“I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have changed several times since then.” Alice, from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
Truer words have rarely been spoken, as we’ve all likely felt a bit bewildered and off-course during these many months of quarantine. So it seems fitting that the latest collection from Tula Pink for FreeSpirit Fabrics is the amazing Curiouser & Curiouser based on Alice and her Wonderland companions.
The wild whimsy of Wonderland begs us to question everything we know, throw away our assumptions, and succumb to nonsense. “The loosest grip on reality wins,” says Tula. “Wonderland captures the most essential nature of what I want my fabric to be and why I quilt… escapism. When the weight of the world is too much I turn to needle and thread.”
Ours is just a brief journey through Curiouser and Curiouser; you’ll want to experience it for yourself soon. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the fabric as well as at the matching ribbon collection from Renaissance Ribbons. The fabric will be at your favorite in-store and online retailers in May 2021 with many outlets, including our friends at Fat Quarter Shop, will be offering reservations for bundles as well as email notification for yardage arrivals. The ribbon will also be available mid-May and an early access sign-up list is available now at the Renaissance Ribbons website.
The fabric collection features two color stories that encompass a total of 25 gorgeous prints. There are also two 108” backing fabrics. Plus, the fabric works beautifully with Tula’s True Colors collection of fabulous basics like stripes and dots.
S4H received some early cuts that we plan to whip up into a brand new apron project… one that should be perfect for your next Mad Hatter Tea Party or perhaps a royal visit with the Red Queen. In the photo above, you can see how we plan to mix in a True Colors stripe – such a perfect match!
If you are a fan, as we are, of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, you’ll recognize many of the most memorable themes and characters from the story that have come to life in fabric. The star of the collection is, of course, dear Alice. Tula explained, in one of her early videos about the development of the collection, how her rendition of Alice is based on a photo of her little sister, Jo. In the fabric portrait, Alice sits in a sweet wreath of daisies with her cat, Dinah on her shoulder. In the background are the white rabbits poised to lead Alice away.
In the Down the Rabbit Hole print, we see silhouettes of Alice as well as a collection of curious objects tumbling down, down, down. In the story, once Alice lands at the bottom of the hole, she grows so tall she can’t fit through the door. This results in an explosion of crying, illustrated in this collection as the vibrant Sea of Tears, washing all manner animals and artifacts onto their next adventure.
We love the Tea Time teacups, which seem ready to celebrate a boisterous Unbirthday. Another favorite is the Cheshire Cat who looms in the night sky watching over Wonderland. Tula’s imaginative Painted Roses are dripping with wet paint as they sit on a background of oversize spots, hoping to blend in and escape the Queen’s notice. Speaking on the Red Queen, she is here as well in all her striking evil elegance. There are coordinating Baby Buds and the two 108” back fabrics feature Big Buds.
Finally, two different “stripe” patterns round out the collection. Suited and Booted features tiny rows of the card suite symbols in a rainbow ombre. Both light and dark colorways make them a fabulous blender. A much wider stripe is the central motif of 6pm Somewhere, where curving vines have scooped up detritus from the Mad Hatter’s tea party.
The coordinating ribbon from Renaissance Ribbons pulls out some of the most striking motifs seen on the fabric, from the card suites to the teacups to the Cheshire Cat, and more. We love that the widths are so varied, from a skinny ⅜” to an extra bold 2”.
One of the things we’ve always loved about Renaissance Ribbons collections is how meticulous they are with color and pattern matching. The ribbons are stunning on their own, but they are also specially woven to be a spot-on blend when used with the fabric.
All 14 ribbons in this beautiful collection will be ready for mid-May delivery, but you can sign up now for early access, which also qualifies you for some special giveaways!
You’ll want to be on the lookout for Curiouser and Curiouser kits from Renaissance Ribbons featuring both the ribbon and the fabric. If you haven’t yet signed up for the Renaissance Ribbons Kit Club, check it out. You get complete supplies to make TWO new bags every month with a gorgeous and unique selection of materials.
“When I used to read fairy tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one!” Alice, from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Get ready to find yourself right there with Alice with Curiouser and Curiouser fabric and ribbon.
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I just love that cat ribbon! On my wish list.
Hi Lauretta – Isn’t that great?! We love all the ribbons… and all the fabric 🙂 – yep, we’re just in love with it all.