A Piece from Here and a Piece from There: Piece O' Cake Designs

Today we'd like to introduce you to two very talented women who have combined their talents to create Piece O' Cake Designs: Rebecca Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins. Funny, talented and very motivated: that's the only way to describe this duo. Enjoy our interview with them!

Swatch & Stitch: Describe your backgrounds in design. How did each of you get started?

Rebecca Goldsmith: ”I have a BA in Interior Design. I never actually practiced the profession but I like to think that my house looks good. When my kids were little I went back for a year of art classes at the University of Tulsa.

I suppose I have combined what I learned in school with what I see around me every day and that is what turns up in the designs in my quilts.

I started quilting when my youngest son, Jeff, was not quite a year old. He's 25 now. He and his brother, Chris, needed something for their bunk beds and I decided to try my hand at quiltmaking. I took classes and joined the Green Country Quilt Guild in Tulsa which is where I met Linda. We've been friends ever since.”

Linda Jenkins: “I was a hairdresser and make up artist for 20 years. I developed a fine eye for color. During this time I also did some home decorating for people. Most of my design comes from instinct.

We met at the Green Country's Quilter's Guild. Our friendship developed as we found we had similar interests. We had a small antique business before we went into the Quilting Industry.”

S&S: When did you decide to team up?

RG: “When Linda and Paul moved to Colorado (the first time) and Steve and I moved to Texas we started Piece O' Cake. I had drawn a block for Linda's going away quilt that became our first pattern. I don't remember worrying about working together from different states and, luckily, it has worked out well for us both.”

LJ: “We decided to team up in 1993 as we were both moving from Tulsa. Our business has always been a long distance venture. We have not lived in the same town since shortly after starting the business.”

S&S: Is it challenging to be a team in this industry?
RG: “I think it's challenging to be a team at any time, in any industry. We've been together longer than many people have been married! I credit Linda with teaching me to confront and talk through the harder issues that come up in a partnership. I think that we've made it because we still communicate well.”

LJ: “I have found it to be an advantage. We are able to design and publish more due to their being two of us.”

S&S: How are your design decisions made?

RG: “We each make what we are most interested in making. I have the background that makes it easier for me to do the drawing. If I'm drawing for Linda, she lets me know what she wants and I try to provide it. If I miss the mark we work on it until it's right. When I draw for myself, Linda makes suggestions if she thinks she needs to.

We still like a lot of the same things and we work in the same color palette. I don't know that quilters can tell at a glance who made any of our quilts because our styles are so similar.”

LJ: “We brainstorm each others ideas while fine tuning them. There being two of us gives Piece O' Cake its unique look. It is the melding of our ideas that has helped us stand apart.”

S&S: Where does each of you find your inspirations?

RG: “I look at magazines and I keep up with a lot of design blogs. But truthfully, I come up with my best designs when I have a deadline and have to sit down and draw something. Fortunately, ideas are usually waiting there, in my head, for me to draw.”

LJ: “Everywhere!!! Recently while we were in Hawaii together the painted ceiling in a outdoor bathroom at the beach led us to a color palette for a new fabric collection.”

S&S: If there is a conflict in your design process, how is it resolved?

RG: “We don't usually have conflicts in the design process. We have time issues. When I am most busy, Linda sometimes isn't and vice versa. We've been doing this long enough to know that that's just the way it is. 

However, when we do have conflicts we invoke the 3-day rule. Let whatever it is sit for 3 days and when we come back to it we've always come back with the same answer. It works for us.”

LJ: “Very seldom are we not able to meld our ideas together. We have a 3 day rule if we can not come to an agreement. The rule is we don't talk about it for 3 days. After 3 days it is amazing we both have come to the same conclusion. In a partnership you have to not let go of your ego sometimes on an idea.”

S&S: OK, who wins the arguments?

RG: “We both win. How can it be good if you start declaring winners and losers?”

LJ: “Neither. We reach a mutual agreement or we don't proceed. We both sometimes will go with the other ones idea if they feel strongly about it. We trust each others instincts.“

S&S: What are the benefits of being in a team?

RG: “We each do what we do well which allows us to get more done.”

LJ: “You have a partner you trust to bounce ideas off of. Also there are two to do the work.”

S&S: How do you think your talents have evolved while being in a team?

RG: “I used to be a lot more competitive and I like to think I've mellowed and that is a direct response to being in this partnership. I have learned to respect not just Linda's ideas, but to acknowledge that there is always more than one way to do anything. In respect to the evolution of my talents - this means that I am more open (I hope) to new ideas.”

LJ: “I can give you an example. Becky when we met was in her Double Wedding Ring series with Hawaii prints. I was into matching everything exactly with my decor. She could go over the edge and I was the middle of the road. I pulled her back from the edge and she pulls me away from the middle. Over time we have met in a good place.”

