Fabric is in Jan Shore’s blood. She says she can’t recollect a time when she didn’t sew, and she’s been surrounded by quilters her entire life. An interest in antique textiles inspires her traditional quilting fabric style, and a passion for color drives her palette.
Quilting: A Family Affair
Jan describes both her mother and grandmother as masterful seamstresses, and says that sewing scraps were used for quilts. “My mom and grandmother made quilts for warmth, and I started making quilts because they were. Their interests were my interests.” In fact, Jan says she can’t recollect a time when she didn’t sew!
Fabric and quilting is not only in Jan’s bloodlines, but she also married into a quilting family. Her husband, artist Jim Shore, is well-known for his folk art designs, and was influenced by his master quilter grandmother. “We have a huge collection of quilts,” Jan says. “Jim uses quilt patterning in his designs and I design fabrics that are great for quilters.”
Jan’s love of quilts led her to collect antique fabrics and sample books from old factories. With those resources, fabric design was a natural next step. “Seeing the amazing fabrics that were created in the early 1800s, I thought designing would be a great way to update those fabrics for use today,” she says. “I love French fabrics, so taking the old designs, changing the colors, and rearranging the patterns was a natural progression for me.” Her new collection, Orleans, has a French provincial feel. The prints include intricately detailed flowers, medallions, small buds, a stripe, and pin dots.
All About Color
“I’m a blue girl and always have been!” Jan says. She remembers her mom ended up making everything for her childhood bedroom because it needed to be blue. The color palette of Orleans features blue, as well as primary reds and yellows—a bright, fresh take on a classic style. The fabrics play well together and can also be used in a limited palette, such as blues and yellows. Expect to find blue in most of Jan’s quilts: her affection for the color means that Jan has “a special place in my heart for the blue floral patterns in Orleans.”
She finds satisfaction in playing with the colors and placement in her fabric collection. “As a quilter, I’m always trying to make sure the designs are right for quilters. Which, ideally, would mean there aren’t any scraps left over!”