Happy Monday! This is the 17th shop I’ve interviewed for our continuing Canadian Online Fabric Store interview series! Today’s feature is Flare Fabrics – Marlene’s shop is “where to go” for batiks and bold contemporary cottons. Plus she stocks lots of other fabrics, yard dyes & linens, tons of notions and bag hardware and patterns. Don’t miss her gorgeous Lecien giveaway bundle, or the month-long discount code at the bottom of this post. (Good until Dec 31!)
** PLUS: Don’t miss out on the Flare Fabrics Cyber Monday Sale – Nov 30th ONLY! Save 22.2% on everything in the shop with code FF2015! **
“I started the store with a focus on batiks, a traditional fabric that is handmade in Indonesia. In the last few years as the “modern” quilt movement has grown, I love to mix and match batiks with solids and modern fabrics. It’s an exciting blend of old and new. I’m always on the look out for the unusual – a new fabric artist or a line that people haven’t seen.” ~ Marlene, Flare Fabrics
I was re-introduced to Flare Fabrics when I talked to Marlene this Spring at Creativ Festival. I worked with her Cory Pepper shot cotton in my Indiesew spring collection post. It’s gorgeous cotton and I’m still hoarding my leftovers. Here are a few favorites of mine from the shop – click to find out more! You’ll have to check out the bottom of this post for the most gorgeous Marcia Derse Bookends – she has created really amazing, unique and beautiful fabric.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Thread Riding Hood: Why did you decide to start Flare Fabrics?
Marlene: Like every quilter, I was always looking for that “one” perfect fabric for my current design. Online shopping opened numerous doors, so when I couldn’t find what I wanted in Canada, I kept turning to the U.S. Why not have these fabrics in Canada, I thought? And so Flare Fabrics was born.
My professional career was concentrated in communications. I’ve been a journalist, a photographer, a marketing consultant, a graphic designer, a web developer…to name a few. When I started Flare Fabrics in 2010, I was working full time so an online fabric store was a perfect fit with my skills, interests and availability. Or so I thought. Busy, busy, busy! Last year I left my “regular” job and took the business full time. I’m really enjoying having the time to experiment with the fabric we sell.
Thread Riding Hood: What is your favorite type of sewing project? Quilting, Apparel… ?
Marlene: I’m partial to projects that can be sewn in 2 weekends – or less! I don’t sew anything larger than a decent size lap quilt and I prefer simple patterns where the texture of the fabric shines. That’s one of the many reasons I love batiks. Lately I’ve become enamoured with bags and purses and I have a large extended family so lots of people to sew pouches and totes for 🙂
Thread Riding Hood: What is something coming up in the near future that you are especially excited about?
Marlene: Flare Fabrics is moving! I have completely outgrown my home space – both the small outside studio in our Toronto backyard and the basement of the house. And so now I can finally combine my love of fabric with my love of the country. Our new home-based studio is rural – outside Perth in Eastern Ontario – and hopefully we won’t outgrow this one too quickly!
Thread Riding Hood: Thanks Marlene! My postage-stamp of a suburbian backyard can’t compete with your new place. Wow! Looks amazing!
Check out this super-generous gorgeous L’s Modern Basic by Lecien 12 Fat Quarter Giveaway! The cool blues and grays are fantastic blenders for your projects, and I think they’d make a fabulous wintery quilt all mixed together!
This giveaway is open to readers in Canada & the US, from today (November 30) until midnight December 7, 2015. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter – and if you don’t have Facebook to sign in with, just use your name and email address. There’s a “click to enter”, no social media login entry too!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks so much to Marlene, we can use the discount code “THREAD15″ to save 15% on your order at Flare Fabrics from December 1-31, 2015! (Christmas shopping anyone?!)
Here are a few of my favorite Marcia Derse prints to get you going!
 |
 |
 |
Thanks for reading. Don’t miss a post – Follow along below!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Disclosure and Privacy Policy: I asked Flare Fabrics to be a part of this series. I will never recommend or highlight a shop that I do not love, and my opinions will and have always been my own. Thanks for reading!
I love the colors in the Sea Breeze Tonga Batik 12 FQ Bundle. There are so many beautiful and unusual fabric choices!
