Many of you will already be aware of the excitement surrounding Katy Jones’s (aka @Imagingermonkey) first fabric line. A Limited Edition collection with Art Gallery Fabrics that she named Priory Square.

We are very lucky to be good friends with the lady herself and so she couldn’t say no to an exclusive Northern event to launch the fabric to our lovely local (and not so local) customers.

On Friday evening we had a fantastic time with friends, family and customer alike. Much tea, coffee, mulled wine, mince pies and yuletide log were consumed along with lots of chatter and laughter. In reality although that was lovely we were all there to hear from Katy, so enough frivolity onto the main event.

Katy shared with us all the story behind her deciding to design her first fabric line and the preparation and ideas she put into it. We also got some insights into how the process works from the first glimpse of a collection, bringing together different ideas, through to the artwork process behind each print and to honing down the colour schemes. Then there’s the strike-offs and final signing off of the prints and whole collection with all the compromises that can bring!

Katy’s dry humour and enthusiasm for each of the prints and the stories behind them helped bring to life the whole collection. It even had some people changing their minds over their favourite prints. there were obviously some very taxing questions that had Katy having to think hard!

We were lucky enough to here about the ideas and inspiration behind each print in turn. From her love of flowers, all things traditionally British and her obsession with leopard prints.

How she used different techniques to create each of the prints. With the use of illustrator and playing about to give her unique, never to be repeated images. As well as getting to grips with repeats!

Even how she incorporated actual hand drawn images made with Katy’s fair hands.

We we’re very lucky to have a restock of the very popular Aurifil thread collection which co-ordinates beautifully with the fabrics. Katy here is looking mighty confused as to why they are not all 2615! Anyone who follows Katy and reads her blog will know that she is a huge fan of this shade of grey and cannot get enough.

In one last bit of news, we had a raffle for a Simply Solids goodie bag filled with treats from Aurifil, Soak & Art Gallery Fabrics as well as some items from the shop. We raised £40 in aid of the Huddersfield Down Syndrome Support Group and the winner was local sewing and fabric enthusiast Helen. Congratulations Helen.

I think that it just leaves us time to give a great big THANK YOU to Katy for taking time to come and visit us, especially on a Friday night. I know everyone there really enjoyed the night.

In case of you have yet to get your hands on this line, don’t hang about. Remember this is a Limited Edition collection which means that Art Gallery Fabrics will not reprint like they do with their other lines. So once it’s gone it’s gone.

Here’s a handy link RIGHT HERE, to all the Priory Square collection, including the eight cotton prints, the two knits, the voile and the Aurifil co-ordinating box sets. Just in time to treat yourself for Christmas.