Bon Vivant by Paige Stanley Miller | { Fat Quarter Shop Fridays Sponsored Post }

After a few weeks hiatus, we're back! Back on track! For now anyway ...

If you haven't been checking the Featured Designers page, you might have missed my recent update. I've scheduled interview posts for the remaining Fridays this month and into April! {insert applause here}

Thanks to everyone for helping to spread the word about our interviews and giveaways; on facebook, twitter, blogs, etc. I truly appreciate all your support. How wonderful is it to get to know the designers a little better who create the awesome fabrics us quilters pine for? No, make that, SALIVATE for. We've got some fun lines releasing in the next few months. Just in time for their debut at Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City!

But enough about RWQ ...

Our newest featured designer has brought together the best of the city of love in her latest collection for Windham Fabrics, Bon Vivant. Inspired by a trip she and her husband took to France, Paige Stanley Miller is reliving her journey and taking her with us on a romantic stroll through the streets of Paris. Channeling the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel the fabrics in this collection have a classic, timeless feel.


Releasing in March 2011, Bon Vivant is available for purchase at your favorite online quilt shop or LQS now!!

Thanks for being here today, Paige! I just love your new fabric line!

RWQ: Please tell us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been designing fabric? What is your design background?

I guess you could say that I'm pretty passionate about textiles! My mother was always collecting vintage linens and my father always had an antique shop.
They got me interested in the visual arts and sent me to The Rhode Island School of Design. I thought I wanted to be an Interior Architect but when I found the textile department, I found joy! I got to learn to paint, silkscreen, and weave fabric and after I earned my B.F.A. I moved to Manhattan. I worked full time for Echo designing their scarves and tabletop textiles, then for Westpoint Home creating bed and bath products, then for Waverly coloring decorative fabrics and wallpaper, and for Duralee styling wovens and prints for furniture and drapery. About 10 years ago my husband Martin and I created our own studio.

I have licensed my prints for bedding, giftware, greeting cards, stationary, and home sewing fabrics. I'm starting work on patterns and a new paper tableware and party goods license as well.

RWQ: Where do you draw your inspiration from when designing in general?

Since I consider myself a lifestyle designer I study home trends and fashion. I get inspired by reading, seeing films and museum exhibits, and by my travels.


RWQ: Is there anything you want to tell my readers about your inspiration for Bon Vivant (ie: your color choice inspiration, a trip that may have inspired the line, etc.)? Do you have a favorite print in the collection?

Bon Vivant was definitely inspired by a special trip that Marty & I made to Paris to see the Yves Saint Laurent show and celebrate his birthday. There's also a book called Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson that talks about how MGM sent Audrey Hepburn to Paris in 1953 to create "her look". The descriptions of her wor- king with Hubert de Givenchy encouraged me to take a vintage perspective.

My favorite prints are the Paris map and the accessories or "Big Blowout". Have always thought that the intersecting streets of Paris formed an intriguing pattern and I grew up with standard poodles. Marty's glasses had to go in with the round rims - so French! Re: the accessories or "Big Blowout" print I was trying to imagine what would be flying around Holly Golightly's apartment if she were alive & well and having a wild party!

RWQ: Is this your first design to be licensed on fabric? If no, can you briefly tell us about your other lines?

Bon Vivant is my second home sewing fabric line for Windham. The first collection is called Juliet. It's a soft Anglo American mix of wild roses, paisley, toile, botanical, and textured prints. It's very much inspired by my family's summer cottage in Maine. Almost all of us have been married up there or had their baby shower on our front porch. It's where we enjoy a lot of relaxed time outdoors with friends.

RWQ: Are you a quilter? How would you describe your quilting "style"?

I'm still learning to design blocks and quilts, what a fascinating process! The majority of my background is textile design and art direction. Through Windham I've been fortunate enough to work with some highly skilled quilters. I'm a big admirer of their work. Recently I've worked with Jean Smith and Hilary Bobker. My Juliet Garden Star block has been chosen for publication in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 3 Spring Summer 2011. The quilt style that I aim to design is clean, classic, and preppy.

RWQ: One of the hardest parts of designing for me is coming up with the names for my patterns. How do you pick the names for your fabrics?

When I'm naming a fabric I try to ask myself what would I think of if I were seeing this for the first time. Sometimes it's hard to be objective.

RWQ: How can my readers find more information about you and your company?

The easiest way to find out more about what I'm up to is to go to one of my blogs www.bonvivantspm.com or www.acoastalpreppy.com

There is also a bit more on me at www.paigestanleymiller.com


Thanks for sharing the story behind Bon Vivant Paige! I'm sure that every time you look at this fabric the memories will come back. What a great way to capture an adventure.

We have several wonderful prizes to give away this round including a Bon Vivant accessory set which includes a scrunchie, bow ponytail holder, & sleepmask.


Paige has also brought along a neat wine and cheese tote. Here it is modeled by Laura Jaquinto of Windham whom collaborated with Paige on the design.


Several of you will also receive fat quarter bundles that I put together from some of the Bon Vivant fabric Paige sent.

Thanks for being so generous when sending giveaway items, Paige!

To enter for your chance to win any of the giveaway prizes, leave a comment on this post. Only one entry per person, please. All duplicate entries will be deleted.

I will draw the winners using the Random Number Generator on Friday, March 18, 2011!


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