Janine Vangool’s debut collection for Windham Fabrics, UPPERCASE, is a collection of bright colors and geometric prints inspired by the spines from the many issues of her hugely popular UPPERCASE Magazine. Each issue of the magazine has featured a unique spine pattern with its own personality which Janine has taken and transformed into a fabric collection that showcases Uppercase’s truly unique style.
Janine’s coordinating Aurifil thread collection perfectly combines bold & bright colors with a handful of neutrals, making it an excellent collection not only for use with her fabric, but also in every day sewing & quilting.
[click on the image above to view the collection lookbook]
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
Uppercase
100% Aurifil Cotton, 50wt
Large – 1422yds each, 12 colors, Large Spools
1154 – 2277 – 2430 – 2140 – 5015 – 2860
5005 – 5006 – 2615 – 2625 – 2024 – 2692
For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
THE INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a little more about yourself and how you came into this wonderful world of textile design?
I’ve had an eclectic creative career, from working as a freelance graphic designer to teaching to having a line of wholesale greeting cards to sewing products to running my own gallery and bookshop. In 2009, I launched UPPERCASE, a quarterly print magazine for the creative and curious. It combines everything that I’ve learned and loved over the years so now publishing is my main focus. Each issue of the magazine has a unique pattern that goes on the spine, cover and throughout the issue, so after many years I had quite a nice collection of patterns. Through some good fortune and nice connections, I was able to pitch the idea of turning them into textiles with Windham Fabrics.
When did UPPERCASE first launch and what was the driving inspiration behind its creation? What do you most love about designing for, editing and publishing a print magazine?
Publication design—magazines and books—has always been my first love and is why I became a graphic designer. By producing my own publications, I have full control of the process from editorial through design through production. The magazine allows me to explore an infinite number of creative topics, so it is very inspiring and motivating.
How was the UPPERCASE spine design direction first determined and how did it inspire your debut fabric collection with Windham Fabrics?
The launch issue of the magazine had a polka-dot theme going on, so it was natural to start with an easy polka dot pattern. When conceiving of the first issue, I knew I wanted a magazine with some shelf presence—something with a bit of heft and width that could easily be identified on the shelf. The spine pattern and colour palette were developed with that in mind.
What was your favorite part about the process of designing a fabric collection?
It was great to have a head start on the design process since I had dozens of designs from which to create the collection. I enjoyed refining the colour palette to the essence of what UPPERCASE is known for.
What first drew you to Aurifil threads and how did you go about putting your first collection together?
I could scarcely believe my good luck to not only have my first fabric collection… but a collection of top quality threads, too? Pinch me! The colours were selected to coordinate with the UPPERCASE palette—either to blend well with the fabrics which are meant to be good basics for quilting, or to offer some exciting contrasting colours for top stitching and accents.
Do you have a go-to weight/color?
Not yet! I’m still new to the quilting world, so although I’ve admired for years, I’m only just learning how to quilt and am brushing up on my sewing skills. It’s fun!
Do you have any advice for designers who are just starting out?
Keep working and trying and experimenting and failing and trying again. That’s the foundation for your future success.
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win, simply click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page, or simply click on the image above. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Thursday, May 19! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Friday, May 20th. Good luck!
UPDATE (5/19): This Giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Brenda Patton!!
LEARN MORE ABOUT JANINE
Website — Blog — Facebook — Instagram — Flickr — Vimeo — Twitter — Pinterest
Janine Vangool is the publisher, editor and designer of UPPERCASE, a quarterly print magazine for the creative and curious. UPPERCASE publishes content inspired by design, typography, illustration and craft. Her magazine and books celebrate the process of making, the commitment to craft and the art of living creatively. Janine got her start working as a freelance graphic designer for arts and culture clients and has also taught typography and publication design at the college level. She has been a shop owner and bookseller, gallery curator, sold a line of greeting cards wholesale, made 10,000 books by hand (with lots of help!) and has sewn her own products for retail. She has a particular fondness for typewriters, a passion that has inspired a book about their graphic history. Her debut fabric collection is launching in June 2016 with Windham Fabrics. She is often asked, “Do you ever sleep?” To which she replies, “Yes! By the end of the day I’m exhausted!” She lives in Calgary, Canada with her board-game-designing husband and curious son.
[text pulled from UPPERCASE]
*All images by Kirstie Tweed