VERIFIED MEMBER
ARTIFACTS RECEIVED:
Meet the Maker: AmyDesigns
Thank you for visiting my online studio! I'm a 50-something mother to 4 sons, partner to a wonderful husband, friend to 4 dogs and 2 horses. We live in north-central Illinois near small towns along the Illinois River. Tradition, Midwestern values and preservation of the land and its history are important here.
I have an in-home studio with views of the forest on our property. I spend as much time as I can there as the creative process is central to my life.
I prefer to design my own patterns. Sometimes a vintage table linen or piece of fabric dictate a new pattern to highlight the textile's beauty. Other times, I'm inspired by things I've seen and put my own spin on it. I want my creations to be original, not looking like the same design or commercial pattern everyone else is using. People who buy my creations want to reflect their own creative spirit.
Upcycling and recycling are an important part of my process. Not only do I sometimes re-create with ready-made clothing, but I disassemble garments to incorporate the beautiful silks, linens, and embroideries in other items.
I belong to a quilt guild, an art league, and write for an online magazine. 2009 was the start of my serious effort at "sewing as a business". My creations have been very well received in the community through various shows and fairs and I enjoy being discovered online!
Society has been driven by consumerism for a long time and now I find there is a real need for unique, original, and custom designed creations of high quality. I make things that are beautiful and will last a lifetime, preserving fabrics, notions and memories of the past in the process.
I have an in-home studio with views of the forest on our property. I spend as much time as I can there as the creative process is central to my life.
I prefer to design my own patterns. Sometimes a vintage table linen or piece of fabric dictate a new pattern to highlight the textile's beauty. Other times, I'm inspired by things I've seen and put my own spin on it. I want my creations to be original, not looking like the same design or commercial pattern everyone else is using. People who buy my creations want to reflect their own creative spirit.
Upcycling and recycling are an important part of my process. Not only do I sometimes re-create with ready-made clothing, but I disassemble garments to incorporate the beautiful silks, linens, and embroideries in other items.
I belong to a quilt guild, an art league, and write for an online magazine. 2009 was the start of my serious effort at "sewing as a business". My creations have been very well received in the community through various shows and fairs and I enjoy being discovered online!
Society has been driven by consumerism for a long time and now I find there is a real need for unique, original, and custom designed creations of high quality. I make things that are beautiful and will last a lifetime, preserving fabrics, notions and memories of the past in the process.
Artisan Gallery
Jacket made from a combination of vintage fabrics and linens--barkcloth curtains, cutwork tablecloth, crochet lace
Jacket from pattern I designed. Created with various traditional and not-so-traditional quilt piecing techniques.
Photo of Arizona landscape
My interpretation done in fabric and thread. A birthday gift for a cousin.
The studio of a busy, creative person! (That's me!)
AmyDesigns
Location: Marseilles, IL
Quick Blurb:
Amy Designs is a collection of original, creative, beautifully made fabric creations: clothing, accessories, and art work.
Interests:
sewing, quilting, pattern design, vintage fabrics, vintage buttons and trims, upcycling, recycling, denim, embroidery, ribbon work, creativity, originality, custom orders, memory preservation
Skills and Techniques:
I have done just about every kind of sewing---custom clothing, pattern design, machine and hand applique, machine and hand embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, beading, traditional quilts, art quilts, tshirt quilts, landscape wall hangings.
I've explored fabric dyeing and painting with various mediums using free brush painting, stencils, and rubbings.
I love color and texture in fabric and enjoy highlighting and contrasting them in a single creation. Sometimes the fabric has it all, sometimes I enhance the fabric with a creative technique.
I've explored fabric dyeing and painting with various mediums using free brush painting, stencils, and rubbings.
I love color and texture in fabric and enjoy highlighting and contrasting them in a single creation. Sometimes the fabric has it all, sometimes I enhance the fabric with a creative technique.
Find me online @
