The collection that made me cry.
You know that I adore being a surface pattern designer. But today I am going to share with you a project that for me was bittersweet.
It’s totally unoriginal to say “I can’t believe how fast it went” when talking about your first born. But I just learned for myself how painfully true it is. How can I have a child off at college when I was just there? I can still remember exact assignments from a class syllabus, and the smell of my dorm room. And now she is that girl.
Pictured: My first baby, Olivia, and me.
2023
I learned to quilt when Olivia was little. The first quilt I ever made, I gave to her. It was a sampler quilt in an odd size. It’s not awful, but she never loved it. So I told her I would make her a new one before she went off to school (you know, because that was years away!) But the time flew and by now I had learned how to design fabric. Naturally, I now not only had to make her a new quilt, but design all the fabric myself. (Who does that?) And each of the designs would be meaningful and beautiful.
So I did it. Every pattern has a hidden design, or a title, or a motif meant especially for her. “Kikue Blooms” is a floral; her middle name is Kikue, meaning chrysanthemum in Japanese. “Familiar Lines” is a geometric print composed of lines you find on basketball court; she played point guard for her high school varsity team. “Best Buds” is the fabric I created for the binding … you know, because she will always be one of my very best friends. And you know what? I absolutely loved designing this collection.
Pictured: Completed top quilt pieced by Erin in fabric from Kikue Chrysanthemum collection designed by Erin Silliman Designs
I have a shop on Spoonflower where I was able to upload my designs and have fabric printed in these custom designs. (Spoiler alert: these prints are all now available for you too on Spoonflower, as well as Cloth Cuts Co Australia!) I finished hand binding her quilt in our “Best Buds” print just days before she left for college.
Does she like this quilt, does she use it, does it mean as much to her as it does to me? Well, I suppose we don’t really know, because she lives a million miles away. *Cue teardrop.*
There is something magical in hand making a quilt, or a garment, or a handbag for another person. There is something about selecting the fabric and crafting it together just so for someone that creates a special connection. It is not only a treat for the receiver, but the giver of the gift. This quilt wasn’t just for my daughter, it was something I needed too.
Kikue Chrysanthemum by Erin Silliman Designs, Sunshine Delight Colorway
I’ve made these prints available to shop on Spoonflower and Cloth Cuts Co Au. There are 9 prints, each in 3 colorways. I hope they inspire you. Hang out with me here in the comments or over on Instagram (hint: for a shortcut to posts about this collection on Instagram you can use #kikuecollection.) I’d love to hear which prints are your favorite and what projects you will be making. Or better yet, send me an email and tell me about what you are working on.
*I have personally taken the class linked above called, The Art of Selling on Spoonflower Successfully. This is an affiliate link, thank you for your support!