Laura is the designer behind the wonderfully Brightly Blooming fabric which she has produced for Moda Fabrics. Laura has always been interested in design and has also sewed since a young girl so it made sense to design fabric! Laura is a mum of 3 and lives in Utah USA. She loves quilting and one of her quilts ‘Afternoon Garden’ was made with her Mother and Grandmother. How amazing to make a quilt with your family and with fabric you designed!
Read more about Laura and her fabric designs and who she would like to design something for!
Who/what inspired you to take up design and how old were you?
I have always been an artist from a young age, and have also grown up sewing since I was 9 or so. Fabric has always been a love of mine, so blending artistry and fabric has been a dream of mine for many years. I am fairly new to fabric design, but have been a professional, full time artist for over 4 years.
What was your first successful design
My first fabric line for Moda Fabrics (Brightly Blooming) has been a big hit! The big bold fabric design “Flower Party” is the star of the line and a personal favorite!
What inspires your designs?
My paintings are very nature inspired. I love flowers and living things. I also really try to soak up the colors and textures that stand out to me in the world around me. I use a lot of cheerful color because that is something that brings me joy personally.
Do you have a favourite designer current or past?
Oh there are so so many favourites out there, but a few people’s art that draw me in right now are Alexia Marcelle Abegg’s work for Ruby Star Society. She has such a vintage feel and a fabulous eye for colour. I want to hoard all her new fabric designs! I also really fell in love with Anna Maria Horner’s work. It is so vibrant and happy and just makes me want to make everything more eclectic and colourful in my home as well!
I am super excited to get some of Maureen McCormick’s new fabric line, because it is so fun and reminds me of all the gorgeous vintage linens that made me feel so at home in my Grandmother’s house.
The soft tones in Vanessa Goertzen’s new line Folk Tale are so cozy I can’t wait to get my hands on some!
I honestly could list all of the designers for Moda fabrics right now because they are all so talented, I can hardly believe I get to work alongside so many rockstars!!!
When did you learn to sew?
I started sewing pretty young. I think I was about 9 years old when my mom enrolled me in sewing school. My mom and my grandma were such amazing sewing coaches as well, always willing to help me plan out my next project or troubleshoot anything that I needed help with. I was a very lucky girl!
You are very creative – sewing, designing – what is your favourite?
That is such a tough question!! Painting really is my true love, so if I was forced to choose one only I would have to choose painting… But I would surely miss the soft fabrics an all the pretty designs. I truly love planning out sewing projects and watching my creations come to life! Working with my hands really is so rewarding and sewing is such a cathartic thing for me. It feels very meditative.
What do you consider your best piece of work ?
Well, in all honesty my family & kids are my greatest work. I am a mother of three and each one took a lot of blood sweat and tears to get them here. Family means everything to me and there isn’t anything in this world that make me feel more loved and joyful than my husband & kiddos. Having a happy family is a full time job and so that is why I constituted it as “work” because it really is the work I dedicate most of my life to and am most proud of.
What is your favourite tool or gadget?
I love little simple things that make sewing easier. I recently started using this cool washi tape that marks ¼” on your sewing machine as a guide. I love how easy it is to take off and reapply, and it really does help me sew more accurately. I also can’t live without clips. They make so many projects easier to manage, especially bags and working on binding a quilt. I recently started using a new Martelli Brand hydraulic cutting table & ergo rotary cutter that I really like! They take strain off of my back and wrist when I have a lot of cutting to do.
Do you have a favourite colour to work in?
I am a sucker for fuchsia, and all the blue and turquoise tones…. I just can’t get enough! I also LOVE adding pops of metallic into my work!
What type of fabric would you choose to work with?
I love a high quality quilting cotton! That is why I am so thrilled to have my artwork printed with Moda. They always have such high standards of quality, and the fabric is so luxurious and soft! I am also super excited about the primo knit fabrics in my upcoming fabric line Moody Bloom! They are so so soft and well made. I love sewing with knits and making all kinds of clothing with it, so that is super exciting to me!
