Windham Wanderlust

2026 has been an incredible year so far. One of the highlights has been having the oportunity (again), to work on pre-release ranges from Windham Fabrics. Last year with a push from my Bestie, I put my hand up to work on Jennifer Paganelli's range "Sweet Talk". Honestly I expected nothing to come of it, boy, was I wrong. Two Dotti's Castle prototypes, two Grand Duchess makes and a forest of Yuletide joy later I decided I really wanted that experience again!

So when I saw a call out to submit design concepts for the Best Day Ever range (Jennifer Paganelli by Windham) I had both hands waving (metaphorically speaking) before I could shoot off an email. Even though I have not promoted this range as much as the last one, that is only because life has been CRAZY, not because I don't love it. Because I really do.

What this years oportunity gave me, differently to last year, was the potential to be used in the release promotional materials! I had no idea this was even a thing, talk about the most exciting thing to happen to me. While I only got a few tiny images included (one of which wasn't even the correct range) I was so excited to be included. If that sounded salty - it was directed at myself, not Windham, my photography really wasn't up to snuff even though my makes were. I am still working through what original make I want to create for this range as well... the thoughts are a "She-shed" or a smaller version of the Dotti's Castle make thats about 80% of the size and with three drawers. For me, the Dotti's Castle project will be forever linked with Jennifer, so anything similar is going to have to be created in one of her fabrics lines. Another though was a bowl similar in size to the Jewel, but not the Jewel. Something that could be for rings, or sewing - the Best Day Ever range is feminine without being twee or girly. Basically my favourite type of floral (and the stripes!!! LOVE).

You can see the full catalogue here - https://issuu.com/windhamfabrics/docs/best_day_ever_by_jennifer_paganelli?fr=xKAE9_zMzMw

Around the same time I was excitedly emailing off my proposals to Windham for Jennifer's range, Sally Kelly was asking Windham to contact me to see if I wanted to work on her pre-released. ME!!! Little old me with my studio in the middle of a paddock! That was a sight unseen YES! I have worked parallel to the textile quilting industry for over twenty years, and one of my idols asked for me. Won't lie, the dysregulated nervous system took over and there was a wee bit of hand flapping and jumping going on while my brain struggled to keep up.

Full catalogue can be viewed jere - https://issuu.com/windhamfabrics/docs/cosmos_by_sally_kelly?fr=xKAE9_zMzMw

The downside in all of this was time, or a sheer lack of it. I was already physically and mentally exhausted, I hadn't had a day off in quite literally six months and the manic side of my personality thought I could do it all... we've all been there. So once the FedEx came I had ten days to make and photograph my makes for Windham. The only thing I was disappointed in was my photography and that I only managed two makes for Jennifer's range. FIVE MAKES IN TEN DAYS - Yup, I did that. While I was waiting for the delivery to arrive I contacted Sally (to say thank you and) to see what she had in mind from my pattern library. She selected a few and I knew as soon as she suggested Oberon's Vase, it really was the most PERFECT choice. It's a little tricky to tell from the photo, but the side panels are made from different colourways of the same print. I still owe you a Grand Duchess! I have not forgotten.

At first I wasn't sure what I was planning to make with Sally's range, the print scales were larger than I was expecting and a lot of my projects are better with smaller scale designs. This certainly pushed me to look at the designs, and challenged how I look at prints, I am so glad it did. How incredible does my Jewel bowl look in this space print?!

One thing I had in my mind, was to really lean into the artist vibe (Sally Kelly is a painter) and create an artists cabinet for tools and materials. With that thought the Creator's Cabinet was born! It was also the perfect way to showcase my personal favourite print from the Cosmos collection.

What I love most about this project (aside from the feature print) is that you can use so many fabrics! So each of the drawers has a different outer, and inner fabric. I am really looking forward to clearing my desk of all projects that are nearly finished so I can get cracking on the pattern for this design. There will be some changes, but all in all this was a super successful first make. I also have a great idea of making a - for lack of better word, book, out of this range. I can see it clearly in my minds eye, and will involve engineering a new technique and also employ my new hinge method. I just need a solid month to play and I will have it sorted! So there you have it, and its documented for prosperity, the year I made it into not one, but two Windham release catalogues. If I ever have the priviledge of doing this again, I hope I get a little more time to take photos that really do the projects justice. Photography is not my wheel house, it is something I am working on - but it is an art unto itself! Cass xx