Valori Wells on “Olive Rose”

Valori Wells, one of our favorite designers for FreeSpirit Fabrics, has released a new collection that shows her unique twist on traditional themes. It’s called Olive Rose, and it combines big, bold prints with a bright, almost bohemian palette. Read on about Valori’s inspiration for the line.

The Fabric
Olive Rose is a collection of fabric designed by Valori Wells for Free Spirit Fabrics. Originally inspired by Valori’s daughter Olivia Rose, this collection, two and a half years in the making, transformed from an idea to a stylist’s vision of an old favorite – the rose. The two color palettes Topaz and Ruby are infused with hues of blue, coral, orange, shell pink, and vintage browns and reds. The prints mix geometric and organic forms to bring you a truly romantic, bold, contemporary approach to a classic flower. Valori invites you to surround yourself, your fabric collection and your projects with “Olive Rose” – a modern classic.

A little about me
Valori is a professional quilter, author, fabric and pattern designer. Amongst these she also co-owns The Stitchin’ Post in Sisters, Oregon. The Stitchin’ Post was started by her mother 34 years ago and is one of the nation’s premier quilt shops. For over 10 years Valori has been presenting a new look to the quilting world and beyond, and her fabrics portray larger than life images inspired by nature in fresh colors. Details in her designs create an intimacy in pattern and colors. Being a quilter herself, Val is always designing quilts and sewing projects in the back of her mind as she paints a fabric design. As the author or co-author of 11 sewing and quilting books, Valori continues to find design through her photography and painting, striving to inspire the quilter and sewer. She lives in Sisters, Oregon, with her husband, Ross, their two daughters, Olivia Rose and Violette Grace, and Sophie the Cat.

My studio and my work
Six miles out of Sisters, Oregon, my family and I live on an acre of land at the edge of a canyon, overlooking a creek. My studio sits above our garage. It is a place for me to create and for my family to play. It has become a studio/ family room/ nursery, everything I have always wanted.

My fabric designs start with photos – I carry a camera where ever I go, always looking for something new, or something that looks new to me that day. My camera and sketch book are my constant companions as I travel through this life. From the photos my sketches begin transforming a flower to a stylized drawing. As I draw and re-draw to get to the perfect form and repeat, my mind filters through color ideas and painting techniques. The process of designing by hand gives me time to absorb and filter through all of the ideas.

Once the drawings are done I transfer them to canvas, illustration board, or paper to paint with acrylic or gouache. From there, the paintings are scanned and the other palettes are decided, then my labors of love are sent off to be printed.

As fabric arrives in the studio the girls and I play in the yardage as ideas for quilts and sewing projects fly through the air. It is always exciting in the studio whether I am working on projects, painting with Olivia, or playing with Violette. My studio is a place that I hold dear in my heart, a place that I hope my girls will remember as fun and creative even when Mom is working.