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black and white fabrics by jennifer sampou
Recently, I had an epiphany. For several years now—well, okay, it's more than just a few—I've been longing to slow down a bit and focus on fewer projects at a time. It’s not that I don't love the variety or the challenge of juggling multiple ideas, but sometimes I find myself overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities and concepts Todd and I come up with. There simply isn’t enough time to do them all, and I frequently have to turn down chances I truly adore. Even then, I often feel pulled in too many directions at once. Part of me wishes I could work on just one project at a time, the way others seem to do, following the path I'd always envisioned for myself.
This realization came to me in layers. First, I understood that very few creative individuals ever get the luxury of endless time. Deadlines, whether singular or overlapping, are always looming, especially when you're running a business that supports a family. I also realized this is a phase in life. Before starting our company, when Todd and I worked for other organizations and before we had our daughter, things were certainly busy, but they weren't nearly as hectic as they are now. Balancing being a wife, a mother, a member of various communities, and a business owner demands immense energy and commitment. As our daughter grows and our parents age, my schedule will likely only become more packed. But eventually, this pace will ease. If you're a parent, you know exactly what I mean.
However, the most crucial part of my realization was that I don't want to slow down right now. Sure, I could handle fewer projects at work. I could focus solely on designing one line of sewing patterns instead of working across four different brands. I could even stop doing fabric design or decline projects I adore, like teaching. But where’s the joy in that? I genuinely revel in brainstorming new styles and designs, and I cherish the process of bringing them to life alongside our small but dedicated team. I also enjoy the variety of roles I play.
Instead of feeling burdened, I'm shifting my mindset. I'll still need to decline numerous opportunities, and there will still be moments when I wish things could move a bit slower. Our daughter is almost ten, and I often wish I could pause time to keep her at this age for just a little longer.
Since I can't freeze time, I'm trying something else. This year, my daughter and I began taking violin lessons together. We're also both pursuing ballet—though not together—and we spend a lot of time attending performances by the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Whether it’s a casual visit or a formal matinee, we always have a blast. I’ve decided to prioritize creating cherished memories and making the most of our time together.
I’m approaching the rest of my time the same way: putting all my energy into whatever I’m doing because I love what I do. I adore my work, my hobbies, and spending time with my family and friends. I embrace filling my calendar to the brim because I relish every moment. Of course, there will be days when exhaustion leaves me drained and unable to do much at all. But on most days, I’ll give it my all.
These photos were taken during a particularly packed Saturday: we attended ballet class, had a quick lunch, and went to a matinee performance at the ballet, followed by a stop at the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center before the show. This library was a revelation to me—I’d never been there before, and it’s incredible! Rows upon rows of music CDs, countless sheets of sheet music (including some unexpected finds like Barry Gibb compositions and heavy metal scores), and biographies of performers from every era imaginable—it was such a treat!
The dress S is wearing in these pictures (yes, this blog post is about the dress) is made from fabric from Jennifer Sampou’s black and white collection for Robert Kaufman. When I met Jennifer at Quilt Market last fall, we clicked instantly. We share many commonalities, including being FIT graduates and both being incredibly busy. It felt as though we had known each other for years.
At the market, Jennifer was hand-embroidering feathers on one of her fabrics, and I was so captivated by her work that I decided to try my hand at embroidery too. I chose the printed prism from her collection and added colorful satin stitches to a few facets of the prisms. S picked the thread colors, and we agreed I would make her a Hide-and-Seek Dress. I also chose one of the yarn-dyed fabrics from Jennifer’s Studio Stash collection and, after cutting out the dress pieces, I machine-stitched colorful threads along some of the grid lines. While the dress remains predominantly black and white, it features bursts of brilliant color if you look closely.
I could reflect on the symbolism of black and white versus vibrant color here, but I think I’ll leave it at that and let the photos speak for themselves. After all, you’ve already read enough!
As for the fabric, you can view the entire collection [here] and [here]. The texture is divine, especially the yarn-dye fabric. Its weight and feel are hard to describe, but it’s substantial in the best way. Black and white is a classic palette in fashion, often referred to as a "palette cleanser" because it pairs beautifully with everything. These fabrics are available in stores now.
Jennifer is giving away a fat quarter tower of the complete collection on her blog (entry deadline is February 8th). If you're curious about how others have used Jennifer’s fabrics, you can check out these posts from her blog tour:
- January 23: JenniferSampou.com, Robert Kaufman Blog
- January 24: Jenny Pedigo and Helen Robinson - Sew Kind of Wonderful blog
- January 25: Teresa Coates - Fabric Depot
- January 26: Amy Gibson - Stitchery Dickory Dock
- January 27: AnneMarie Chany - Gen X Quilters
- January 28: Casey York - The Studiolo
- January 29: C&T Publishing – Stash Books
- January 30: APQ - All People Quilt
- January 31: Angela Pingel
- February 1: Angela Walters / Janice Zeller Ryan
- February 2: Sarah Sharp
- February 3: Dritz - Make Something
- February 4: Nicole Daksiewicz - Modern Handcraft
- February 6: Christopher Thompson / Natalie Barnes
- February 7: Jennifer Sampou - Wrap up
- February 9: Jennifer Sampou - Announce Winner
By the way, if you'd like to try satin stitch yourself, I recommend backstitching around the shape first and then covering it with satin stitches, similar to this illustration from Erica Wilson’s Embroidery Book.
And here’s a handy guide if you’re interested in trying satin stitch:
There’s no end to creativity, is there?