I’ve always believed art should lift your mood. A flash of colour, a pattern that feels alive, a design that makes you pause for a second -- those are the moments I chase when I create. My new FreeSpirit collection, Vibrant Botanica, was born out of that desire: to capture the joy and energy of nature in fabric. I’m Catherine, the artist behind Kitty McCall (named after my grandmother), and this is the story behind the collection.

Vibrant Botanica grew from my deep love of colour and the natural world. I’ve been inspired by tropical landscapes, botanical gardens, and the abstract shapes you notice when you look closely at leaves, branches, or petals. For me, it’s about taking those organic forms and translating them into patterns that feel bold and modern pairing them with unexpected colour palettes, so they feel fresh and full of life.

When I begin designing, I usually start with sketches or painted marks, almost like fragments of an idea. From there, I layer shapes, test palettes, and play until something starts to hum with energy. It’s a real mix of structure and play the rhythm of nature expressed through a modern lens.

One of the things I love most about fabric design is that the story doesn’t end with me. Once the patterns are printed, they take on a new life in the hands of makers. I’ve seen my fabrics transformed into quilts, dresses, cushions, and bags, each one reflecting the vision of the person who made it. That collaboration where my designs become the canvas for someone else’s creativity is endlessly inspiring. It reminds me that art is at its best when it’s shared.

Photo Credit: Quilt by Aimee @sewingscientist

Inspiration, for me, comes from everywhere. Sometimes it’s a gallery visit or the brushstrokes of the old masters. Other times, it’s the way sunlight catches on a wall, or how colours clash. I think it’s important to look widely, to borrow inspiration if you need to as long as you push yourself to reimagine it in a way that feels new and personal. That’s how you find your voice.

Photo Credit: Quilt by Aimee @sewingscientist

If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone just beginning their creative journey, it would be this: experiment without fear. Try, play, test ideas, and don’t worry if not everything works. It’s in the process that you discover your style. Allow yourself to be influenced, but don’t stop until you’ve turned that influence into something that feels like it could only have come from you. That’s where the magic is.

Vibrant Botanica is, for me, an expression of joy of colour, tern, and the wild energy of the natural world. I can’t wait to see how others make it their own.

You can find more of my work at and follow along on Instagram @kittymccall