S&S: What advice would you give to those looking to get into your field of work?

RG: “Work hard. Don't expect to make a living right away. Work hard. Go to market. Talk to others in this field. And continue to work hard.”

LJ: “The same is true for any small business don't expect to take a salary for two years. You will need to invest everything you make back into the business to grow. I have seen many good businesses fail because of having to take a salary. The money you invest needs to be money you can afford to loose.”

S&S: What is your all-time favorite design from your partner?

RG: “The quilt I most associate with Linda is A Walk in the Mountains. I don't know that I would say it's my most favorite because I tend to be more interested in whatever we are currently working on - and that would be true of both of our quilts.”

LJ: “Simply Delicious a series of appliqued botanical fruit designs”

S&S: Explain your design process from idea to final product.

RG: “Using our next Christmas book as an example - we decided it was time to re-visit Christmas. Linda was more interested in this than I was so she decided what sort of projects she wanted to work on. I got those drawn for her when I was at her house in Grand Junction. When we can, that's an easier way to work because she can let me know right away if things are looking good to her."

LJ: "I came up with a quilt that I wanted to make for the book. And I opted to make the Christmas stockings because my son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids lost (through no fault of their own) their first Christmas stockings.

C&T liked the ideas and we moved forward. The projects, manuscripts, and drawings were finished on time. We made the step-outs for the photographs for the book and then we moved on to the next project.”

We'd like to thank Piece O' Cake Designs for their time and their wonderful answers. Make sure you head over to the Robert Kaufman web site here and take a look at their new release Daisies & Dots which is arriving in stores in January 2011.

The Heart of Artisan Batiks: Lunn Studios

In July of this year, CEO of Robert Kaufman Fabrics Ken Kaufman took a trip over to Lancaster, Ohio to see Michael Mrowka and Debra Lunn, and from the sound of it, they made just a wonderful impression; so, we though this would be the perfect time to give you all a little behind-the-scenes peek at Lunn Studios!

If you've shown any interest in Kaufman fabrics over the last few decades, then you've undoubtedly heard of Lunn Studios. They are the creative minds behind the wildly successful Artisan Batiks, which are exceedingly popular among quilters. What you may not be aware of, though, is just how important Michael and Debra have been to the success of Kaufman fabrics. As the first licensed artists for the quilting industry we ever worked with, they were extremely instrumental in establishing Robert Kaufman's presence in the quilting world.

Because Lancaster is thousands of miles away from our office in Los Angeles, this happened to be Ken's first visit to the Michael and Debra's home. From his description, they live together in what cannot be called an ordinary, run-of-the-mill home: It is actually a large pre-civil war home that has been converted into a combination of a private residence and an art studio, so basically, it is the artist's dream. It is still a work in progress, as you can see from the remodeling they've been doing on the parlor.

Michael and Debra showed Ken an unmatched level of hospitality and even led him on an all-access tour of the studio. He met the staff, explored the awesomely spacious workspace, and got the opportunity to witness the many experimentations and new ideas Lunn Studios has come up with. Perhaps the thing that intrigued Ken most, though, was the charity that Michael and Debra have set up for their workers. The charity established a library for all the factory workers who produce Lunn fabrics and their families. As of now, the library has several thousand books, offers English lessons, and shows movies regularly to give a multitude of families educational opportunities that might not exist otherwise. And that's what impressed us most about Debra and Michael - that they use success not only as a means of improving themselves, but also of strengthening others.

Click here to see all the photos from the visit.

Julie Herman: Quilter, Blogger, and so much more.

What got you interested in quilting in the first place?
Simply Quilts on HGTV… back in the day. My first blog post goes into how I started quilting.  http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2009/05/beginning.html 

What was the first project you ever completed?
I don’t know what the first “project” I ever completed is!  It was probably a pillow or something… but the first quilt that I ever completed was for my brother.  He is a Cooper Mini fan and when I couldn’t find fabric that was just right, I decided to make my own!  I drew the logo by hand with black ink on acetate and then exposed a silkscreen.  Then I took solid fabric and screen printed the mini design on it.  He loves the quilt and it hangs on a large wall in his house! Here's a blog post about it:  http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2009/07/my-first-quilt.html

How important are social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) to your line of work, and how do you personally use them?
They are essential!  We now live in a culture of constant contact and are often faced with too many options of media to consume.  As a result we need a way to filter information so that we can have the best content possible in the fastest and clearest way possible.  Social Media allows me to promote blog posts of mine and others that I think have value. Then my friends and audience can consume the content when they have time.

