Star Light...
Last fall, Melody Miller launched her first textile line, Ruby Star Rising, with Japan based company Kokka and it took off like a shooting star. An artist and graphic designer, all her designs incorporate her own original illustrations based on retro pop culture icons like view masters and radios. The fabric is now flying off the shelves, locally here in Atlanta you can find it at Whipstitch.
I love seeing how and where creative people do what they do. Melody just happens to be my neighbor and is also married to my former student, photographer Gregory Miller. Melody is generous about sharing her process and I especially love this recent inspiring blog post.
Since she works from home she often uses her dining room as a workspace. She started designing before she learned to sew, figuring a reliable seamstress could not be hard to find. When that proved not to be the case, she took lessons and also taught herself by sewing little animals.
Also a devotee of estate sales she seeks out vintage buttons, thread and other notions whenever she gets the chance. They perfectly compliment her fabric's vintage inspired motifs.
Good storage and organization are key for her in making her home also a successful work space. This great iKea cabinet with etched frosted glass front is a pretty way to hide away supplies.
Click above to see the full shoot in this little slice of Fresh Pie. Along with more of Melody's house, her beautiful daughter Iliana shows off a sweet little skirt that Melody whipped up. She even drew up an easy & uber kawaii "how to". If you're on an iPad or like to share it on Facebook, then use this link.
Kawaii Giveaway Time!
We have two giveaways in one so please read carefully! This adorable "tooth cushion" car pillow is one of Melody's newest designs. She made this one just for the giveaway, the front is entirely made of silk and the back her own popular transistor radio pattern. The pocket is perfect for the your child's tooth and even includes a cute little card to leave for the tooth fairy.
Prize #2 is a do it yourself project. The winners will recieve the pattern for this cute elephant (not the actual elephant) "tooth cushion" and a "fat quarter" of Ruby Star Rising fabric to make it with. Along with "scraps" and your own imagination it is a fun project that even a semi- beginning sewer or advance crafter could try. If you can't wait and want to give this fun project a go, you can find her patterns on etsy.
How to Enter:
Please comment here on this post and tell me about your dream business, what would you do if you could wish upon a star? Don't forget to tell also mention if you prefer prize one (not everyone is handy with a needle), prize two or have are up for both! Be sure to include your email in the appropriate box (it will not be public) or you will not be entered. One comment entry per person, the winner will be chosen via random.org. You can earn an extra entry by tweating this post, be sure to mention @iheartpiewacket so I can track it and you can also follow Melody on twitter. You have till midnight March 31st to enter.
all photos & content © Lara Rossignol
Ruby Star Rising Images and Skirt How To Illustrations © Melody Miller
Kokka, Melody Miller, Ruby Star Rising, creative spaces, fabric, groovy, kunique kids clothing, retro, vintage Share Article Comments Off
Reader Comments (38)
My best friend and I have always dreamed up of owning a thrift/craft store. On one side you can find objects hand picked by us (we LOVE to thrift and could easily fill up a store full of stuff.. too bad we can't do that with our houses too. ;) and on the other side would be crafts made by us.
Brilliant. Wonderful. Inspiring! I just loved every page of your "slice of pie"! I have often though about
writing a book. I see myself in a little cottage by the sea scribbling away on a yellow pad but in truth, it is not a romantic task but one that takes discipline and diligence!
I am not at all crafty so sign me up for that adorable car!
My dream business would be to have my own private practice (I'm a counselor)...I would have a massage therapist on staff and healthy food to feel people lunch or snacks who come in for services.
I would like number one...I CANNOT sew!
I'm pretty much doing my dream right now- staying home with my child & running my own business creating handbags & accessories. However, I've always wanted a large piece of land to run an animal rescue & hope that some day I can pursue that goal!
I adore either prize!
thank you.
Oh man, my dream business would have to be a potpourri store - and not as in the smelly stuff, as in the Jeopardy topic where it's all a mishmash. I'd love to sell handmade/diy items, craft supplies, records, thrifted kitschy items - an independent department store is perhaps the right way to look at it?
Love those fabrics. I can't wait to go shopping for them at Whipstich. I live on the west side and your blog is my very favorite. Keep up the great posts and inspiring photography!
What a fun giveaway! Hmmm, I'd love to go to culinary school one day and have a semi-gourmet food truck that would make familiar eats but with a different twist.
I love the inspiration I find here! So awesome. My wish-upon-a-star dream is to be an avocado farmer/farm wife (I'm in love with Fallbrook, California, an agriculture area in San Diego County).
I'm needle-challenged, so I'll go with prize number one. Thanks!
Wow, I love your blog! What a beautiful house and what incredible fabrics! I collect those vintage sewing boxes and have one just like Melody's - so cute. Its not exactly a business, but if I could do whatever I wanted, I would love to create a museum of graphic design and spend my time roaming around looking for cool graphic stuff.
My dream business has always been to own a coffee shop/book & emphemeria store. I'd love to own a business that was not only enmeshed in the local community but also provides a place for local artists to sell and display.
