Designer Tidbits: Renee Nanneman + Giveaway - The Jolly Jabber Quilting Blog

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Designer Tidbits: Renee Nanneman + Giveaway

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Chateau Chambray, Renee Nanneman’s newest collection for Andover Fabrics, is filled with vintage motifs and soft colors. Before you know it, you will be itching to escape to a country side chateau overflowing with rose gardens. Add a sprinkle of vintage charm to your next sewing project with Chateau Chambray and enter below to win a bundle!

Q: To what or whom would you dedicate this collection, or what inspired this collection?
A:My creative friend, Carol Spinski, is an inspiration blogger, photographer and antique shop owner. Carol deserves full credit for discovering the vintage French comforter at an antique sale. I’d arrived at Carol’s charming farmhouse to do a quilt photo session and she showed me her most recent antiquing find, an old rose medallion comforter. Carol surprised me when she asked if I’d like to borrow it to develop a new fabric line. I thought it would be a perfect “mother” to launch a fabulous new fabric line. The blue stripes of the background were a perfect chambray blue color tone. With the lovely shades of red and pink in the roses, I could visualize another colorway in chambray red. Thus, thinking in French, I could visualize a French chateau. French doors in a bedroom open to a balcony, an antique bed covered in gorgeous linens, and quilts created from the rose medallion fabrics. After searching through my antique quilts and fabric scraps, I found some perfect companions for the comforter. Chateau Chambray was born.

Q: What is your favorite project using this collection?
A:My sewing yardage has just arrived, so I don’t have a project started just yet. I’ve got a basket quilt design in mind for this group. The neutral prints are going to make great backgrounds. I love my groups to be “mixy – matchy”, meaning that even though there are three colorways, they can cross over and all work together. A lot of thought and planning goes into making my groups nice and “tight”, so that a beautiful quilt can be created with a scrappy feel.

Q: What would be your collection’s theme song?
A:If we’re looking for a song because of the music and mood it provokes I would think “Romance” since Chateau Chambray is certainly a romantic group. Let’s try a little Classical music, George Gershwin and Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana.

If we’re wanting a song for its title I would choose Open Arms by Journey. I saw the antique comforter, it opened it’s arms to me and I was immediately in love.

Q:If you could live in a movie, what movie would it be?
A:I’ve always loved Out of Africa. Just let me sit on the porch and listen to the phonograph one more time. The music touches my soul. Love the costumes & hats.

Also, a relatively new Masterpiece Theater hit in England and the U.S is Downton Abbey. Women’s clothing of the post WWI era are full of dressmaker details & embellishment. Having traveled in England, the whole series comes alive in my mind and I’d love to travel back to that era.

Q:What do you get nostalgic over?
A:Remembering the times I spent with my grandparents. The feeling of unconditional love they provided. My maternal grandfather taught me to tie my shoes, tell time, play checkers & make homemade lemonade. My paternal grandfather was a patient man & taught me the love of feeding birds & just sitting at the window to watch their antics. My paternal grandmother taught me how to count money with a jar of change & fun games. She took me visiting older people so I learned the importance of “sit and visit”. My maternal grandmother taught me to embroider and sew, how to make pies and fried chicken and she was my best friend until I was 39 and she was 89. I thank them all for being where I am today.

Q:What is your favorite TV show of all time?
A:My favorite show depends on the era. As a kid, I Love Lucy, in high school in the 1970’s, All in the Family & The Cosby Show, Dallas  in the 1980’s, PBS TV in the 1990’s. Now I watch more news TV than ever with an occasional CSI and Criminal Minds. Oh, and of course, Dancing with the Stars.

Q:What’s the strangest compliment you’ve ever received?
A:I don’t think I remember a “strange” compliment. For years, when I was designing counted cross stitch patterns, non-needlework people would say, “How’s your needlepoint business?” Little do they understand the difference between needlepoint, cross stitch, embroidery, rug hooking, quilting, crochet or any other type of needlework. It’s all “needlepoint” to them!

As if you need any more sweetness, Andover Fabrics is giving away a bundle of Chateau Chambray to one of our lovely readers.  Leave a comment below letting us know where you want your country side chateau to be for a chance to win.  A winner will be chosen on Tuesday 11/20. Good luck!

211 comments

  3. Considering how much I would love to have a hobbit house (me sized, of course), I would have to say somewhere in New Zealand. The country side there is so beautiful!

  4. I would love to have a chateau on the water somewhere. I could sit on the veranda with my coffee watching the shorebirds.

  11. I would want my countryside chateau to be on Lake Starnberg in Germany. One of my very good friends lives near there. These fabrics are absolutely lovely!

  13. Wouldn't it be lovely to h ave a Country side Chateau?? I've not traveled out of the country much, but maybe Italy, or Switzerland. Some place that is beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway.

