ7, my quilt design software.
Sometimes, the perfect design seems to fall in my lap. Other times, it is all uphill, both ways, in the snow! This one just fell into place. I still love looking at it.
Then begins emails back and forth, talking about edits and final approval. Then they want the yardage and directions, picky, picky, picky. Sometimes, they want me to make the quilt! Yoo Hoo!
The delivery of the fabric can be pretty crazy and take a long time. You have to consider the time for manufacturing and shipping. I just never know when it will arrive.  When a box like this shows up, I do a happy dance and then double check I was sent the correct fabric, just in case.
Good to go! Let the construction begin.
After this one was about half way done, I had to send it away, due to my hospital visit! Tracy Kreiling took over, finished piecing, quilting and binding. Yay, Tracy!
After it is quilted, I sew on a label with all the stats.
Then it is shipped to the magazine, photographed and then sent back to me.
And it is a happy day when I open the magazine and see my own creation! Tada!
After an agreed period of time, the rights for the quilt design and pattern revert back to me. I then make a few changes and can sell it myself.
Thanks for joining me on this little tour.
See you next time,
Jenny Kae
P.S. What are other questions you might have? I would love to hear them.
Lol… This sounds like heaven to me! Where do I sign up to work with fabric companies? 🙂
I know, right?! But seriously, a designer referred my name to her contacts and that is how I got in the door. I imagine you can contact a company directly and let them know you are interested in designing for them. No guarantees but it never hurts to ask. 🙂