I definitely would be an interior designer that focused on murals, baby rooms and kitchens. I don't have the art/technique background enough, but if I had the time and money, I would go back to school and really get into it. My goal in life is to have my own business, but I think if that ever happens it will lean towards the food business, catering or owning a little restaurant/bookstore type thing. Maybe I could have a bed and breakfast and kind of combine my two loves.
I love the tooth pillow so much! My husband would get a kick out of it, being a mechanic and the "daddy dentist" of the house (he's been pulling a lot of teeth lately :) I also adore the elephant, the textiles are amazing. What a fun DIY project. Does she sell patterns somewhere?
You just have a ton of fabulous things in your life, thanks for sharing!
I a few jobs right now. Right now I'm a stay at home mom part time and an accountant part time. My dream job would be to run my own vintage store. Not only that but driving around the US to find great clothes and what not. That dream won't be fulfilled for a long time but it's always there. But right now I really enjoy working with my husband and when I'm not there being at home with my kids. Both prizes look awesome but I'd love to sew the little elephant. sallybradley@gmail.com
I'd love a place where kids could come and explore different crafts. Open to kids of all ages. So many fun artistic techniques get overlooked in schools because the curriculum doesn't allow for enough time. The shop would have to be big enough for parents to have a 'chill' area to have a cup of tea. I'd hire local artists to do workshops with their favorite medium that could inspire others to follow their own creativity.
My daughter has an affinity for elephants so the second pattern caught my eye.
Thank you for such a great website. I follow you everyday (MWF ;) )
Have a great weekend!
My dream would be a children's book store, filled with warm light, great stories, and the occasional tasty baked treat.
My dream business would be a fabric store and work space for sewists to come sew and create community! If I could wish upon a star and have it come true? I'd wish for a cure cancer and Aids.
I like prize #2 ~ I'm handy with thread and needle!
I'm a graphic designer and I love what I do, but I guess my "dream" would be to be independently wealthy & do pro bono design for non profits, charities, other artists, etc., and do lots and lots of crafting! I would choose #2 - that elephant is adorable.
I would love to have an editorial photography business. I can even visualize it! I would love to shoot for different magazines from bridal ones to food ones. : )
I really love that cute elephant (prize # 3) it reminds me of one I had when I was 4 years old.
My dream business is the one I already run along with my mom and sister! We have a DREAM fabric store in Oceanside, California called Maisonnette. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Melody Miller fabric!! We can hardly keep it on our shelves... especially the veiw finder print! Our customers can't get enough of it! I would love something handmade by one of my fabric designer HEROS! #2, yes please!
xoxo
i would love to own a shop that sells fabric & notions...both current and vintage...but also be an outlet for crafters in my area to sell their work. would love to be surrounded by such creativity each and every day! either prize is incredibly fabulous!!
My dream business would involve quilts or fashion or both, but Melody's story makes me think more realistically about that! I'm up for either prize.
I would loooove to make patterns for a tons of cute and usefull (and sometimes useless :)) ) stuff. And would love to win no.2 just because I looove cutting fabrics :)
I want to be a pattern designer, as well as owning a sewing studio in my area. I'd love prize #2
Honestly? I wouldn't want much. I would want a business where I made and sold handcrafted jewelery of an alternative style. I would want to make just enough to live comfortably, and have enough time on my own to pursue my painting and any other DIY projects that strike my fancy (making my own clothing etc.) If I had it my way I would pay a friend to help me out, and allow her a section of the shop for her own arts and crafts and whatever else she'd like to sell. :)
My dream business would be to own a quilt store. My first choice for a prize would be #2. Melody's elephant is just too cute!
my dream business would be an etsy shop of my linoleum prints. the prints i've made have been baby-themed and ended up as thank you notes after each baby shower. now if i can find some time while raising 3 little ones....that's the key. :) i'd love either prize - my son would ADORE the car pillow and i'd love to sew up a cute elephant for my daughter! crossing my fingers!
I only wish that Ruby Star Rising were easier to get ahold of here in the US. I've been patiently waiting to get yardage of her viewmaster reels but to no avail...
Anyway, my dream job. I think I'm on my way toward my dream job, working at a university teaching pre-service teachers part of the day and teaching elementary kiddos the other half. I know it's not the ideal job for most, but I love the idea of it.
Count me in for both! I could do either!
I'd love to have my own greenhouse. I would look forward to going to work everyday, with the smell of fresh dirt to greet me. My work day would be filled with sowing seeds, watering and tending to plants, and even talking to customers about their gardening plans. Just thinking about it puts a huge grin on my face! But I'll be honest with you, I'd probably want to work barefoot! ;)
I prefer prize one, as I'm not entirely confident in my sewing skills yet.
My dream business would be some combination of hand bookbinder / knitting pattern designer / creator of little hand-sewn things / cookbook author. I might be too ADD to successfully create my own business :o)
I would love to make that little elephant, so I am up for prize 2!
It would be wonderful to have my very own fabric shop/workshop space for crafters :)
What a lovely photoshoot for Melody! I really enjoyed the glimpse into her world. She's a very talented lady and I would be honoured to win the car tooth cushion handmade by my idol! Thanks for the giveaway.
I would love to set up a small pretty retail store to sell handmade gifts. Either prize would be great but I would choose the 2nd one as I would love the fabric :)