  15. Well since we're dreaming (we are just dreaming, right) I would like to pick up my French Country Chateau and plop it down next to a river in Iowa. Okay I've never been to Iowa, but I have visions of covered bridges and rural settings and sweet old fashioned country towns. (If anyone lives there already – please don't spoil my fantasy!)
    – sunshdws at yahoo dot com

  18. I'm staying in the good ole USA. My country side "chateau" is in a little historic town in South Louisiana and sits on a bayou! Laissez les bon temps rouller!

  20. I'm from Portugal and the country side here is beautiful. I'd like to have my country side " Chateau" in the South of Portugal in a little village called " Altura".

  21. Hard time choosing between England or France… But I think I would go for somewhere on the English countryside…with beautiful flower gardens around…and me drinking tea in the garden!!!:0)))

  30. a country side chateau high on the hillside by beautifull downtown seward, alaska where i live would sit by the window admiring the view as i ply my needle, sewing a fine seam.

  32. As winter draws close, all I can think is that I'd like it to be someplace with a sunny, temperate climate. Maybe Santa Barbara?

  34. I'd love my "countryside chateau" to be my current house in its current location only with a complete facelift. Fabulous from basement to roof.

  51. The blue ridge parkway would be the choice for my country side chateau!

    sowingstitches [at] yahoo [dot] com

  53. I would choose for mine to be somewhere near Nashville in the rolling countryside. Close to the city, but in the country, and close to my daughter!
    lisamcgriff(at)hotmail(dot)com

  56. I visited Luxembourg a couple of years ago and it looked like a fairy tale kingdom to me, so I'd love to have a chateau there! What a beautiful place and such a welcoming bunch of people 🙂

  66. My Chateau would close to Sables D'Olonne in the Vendree region of France. We holiday close this area of France each year and I'd love my own Chateau there.

    A beautiful part of France, lots of the kids to do and within easy driving distance of the Ferry from Ireland.

    Ohh, I'm making myself wish for next Summer already.

    The fabric is fab, would love it!!

  67. The colors are beautiful, Piled the way they are, they look like a beautiful, old, vintage pillowcase I had once upon a time. I would love to win your giveaway.

  73. Anywhere in the Northeast…Vermont, Maine, PEI….just so long as it comes with someone to shovel snow…and an unlimited supply of cocoa! 😀

  77. I'd want my chateau somewhere close to my children & their families, most likely in Alabams. And if the land was large enough, we could each have our own chateau,just the right size for each family. Separated by nice tree lines so each family had their own privacy, but close enough to visit when we wanted to.

  78. I would love to spend some time in the English countryside – and from there be able to travel to Ireland, Scotland, and France when the whim takes me. So much history there and I do so love history.

  80. Renee , This fabric looks beautiful. I think i would like a chateau some where in the mountains of the good ole USA. Thanks so much for the giveaway. The winner is going to be a lucky girl! Janita

  83. Would love to have a house on the side of a mountain near Highlands,NC. It wouldn't have to be a big house, just one with a view.

  84. Not sure about a château, but a log cabin would be nice in northern WI or in the mountains of the Carolinas. Thanks for the give-away.

  85. I would love a chateau somewhere in Switzerland, but to really enjoy it often I would have to say anywhere in the Georgia Mountains.
    That way I would do many weekends and weeks up there and don't have to fly 10 hours first.

  87. What beautiful fabric.
    It may seem odd, and I don't really know about a chateau, but I would love to be in the mountains of Tzfat, Israel (Jerusalem would be great too).
    If here in the US definitely a log cabin on a lake

  92. I would love to have a chateau at Lake Tahoe!!
    Thanks for the chance to win some of this beautiful fabric.
    Tami
    tamiquilts at att dot net

  94. My chateau is my confortable farm house here on our cattle ranch.
    The hills and woods are beautiful at all seasons, and the wildlife is plentiful. Our summer garden has provided food enough to last the winter. Jars of canned green beans, red beets, yellow peaches and purple blackberry jam fill my pantry shelves. The colors inspire my quilting passion as I choose beautiful fabricssuch as these.

  95. If I could pick anywhere in the world for my chateau, it would be Scotland. Realistically, I would love these in my hopefully not so distant future with my 1920s bedroom set and family heirloom pillow cases and towels here in southern Missouri.

  97. If I could pick anywhere in the world for my chateau, it would be Scotland. Realistically, I would love these in my hopefully not so distant future with my 1920s bedroom set and family heirloom pillow cases and towels here in southern Missouri.

  98. Is there such a place that the temperature is 78 all the time and it rains only at night and it is sunny every day?? I'd like it to be there!!

  109. I loved when we visited Costa Rica. Everything was so green and life just seemed a little more calm and peaceful. Having such beautiful vegetation and wildlife all around reminds the soul to be creative, just like our Master Creator!

  112. My chateau would have to be in the Methow Valley in Washington State on a river bank. Beautiful hot summers followed by enchanting snowy winters. My idea of heaven.

