Aurifil for AGF: Katarina Roccella

It’s the second day for our Aurifil for AGF blog series! For the next 2 weeks, we’ll be introducing you to the talented designers of Art Gallery Fabrics, to herald their work, and shine a light on their fabulous thread collections. Back in 2015, we launched Aurifil thread boxes to match with the identity of each Art Gallery Fabrics designer. The best thing about this is that the threads aren’t specific to one fabric collection but rather were selected to match a designer’s signature palette. With that in mind, these collections work just as well with the brand new fabric collections as they did with those that released back in 2015. Pretty amazing, right? We hope you enjoy hearing more about these fabulous women AND don’t miss our super sweet giveaway!

Today, we meet Katarina Roccella of Like Flowers and Butterflies! Katarina’s Voluminous collection contains both 50wt and 40wt thread, making it absolutely perfect for piecing, quilting, apparel, and more! It is available in both Large and Small boxes for maximum versatility. The collections feature a gorgeous range of blues and neutrals with pops of pink and golden yellow, a stunning variety that help the threads to coordinate perfectly with both her Blithe and InBlue collections for Art Gallery Fabrics. We always love seeing what Katarina is up to, from her new quilt patterns, to her fabulous tops (often modeled by her daughter), to various items to decorate her home.

Voluminous, LARGE
12 Large Spools, 50wt (1422yds/spool) & 40wt (1094yds/spool)
2021 – 4670 – 5004 – 2309 (50wt)
2423 – 2530 – 2140 – 1240 – 2805 – 2783 – 1125 – 2835 (40wt)

Voluminous, SMALL
10 Small Spools, 50wt (220yds/spool) & 40wt (164yds/spool)
2805 – 1125 – 2835 – 2140 – 2783 – 2530 – 2423 (40wt)
5004 – 2309 – 2021 (50wt)

INTERVIEW
What first drew you to the world of sewing and quilting?
I was very found of sewing kids clothes since after getting my first daughter, 16 years ago, but the love for quilts is the more recent passion. I made my first quilt only 4 years ago.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I was a freelance graphic designer, printmaker and painter (doing mainly linocut prints, calligraphy, illustrations and paintings) and after getting my Master degree in Arts, I also worked as a teaching assistant for the Drawing and Painting at the Faculty for Philology and Arts for ten years. I am currently working toward my PhD in Applied Arts and Design and my goal is to implement printmaking, painting with the textile and quilt design.

Who or what has been your greatest creative inspiration?
Both of my parents and my sister are also artists (my father is a painter, mother is a pottery artist, while my sister is a production designer), so being surrounded by art and being craftsy was always a way of life for me.

How did you first make the connection with Art Gallery Fabrics and what does it mean to you to be part of the AGF family?
I created a portfolio of my designs and sent it to Art Gallery fabrics a few years ago. It lead to some interviews and Skype meetings.  Shortly after I found out they wanted to work with me. I feel very lucky and proud to be one of their licensed designers and part of their amazing creative family.

Tell us about your latest collections with Art Gallery. What inspired the designs?
My InBlue collection is inspired by Dutch culture and it’s famous Delftware and Delft Blue. It features European Decorative Arts in hand painted aquarelles filled with Dala horses, bicycles, hot air balloons and sweet florals.

When did you first discover Aurifil threads and what do you love most about them?
I started working with Aurifil thread when launching my first fabric collection with AGF: Indelible, that had the matching Aurifil designer collection that was named Indelible, as well.

Do you have a favorite color/weight and why?
Although the1148 would possibly be my all time favourite Aurifil color, and the most beautiful shade of teal blue, I am equally in love with the 1240 (deep plum). It was included in both of my Aurifil thread boxes: Indelible and Voluminous. Beside that color, my absolute must haves are 2021 and 5004. I am a huge fan of Aurifloss and all the different craft possibilities it offers.

Can you tell us a bit more about your signature Aurifil collection — why did you select the colors and the weights that you did?
For my latest, Voluminous collection, I’ve chosen the variety of neutral (whitish and greyish tones) tones in the 50 weight that is ideal for machine and hand piecing, while I have 4 favourite warm colours and 4 favourite cold tones in 40 weight, that is perfect for machine quilting and garment sewing.

What’s coming up next for you — what can we look forward to?
My latest fabric collection was previewed at Spring Quilt Market and I am so excited that is was incredibly well received, as it’s something I had in my mind for a very long time, but thought that might be a bit risky to do. I like challenges and different themes, and I am eagerly waiting for its reveal.

ABOUT KATARINA
Website – Blog – Instagram – Pinterest – Twitter – Facebook

Katarina was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, where she lives with her husband, who is Italian, and their three kids who are the true inspiration for her work. She has a Masters degree from the Faculty of Applied Arts, and has started on her PhD thesis in Applied Arts and Design. She was raised in an artistic family, so being “crafty” and creative is something that kept her company since her early childhood. Her father is a painter, her mother is a ceramic pottery artist, and her sister is a production designer. Growing up in such an environment, she often had opportunities to create and design and has continued throughout her life with an array of mediums like drawing, illustrating, calligraphy, graphic design, linoleum printing, photography, and more recently, sewing.

Her shift to sewing came about with the birth of her first child. She was home often, with a need to create. She repaired her mother’s vintage sewing machine and soon upgraded to a serger. She was off and running and in a few short years, was led to drafting her own patterns. Her pattern label, “Like Flowers and Butterflies”, was born in 2006. Lately she is lured by quilts and quilting. She loves making quilt blocks and enjoying the process of experimenting with various quilting techniques. She blogs about her creative adventures at Like Flowers and Butterflies.

AURIFIL FOR AGF GIVEAWAY

Today’s post marks the launch of a super fab giveaway featuring both Aurifil threads and Art Gallery Fabrics. One lucky Grand Prize winner will take home 1 LG Art Gallery thread collection of his or her choosing + 1 SM Art Gallery thread collection + a bundle of Art Gallery Fabrics. Two runners up will take home 2 SM Art Gallery thread collections each. All in all, SO much fabulous fabric & thread, so many fun new projects to plan! The giveaway is open from now through 11:59pm on Friday, June 30th, at which point we’ll select 3 random winners. We’ll email winners directly and will also announce on every post in the series. This giveaway is open to our International friends as well! Simply follow the link below or click on the image above!

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Allison Evrard, our Grand Prize Winner!! Congratulations also to Sarah Jasinski and Lynn Brown, our runners up! We had so much fun with this one — thanks to all who entered and followed along with us!

SCHEDULE
Sunday, June 11 — Intro
Tuesday, June 13 — Sharon Holland
Wednesday, June 14 — Katarina Roccella (you are here!)
Thursday, June 15 — Jeni Baker
Friday, June 16 — Bonnie Forkner
Tuesday, June 20 — Caroline Hulse
Wednesday, June 21 — Maureen Cracknell
Thursday, June 22 — April Rhodes & Amy Sinibaldi
Friday, June 23 — Pat Bravo & Bari J

LOOKBOOK

ABOUT ART GALLERY
Website – Blog – Instagram – Pinterest – Facebook – Twitter – YouTube
Art Gallery Fabrics is a leading Manufacturer of Quilting & Sewing Textiles, and a Wholesale Supplier to Quilting, Home Decor, Sewing, and Apparel Industries. Many describe their style as “Contemporary Elegant” and it fits! They love to design fabrics that fit today’s modern lifestyle while adding a chic, sophisticated touch. Art Gallery works with a talented design team whose enticing color palettes & artful, intricate prints make the collections one of a kind.

[Photos courtesy of Katarina Roccella & Art Gallery Fabrics]