Often I’m asked why I use multiple forms of social media… and if it is really necessary.  First I think it is necessary... and I’ll tell you why.  Each form of social media provides a different audience.  Many of my “facebook fans” are not on twitter…. and vice versa.  The same can also be said with Flickr.  Most people end up having a number one form of media that they check most often. I’ll use my family as the perfect example.  

-My Mom sees my updates first when I post them on Facebook.
-My Brother sees them in his RSS feed on his iPhone
-My Sister in law usually sees my photos on Flickr before anything else.
-My Dad… who doesn’t have a Facebook, Twitter, Flickr... or any such account… stays up to date with what I’m doing through Google Buzz.

Each one of them has a preferred way of consuming content.  As a result I want to provide people with as many easy ways as possible to know that I have new content that they should go & check out.

Do you have any new projects in the works?
Of course!  I always have new projects in various stages.  Some are sketches… some are on my design wall... and some are almost done!  Right now I’m in the process of re-organizing my studio because I work best when I’m in a clean space & can find all my tools!

How are you able to relay so many giveaways on your blog?
Lots of searching!  I was noticing a trend where many blogs would have giveaways… but not many entries because their traffic was low. In an effort to spread the word about less known blogs and great giveaways I started my Tuesday giveaway posts. My goal is that blogs can retain readers after the giveaways.
Now that the giveaway lists have grown… many people contact me directly to post about their giveaway.  The list I’ll be posting today already has 30 listed in it!!

What would you say has been your most successful project, and why do you think that is?
I’d have to say that my Circle Around quilt has been the one project that has been made the most by other quilters.  I think that the high contrast in the design… and the simplicity of putting it together has made it very appealing to others!
I did a post almost a month ago where I featured Circle Around quilts that others have made. The post shows more than 10 color options and the versatility of the pattern.  http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2010/07/circles-everywhere.html

In addition I have a “Group” on Flickr where people can add their photos of projects they have made from my tutorials and patterns.  It’s very fun for me to see my patterns in fabric combinations I wouldn’t have dreamed of.  http://www.flickr.com/groups/jaybirdquilts/  Here's the original blog post about this pattern being on the cover of quilts & more: http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2010/04/cover-really.html 

What was the Quilt Festival in Long Beach like?
The Festival was full of energy and inspiration.  I did demos for my good friend Natalie {http://beyondthereefpatterns.blogspot.com/} in her booth.  Many people have that “aha” look on their face once you show them how simple a project really is… and I love that moment!  Another favorite of mine is walking around and seeing all of the beautiful displays.  It takes a lot of work, but shops transform a small space into a beautiful store that you just want to spend time in

What techniques do you think are the hardest to learn as a young quilter?
Personally one of the hardest things for me to learn was patience.  My generation is used to things being instant and that is not the case with quilting! Taking your time to cut pieces accurately and knowing when to use a seam ripper is important! Patience and practice really do result in better work!

I think for any quilter learning the basics is the most important part. Unfortunately many quilters… of all ages are taught that there is only one way to do something… and that is not the case!  I’m all for learning as many ways to do something as possible and then picking the method that works best for you.

I learn new things all the time.  At the Long Beach show I was working on some hand appliqué and Jane { http://quiltwithjane.blogspot.com/} pointed out to me that there was another way I could be doing it and that it would hide my stitches better. Switching directions felt funny to me but she was right!

Who helped you become a great quilter? Influences?
Lots of people actually have helped me to grow along the way.  Initially it was the people who I worked with at a local quilt shop. One person in particular from that shop believed in me from day 1 and constantly pushes me to try new things. {Thank you Allison!} Now it is my online community of quilters and the ones in my guild!

Influences?... does math count as an influence?  After art class math was always my favorite. One high school math teacher in particular, Ms. Fricker, was incredibly supportive and nurturing of my creative side. The geometry involved in quilting is fascinating to me. I love the technical challenge of figuring out the best way to assemble a block.

Also I can’t forget to mention the teachers and fellow designers at Drexel University. My four years of formal education in design has become an invaluable resource in my day to day quilt design.

Where do you draw your inspiration for new projects?
Everywhere! I keep a camera and a small sketch book with me at all times. My work is mostly bold and constructed from simple shapes with hard lines… often inspired by buildings and sometimes a parking garage!

What challenges have you encountered using Social Media? How have you adapted to those challenges?
Each “form” is its own network and has pros and cons. Learning how to manage each one best is an ongoing process for me.  In my case my blog is my number one. I don’t spend a huge amount of time on facebook, twitter, flickr etc.  Instead I focus my energy on the content in my blog and use social media to help me share that content.

Here are some google analytics statistics from the last month. These six methods are in the top ten for “Traffic Sources” for my blog and they account for more than 50% of my traffic.   

