Tell us about yourself.

I was born a few miles from downtown Los Angeles. My journey then took me northward to Berkeley and San Francisco in the 60’s and then back & forth across the US. I finally ended up 2 years ago in a quiet Western Massachusetts town of 1,200 people.  I’ve been through so many moves, 28 times with my husband since we’ve been together, but lots & lots of adventures along the way! 

What inspires you?

I’ve always loved design & color, so when I started designing fabric for Henry Glass Fabrics in 2012 it was a continuation of this colorful journey.  I started sewing when I was 13.  I worked that summer & took my hard-earned pay to buy fabrics to make my school clothes.  In the 60’s I even made a zebra print jumpsuit with bell sleeves and bell bottoms in a nod to Cher.  Certain colors really resonate with me - aqua & turquoise being my favorites.  I even write with a pen with turquoise ink!  My house and shed both have aqua doors & the shed has aqua shutters.

Tell us about your fabric.

My newest collection, Dorothy Jean’s Flower Garden, is a tribute to my dear lifelong friend, Dorthy Jean a/k/a Jeanie.  She showed me what true friendship meant.  I tried to incorporate beautiful flowers to honor her beautiful soul. 

Earlier this year Renaissance Garden was shipped.  I’ve been working on some new machine embroidery designs to compliment these fabrics. 

I’ve been designing machine embroidery CD’s for a few years now.  Right now, I’m working on a new one of Halloween designs.  I love machine embroidery.  It gives my hands a little break from all the hand stitching I do. 

For the past few years, I’ve been designing for several Facebook SAL’s (Sew-Alongs).  I love wool applique on a cotton background.  There is something about the feel of wool.  It is luxurious and so forgiving when you applique with it.  The richness of the colors of hand-dyed wools - WOW!  It really makes me want to buy some dye & dye pots and try my hand at creating my own colors but then I think - “I don’t need another addition!” and “Where could you possibly fit it in your already overflowing workspace?”.  Guess I’ll stick to paying other people to send me pretty colors for now.

What advice do you have for the new maker? 

The best advice I can give you is to follow your heart.  I remember when I was little, I had a coloring book with pages and pages of bunnies just waiting for some creative coloring.  I made some of the bunnies brown and gave them pink clothes and also did some coloring that included pink and red.  I remember my Mom telling me that pink and brown and pink and red didn’t go together.  Now my Mom was a wonderful parent with a gentle spirit so I really took her critique to heart.  She wasn’t one to tell you things to do or ways to do it, so this rare declaration made me wonder.  Forward to me as an adult - in my crayon box - I think any color goes together if it makes you happy.  We are all different and see colors and life differently, so be yourself and make your own color dreams come to life.  (Sorry Mom)

Learn more about Designer Mary Jane Carey here.