  116. Hmmm . . . difficult. I would say maybe the northern parts of the UK. I would love to have one with a garden full of various wildflowers and herbs. I can picture it now . . .

  121. My country-side chateau would be in the White Mountains of NH. I dream of living there and a chateau sounds a bit nicer than the condo I've been envisioning!

  123. It is too hard to choose where my chateau should be — Ireland, my hometown of San Francisco, Tuscany, Provence, Loire Valley, Carmel-by-the-Sea….Any of these would be perfect!

  124. I would love a chateau style home in Ireland, or better still, Downton Abbey. Thanks for the chance to win these beautiful fabrics.

  136. My family had a chateau style home on a lake up in northern Minnesota. So, I would be happy to be at home just enjoy sewing with this fabric in my "retreat" up…stairs!

  137. My countryside chateau would be away from the city but not so far as to be isolated, set back from the road enough that the traffic is not readily heard, with nice windows to allow beautiful views, and a customized area for my studio. soparkaveataoldotcom

  139. …anywhere peaceful and where my grandchildren can be close by.
    I was tempted to say the south of France until I was so touched by Renee's memories of time spent with and lessons learned from her grandparents. My husband and I are blessed to be creating those memories with our precious granddaughters, with a grandson on the way early next year.

  142. I would love my chateau to be in France, but the commute to work would be a doozy. Take my chateau and move it to Northern Wisconsin and we have a deal. Thanks for the give away!

  148. Greetings from Northern Saskatchewan CANADA! I would love a chateau style home here on my beautiful farm! Thanks for the chance to win these beautiful fabrics.

  149. Some place by a lake, with lots of oaks and wild life. My husband also thinks everything I do is knitting, wether its sewing, weaving or knitting,it's all knitting to him.
    Mary

  150. Daydreaming. I love Barcelona but we have a gorgeous piece of our mountains here in Southern Utah. My dream is to replace our trailer with a wonderful chateau for all the family to enjoy.
    Love the colors of the collection. Thanks.

  156. I'd just love to have a chateau! Perhaps in the Appalacia mountains of North Carolina…

    Thanks for the chance to win such a beautiful line of fabric.

  171. I would love my Chateau to be on the coast in Cornwall, UK in Port Issac. It would be like a castle and I would be the princess quilting with my Chateau bundle.

  172. I would like my chateau somewhere in Colorado where there is snow but not cold, preferably no snow on the roads–just the mountains, but just up the hill from a fun quilt shop, so I could sled down for a quickie!
    Becky at momba54@aol.com

  173. I think I would love to have a chateau in the Smoky Mountains. Far enough away to make it special, but close enough that I could go often.

  176. I would not care where it was exactly but I know exactly what it would look like. Ever since seeing the "Snow White Discovers the Cottage" painting done by Thomas Kinkade I have known if I ever found enough money to buy/build a cottage in the woods it would be exactly like this picture http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.catalog.web.tk.CatalogServlet?catalogAction=Product&productId=205771&menuNdx=0.5 including the ltitle wooden walk bridge and the stream/waterfall adn wildflowers. Ok maybe Snow White wouldn't be there but the deer would wander through.

  177. I'd love a chateau right here in the USA in the mountains anywhere near Jackson Hole, WY. It would have to have a sewing room and also a nice comfy living room chair that has a view of snow covered mountains.

  179. I would choose either France or Scotland- though I think a cottage in the mountains of Alberta close to home would be quite grand.
    Thanks for the chance to win some lovely fabrics.
    Regards from Western Canada,
    Anna

  181. In the states I'd like to be in Montana (visited there for the first time last year – it was beautiful)…otherwise in Tuscany Italy (will be visiting there next year!) Thanks for a chance to win this yummy fabric.

  182. Love, love this line – such soft gorgeous color! Are there Chateau's outside of France?? I'm not sure I've ever even seen one but as long as I'm dreaming about one – it would have to be in France :0) Thanks for the chance to win.

  184. In Cruis, France (Provence Region)! Me and my husband were lucky enough to get a paid trip to Europe a few years back by my husbands uncle who is an artist. He needed my husband's expertise on art installation so he paid for us to go along. We visited Italy, Switzerland and France while there. My favorite place was Provence! We stayed in a quaint hilltop village farmhouse in Cruis. It was by far the most beautiful place in the world!
    Rafflecopter name:Mechele JOhnson

  195. Mine would be in the Texas Hill Country, with a gorgeous view of the surrounding countryside, not to mention the sunsets…

  196. I would love for my Chauteau to be on my brother's farm in Florida, USA. There's room there for both a pool and a pony (as mentioned in that wonderful BBC programme).

  199. Hello, we have in my small town a little baroque style chateau,surrounded by a large botanical garden. I would like to live in such a serene place and enjoy the silence.
    Hugs, Simone from Romania