My advice to a new designer would be ………………….?
Know that your unique style has value and a place in this world! I would also tell them to just go for your dreams!!! If you are willing to work hard and put yourself out there you’ll find your people. You have to take a leap of faith to get to the next level and you just have to do it scared rather than wait for the “perfect time”.
What is the piece of work that has driven you mad/been a disaster?
I don’t have a specific piece that has been a huge problem for me. But one thing that does trip me up is when I am creating something but am not in a “good creative atmosphere or headspace”. I need to get into the groove and be really jazzed about what I am doing or my work just doesn’t have the life and good vibe that I try to create with it.
Who (famous person alive or historical) would you love to create something for and what would it be?
Oh wow, I don’t know who I would pick? Probably one of my favorite musicians… I wouldn’t be too scared to make something for them because they are a creative person, but I would be so excited to know that my art was in their lives… Maybe, Sheryl Crow, Alisha Keys, Chris Stapleton or John Mayer.
What other hobbies or interests do you enjoy
I love playing all kinds of sports! I currently play Pickleball most days and compete in competitions. I also love to wake surf and boat. There is nothing more relaxing and fun than a sunny day on the lake, great music playing, hanging with the people I love!
What’s your best creative background music or what do you listen to when designing?
I tend to gravitate to more relaxing zen music when I am painting. My favorite playlist for that is called “The Most Beautiful Songs In The World” on spotify. I also really love curating music playlists for different creative moods… It’s a little hobby of mine.
Are you an early riser or a night bird?
I am definitely not a morning person. Sleep is a highly valued part of my life! Ha ha ha. I savor those evening hours when all my kids are tucked into bed and I get to hang with my husband or sneak in some more painting time or work on a personal project.
Who in the sewing/crafting/design world do you most admire?
I look up to Bari J a lot. She is killing it in the creative industry on so many levels and is a super versatile artist and designer. Her fabric collections are beautiful.
I also have a mild girl crush on Justina Blakeney of Jungalow. She is a powerhouse and a really hard worker. I love seeing strong women take their passions into the business world and make it a happier place!
I really enjoy everything that “The House That Lars Built” has been up to lately. I love her overall cheerful way of life, her gorgeous but casual dresses and her crafty spirit, and I love that she is Utah local!
I love the colourful landscapes of Jess Frank’s artwork. She is making so many beautiful things.
I am so enamoured by the floral design of Cultivated By Christin. She is a magician with flowers and I often get lost in her instagram feed.
Do you have a favourite made item from one of your designs?
I love the quilt called Afternoon’s Garden that I just finished with the help of my mother in law and my aunt. We all three worked together on the appliqué and it was so much fun! The floral appliqué blocks were hand drawn by myself and it was a really fun process designing the pattern in conjunction with Natalie Crabtree.
What was your proudest moment in your career?
Probably when my first fabric line was presented at Quilt Market last year. It was amazing to see in person the warm reaction of so many kind people and how they loved my designs and artwork! It really does mean so much to me to see how art can bring joy to anyone. It is humbling and so rewarding.
Do you make gifts or one off items for other people – if so what are they?
I am a big believer in handmade gifts! I think I sewed more for people last December for Christmas than I ever had before. I love doing that because it feel so much more heartfelt when someone takes the time to create something for you. I love to think about the person I am sewing or painting for and I feel like it brings me closer to them. One of the most fun projects from last Christmas was making zipper pouches out of my fabrics for each of my nieces and nephews, siblings and parents. It was simple but so much fun!
Laura’s new Fabric Line: Moody Bloom, hits stores in November 2020. This is a sister line to Brightly Blooming and has a huge bedding set panel that she adores!
Laura’s designs can be seen here:
Laura Muir Art – http://www.lauramuirart.com/
Create Joy Project – https://createjoyproject.co/
Instagram – @createjoyproject & @Laura_Muir_Art