Direct                   14.00%
Feedburner        12.20%
Google                 8.58%
Flickr.com            4.44%
Facebook.com    3.53%
Twitter.com          2.51%

While social media doesn’t account for huge numbers in my traffic, it is still a very significant portion in the overall picture.

Is there one RK line that you absolutely can't live without?
Kona Crush! I adore the texture and have been putting it into every project I can since I discovered it!

A Visit from Darlene Zimmerman (Now with a slideshow!)

We at Robert Kaufman always appreciate friendly visits. The other day, Darlene Zimmerman decided to stop by after teaching at Vanguard University for Camp Watch-a-Patcher, and we could not have been happier to see her. If you've heard of Darlene's collections but don't know much else about her, here is your chance to learn a bit more.

A valuable part of the quilting industry for over 15 years, Darlene has contributed as a designer, quilter, textile historian, and author. Along the way, she has even become known as the "Feedsack Lady." Why feedsacks, you ask? Well, in the 1930s, companies selling chicken feed, flour, sugar, salt, or cornmeal would package their product in sacks printed with designs meant to attract female customers. Women would then use these feedsacks to make quilts, aprons, housedresses, and apparel for their families. Darlene is reviving this tradition with her vintage collections typical of the feedsack era.

Recently, she has developed some wonderful collections with us, such as Betty Dear and Paper Dolls, so you can imagine how excited we were when she stopped by to discuss some new projects. If you appreciate her work as much as we do, keep your eyes peeled for some new Darlene Zimmerman collections in the future, and also consider joining her Clothesline Club - a program that brings the spirit of the '30s right to your local quilt shop.

This is a sales sample from Darlene's personal collection. If you look closely, you'll notice the date of the sample is 1940!

Once we have a direction, we then work closely with Darlene to design fabrics based on the time-period samples she provides us.



Once repropuced, these feedsack fabricks are perfect for Clothesline Club but work well for tons of applications.

Update on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 11:52AM by Robert Kaufman Fabrics

During the last trip to Quilt Market, we were fortunate enough to visit Darlene in Minnesota. We spent the day with her and took some photos of her and her community. It was such an interesting trip. Here is a slideshow of the whole day. Enjoy!

A Little Birdie Told Me...

We thought we would catch up with Katie Hennagir and see how this once again new mommy was doing as she coordinated her daughter's birth with the launching of her line of Chirp! fabrics. Needless to say, it sounds she like she had her hands full as it all came together...

"Birds, birds, birds… who knew that when I spotted an adorable baby announcement with birds 3 years ago that it would lead to my first fabric line, Chirp! I was trying to decorate my son’s nursery at the time and was frustrated with what was available in the way of quilting fabrics. As the manager of a quilt shop, I really had seen all there was to offer. That bird announcement planted the idea of creating my own line of baby fabrics that would be geared towards a modern mom- not too cute but still baby.   

When I was designing the line I was picturing where each fabric would go in a nursery- the large stripe for a crib skirt, the tree print for bumpers, the bird print for a crib sheet, & the panel in a quilt hanging on the wall. Armed with those ideas I entered the world of fabric designing- an awesome & interesting experience.  From start to finish it was exciting to see my ideas take shape and become printed fabric. One of the most exciting moments was seeing my name on the selvage for the first time! Actually, a few of our staff members & customers still think that’s the coolest part. It was also exhilarating to present my ideas to other shop owners at International Quilt Market. Then we had to wait for the fabric to arrive!

The day FedEx delivered my fabric to our shop was one I will never forget! I was expecting baby number two any day and launching a fabric line at the same time- very cool.

What an exciting couple of months it has been since Chirp! debuted in February.  First baby Isabelle was born on February 3^rd, 2010. At the same time I have been having a blast here at the shop watching how people are using the fabrics in their own projects.  Probably most exciting is when someone comes in to buy fabrics to decorate their nursery or kid’s room- that is exactly what I hoped would happen!

I have of course been using the fabrics in my daughter Isabelle’s nursery. And, I have been making gifts for all of my friends who are having babies right now. I love stripping together some of the Chirp fabrics in random sizes and then backing it with Shannon Cuddle. My finished size is about 30” x 36” - perfect to throw over baby’s feet in their car seat!  I have a simple pattern called Quick Strips Baby Quilt available on my blog:

http://baywindowquiltshop.wordpress.com

Now I’m thinking that a dress would be adorable for Isabelle- maybe in the pink bird print.

My creative juices are flowing as I start designing my next line of baby fabric. As the mom of two little ones, inspiration is not far away- whether or not I get the ideas down on paper in between naps & diaper changes is another story!"