Meet Michele, City Girl at Heart

If you've been a fabric lover for any time at all, chances are you've drooled over some of Michele D'Amore's work. A prolific designer, Michele has designed more than 18 collections for Benartex in just the last two years. She recently talked to us about her background and inspiration.

Where does your inspiration come from?

While still a student studying fabric design in the early 70s at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now known as Philadelphia University), I discovered the iconic “pop” prints of Marimekko. Those huge, distinctive patterns and liberating colors would forever form the core of my design aesthetic.

Where did your art take you after graduation?

I dreamed of traveling to Finland where the Marimekko studio was located, but opted to come to New York City instead…and never left. I am a city girl, a “New York” city girl, and i cannot imagine living anywhere else in the world. New York is a visual feast and I am continually inspired by its textures and colors.

What do you try to share in your fabrics?

At heart, I am a homebody. It's an old-fashioned word for what people still seem to crave: comfort. I am comforted by elegance and simplicity. My wish is to share this with you, ultimately through my designs.

Michele's line, Urbanicity, is available in quilt shops now. The line combines dots, lines and textures with an stylized, urban feeling. See the entire line here.

Whetting your appetite: A sampling of the Urbanicity prints, in taupe, black, gray and cream.

Pre-printed blocks with a modern feel create fast projects!

What a neat double border print!

We love how some of our blogging friends have used Urbanicity.

Marny and Jill at Modern Quilt Relish recreated their Flatbread pattern using Urbanicity, using four prints with different values.

See the full quilt and their post about it here, plus get a great binding tip!

Marlene at Flare Fabrics chose Urbanicity fabrics to try out the San Clemente fat quarter tote designed by A Quilter's Dream. 

You can see her process and finished bag here. (She's also kitting the bag; click here.) Marlene is also putting together a kit for this quilt below, which is a variation of our free Tribeca Garden pattern:

Debbie at Esch House Quilts is using these fabrics and improv piecing to create a laptop bag. 

You can read Debbie's post about her bag in progress here. 

Are you feeling inspired? 

Check out free quilt patterns showcasing these fabrics here. 

We'll show you a peek at two of our favorites:

"Around the Blocks" by Janet Page Kessler

(using the pre-printed blocks)

"City Garden" by Stitched Together Studios