Preview: Far Far Away
Thursday, December 4, 2008 at 12:01PM 
I am so pleased to post a sneak peak of my newest line for Kokka of Japan, which will be in stores this spring.
My fabric lines for Westminster are always based on a place that I have lived and loved, while my lines for Kokka are more about the imaginary places where I wish I could live. They are lush meadows and small towns built from toys by children, evening dances held by squirrels. My newest line for Kokka is no different, and is in fact named for those first few words that appear at the beginning of many an imaginary tale: Far Far Away....
I must tell you that I did not intend to go so fantastical, I just couldn't stop myself. At first I was focussed on the princesses, especially a certain princess and her pea, but soon found myself sketching unicorns. You heard me. Unicorns. My friend Kim, mother of a tiny barefoot princess of her own, responded to my initial sketches with a very polite " You are either a Unicorn Girl or you are not. I am the latter." That should have stopped me. It didn't. The rest of the prints came quickly enough, my friend Amanda has been begging for a Frog Prince print for years, and I finally had a place for him. I added some florals. I stood back. It was, and is, supremely dorky. We are talking kitten-and-fishbowl-inspirational-poster, days-of-the-week-underpants, dungeons-and-dragons dorky. I hope you like it.
Far Far Away will hit stores sometime this spring, I will be sure to post updates here on Weekend. Because my book, Weekend Sewing, has so many clothing patterns that demand more supple woven fabrics, I am having it printed on both a quilting weight cotton and a luxurious, drapey cotton double guaze, which will be perfect for dresses, skirts, and blouses. The collection comes in three colorways. Below is the "Dacha" colorway, full of russian purples and reds, then there is a primary group with clear blues, reds, and yellows, and finally, a warm and girly group of pinks and browns and gold. If you would like information about wholesale orders, you can find contact information for both Kokka and Seven Islands (that's the USA distributor for Kokka fabrics) here. The line is still being finalized, so expect a few tweaks and changes to have occurred when you do see it in person.
Reader Comments (48)
oh wow so perfect! well done I just adore them and can't wait to make things for all the little girls in my life!
Corrie;)
As usual you offer something unusual and wonderful. I think you're genius.
Hello,
I just discover your blog and my mouth is still open in a "Waaaa !!" of admiration. Your designs are so nice, and the colors so gorgeous. You are a fairy, aren't you ? I'm going to continue the visit !
Christelle
All right! Fine! I'll learn to sew already. You've forced me into it with these gorgeous fabrics.
We're soooo into the princess and the pea at our house right now. Very excited. And those unicorns turned out great--much better than you led me to believe, love. And I'm in the latter group, so that's saying something.
Just beautiful - I am looking forward to seeing the range here in Australia!
I am so loving this preview of your new line. As someone who grew up sleeping upside down in my bed just to be more like Pippi Longstocking, I feel right at home with your designs. I'm a quilter and work for Jennifer Paganelli (Sis Boom) and hope to have the funds to take your workshop at Denyse Schmidts studio. Stay playful!
Nancy
These fabrics are absolutely wonderful.....They have got me thinking of how to decorate a bedroom for the granddaughter that I hope to have.......the princess and her bed of pillows, fields of wildflowers, with unicorns and a frog prince. With your fabrics as curtains, quilts, pillows, etc....., that room could be a little girl's dream......a grandma's, too!!
Where can I buy this fabric?!?!?!?!?
Heather, I guess I'm a unicorn girl because I am loving these prints! Oh my goodness. Just darling!
If this is dorky then I don't wanna be cool. I must have each and every bit of it.
I love them. I'm a big dork, so I can totally relate.
oh, thank goodness I have a girl who can scheme up wonderful projects we'll make together with this gorgeous fabric!
Love the pinks and the purples!!!!
My favorite fabric is the one with the little frogs....my little girls will love it!
Just ordered your book and will be on the look out for the fabric. For now, I will have to use Liberty of London, I suppose....
Love the pinks and the purples!!!!
My favorite fabric is the one with the little frogs....my little girls will love it!
Just ordered your book and will be on the look out for the fabric. For now, I will have to use Liberty of London, I suppose....
I love them!!!!
In January I went to NY and got myself a unicorn from the Met, and have been thinking about tapestries since then and I worked with my studentes with the princessa and the pea... you have faboluos ideas, thanks for sharing!
I can't wait to get my hands on these. I really love them. Great work.
Oh, these are so fabulous!! I'm partial to the blues and greens for my little frog princes. And if they're at all "dorky" as you say, than I'm one big dork. :)
Must. Sew. Something.
Hi Heather
I just adore this collection you did. Fantastic.
Have a look at our website www.accessoriesofold.com as we have trims/ribbons etc from the 1930's that I am sure would inspire you
Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting.
I'm not a sew-er, but I'm becoming one this summer. I'm back in the US and hoping to get my hands on good fabric this summer. How do I go about buying this? It's fantastic.
Absolutely beautiful!
3 fantastic grandsons and now...a grandaughter due at Christmas! Gramma's favorite book when she was a little girl was ..How did you know, Heather? Princess and the Pea! Have been waiting for years just to have a grandaughter to read the book, too and then voila! Days after we learn that Baby is a girl, I discover your beautiful fabric and now she will have not only the book, but a beautiful Princess and the Pea nursery as wel. Thank you, Thank you!