very Brave by Anna Maria Horner
If I had one artistic hero, it would be Anna Maria Horner. I first became enamored of her fabrics, of course. Then I was lucky enough to read her blog when she used to write it, way back when. For sure it was one that inspired me to start my own. Over the years I have admired how she allows her private life to flow into her art and how she shares pieces of that publicly, like the collection she designed when her mother died or, more recently, the collection called Brave.
In the past few years Anna Maria divorced. She chose to part ways from a home and a way of life that had been formed over many years. Somewhere in all that, she designed this collection. I can’t help but see the connection between it and her brave life choices.
“I have long relied on my photos, sketches, doodles, and plans to begin any new collection of fabric and found the hunt and gather process to be comforting. However, when I approach other creative endeavors, such as a wall mural, all I do is gather the paints and brushes and simply begin. It is that other approach - that brave approach - that inspires this collection.
I made no plans or sketches and used no photographic references, I just trusted my hand and my eye. The beauty in this freeing style, is that the art feels like it has drawn itself. My Brave collection celebrates letting yourself completely give in to color, form, beauty and to chance. Hand-drawn pathways and imaginary florals in stimulating palettes dance through small & simple as well as large & complex designs. I’m inviting you to be BRAVE and let the spontaneity into your patchwork and sewing!”
And, do you know, that yesterday she got married! What a brave and beautiful choice. Congratulations and much happiness, Anna Maria!
After my own divorce was decided this May, I was flooded with energy for new projects. It was then that I contacted Freespirit Fabrics to request Brave by Anna Maria Horner for my next quilt. The fabrics and colors are super inspiring, and I’m so glad that it’s time to get started.
This Giggle print is darker tones, is definitely one of my favorites.
I am also quite smitten by Petaloutha in both color ways.
I am going to sew these Brave fabrics as the Tangential Star block, which I originally designed for my Angled class quilt.
Tangential quilt is a cumulative quilt that weaves together all the skills for sewing triangles, diamonds and other angles taught in my Angled course. I am planning to encore this course again this fall, with a start date of September 4th. Maybe you’ll join us?
The Tangential Star would make a pretty quilt all by itself, don’t you think? That’s what I’ll be exploring this July.
I’m imagining these moody solids as the background colors for the star blocks and the showy purple prints as a possible border for blocks set on point. We’ll see what happens! With such showy, passionate fabrics, it will be an adventure for sure.
At right are my selections for the first block! Plus at left is a refresh group of Love Always basics also by Anna Maria Horner, ready to mix in with Brave as supporting prints. Fun, fun!
p.s. You can find Brave fabrics at The Confident Stitch, Fat Quarter Shop and Sojo Fabric.