I do like the Hoffman Fabrics Dot Pops Bali Batiks – Nirvana ……very nice
Oh My Goodness – Angel Wings and Daydreams by Frond Designs are simply Gorgeous!
Beautiful fabrics
Love her denim selection!!! ps. those fabrics would definitely make a great winter quilt!
Really love the City Lights Batiks
Tropical Nights Bali Batik-Wildflower Sunrise is my favorite.
Love the Dewdrop Raccoon Kit!
Love the wolf quilt kit and the whimsy fox cross stitch!
Northwoods 4 Artisan Batiks Half Roll
I have always wanted to makethe Fire Island quilt. That is my favorite item on this site There is a lot of fabulous fabric too!
I like the sea glass Bali crackers.
Dmac5958ataoldotcom
VISITED THEIR NEAT SHOP>REALLY LIKE “DAYDREAMS” !
THANKS FOR SHARING!
I like the Kaffe Fassett Wovens – 15 pc FQ bundle
I like the Kaffe Fassett Wovens – 15 pc FQ bundle (hope this isn’t a duplicate,I just tried to post and don’t see it)
Hoffman Wild – Dewdrop Racoon Kit ….They are all pretty amazing to look at but big racoon fan…. happyness04431@yahoo.com
I love the Tonga Batik Citrus Mint FQ Bundle. So pretty!
I love the Yarn Dyed Flannels – Red Lumberjack Plaid, but I never say no to any fabrics 🙂
I spotted Java Batiks Indigo by Fresh Water Designs (9 FQ bundle) that I would love to cut into!!
I love Jennifer Sampou’s Black and White – Feather in Smoke, and all the different text prints that are available. What a fantastic selection!
I also love Jennifer Sampou’s black & white bundle! Black & white is always fun to work with.
I do love the Bookends bundle! thanks!!
I like the Cockatiel bali batiks. Thanks Sherri and Flare Fabrics!
One of my favorite fabrics is: Mauve Multi Thistle Batik . The colors are perfect for my home for a fall table runner!
LOOOOOVE the Maywood Studios “Woolies Flannel” 2.5 inch Strips!!!!
I like the Black and White Collection by Jennifer Sampou.
I love the Black and White – Damask in Steel I have some panels that would look so sharp with it. http://store.flarefabrics.ca/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details_side.asp?Shopper_id=332511302314513325&Store_id=848&page_id=23&Item_ID=4262&Name=Black-and-White—Damask-in-Steel-
I am fascinated with the Frond designs at the moment. Have no idea what to do with them.
I am loving the denim stretch stripes in Indigo x
The Java Batiks in Sketched Leaves in denim is pretty cool.
I love woolies flannel! And just the time of year for it.
I love the Dream Blossoms fabrics and the new Deer wall quilt kit that Marlene has in store now.
I like the Black and White Collection by Jennifer Sampou.
I like the Barbados Bag Pattern.
I love the batiks the best.
Dream Blossoms : Bluegrass Silver Dreams Meadow…so soothing and serene !
I love their selection of shot cottons- especially Blue Jay! I’ve been itching to get my hands on some so I will keep them in mind!
I love the Large Angel Fish panel. Thanks!
Oh man, the Dream Blossom prints are so cool!
I like the Black and White Collection by Jennifer Sampou.
I like the wideback batiks. There are lots of pretty choices for quilt backings.
love the http://store.flarefabrics.ca/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details_side.asp?Shopper_id=3264121215793264&Store_id=848&page_id=23&Item_ID=4937&Name=Baby-Dragons-on-Grey
The FOREST DEER KIT is absolutely awesome!
I love the book ends fabric. Thank you so much for the giveaway.
Love the Gradations Bali Batik – Blue Topaz, haven’t seen that before.
I love that new bookends by Marcia Derse. Already have a few of her fabrics. Love the color palette.
I would have to choose any of her fabric bundles, which I dearly love.
sewfabrics@outlook.com
i like them all but my favorite is Gradations Bali Batik – Amarylis .
Love that you can shop by color! Thanks for a chance to win.
I love the fact that I have found a new Canadian source of fabric and such delicious colors too!
I really like the book ends bundle.
Love the denim selection!! But really it’s hard to choose.