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Art Gallery Fabrics starts HERE.

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Raise your hand if you don't like getting fresh new fabric delivered to your door…

No hands? I thought so.

We all love it when we hear a knock (or a ring!) on the doors and it's the UPS man with a pack filled with gorgeous, beautiful new fabric. But sometimes we get so carried away with the glamorous aspect of the fabric that we forget about the immense process that takes place before we get our crafty hands on it…

And where does this process take place? In our case, all the way in Asia. And off they went again the two loves of my life: my hubby Walter and my son Alex (for him was his first trip) to get up close and personal with Art Gallery Fabrics in the making.

The process is super interesting! I could describe it step by step but seeing it in pictures is a little better, right?

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This is where it all begins: the big fat blank roll of fabric.

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Behind each inspiring color there's someone who spends all day mixing paint by hand looking for the exact tone… impressive, huh? This process is made for each of the colors involved in one print!

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Isn't this machine amazing??

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After they find the exact colors, the screen-printing process begins…

Many screens! One for each color.

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Only one small section of the fabric is printed each time the squeegee covers the screen… so imagine printing thousands of yards!

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Once all colors are applied, the printing is done! Recognize this one? This is the before…

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And after! "Soft tiny buds" from the "Paradise" collection ready to roll!

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And voila! Fresh new fabric ready to ship.

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More fabric!, but this time is "Dreaming in French"

Isn't it awesome to see how it's done? There are many other steps in this process that would take me hours to explain, but everything together involves a lot of hard working people from both sides of the isle… My son Alex was fascinated; he took zillions of pictures of our fabrics in progress… For me, it's the closest thing to actually being there (I don't know how I feel about the 24 hour flight haha!)

It's really cool that they got to see everything in action, but I must confess something: I'M SO GLAD THEY'RE BACK!!

Talk to you soon!

Love,

Pat.

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17 responses to “Art Gallery Fabrics starts HERE.”

  1. *Staci * Avatar
    *Staci *

    How fun! I can’t believe someone actually mixes paints all day to get the perfect colors. Thank you for sharing the process (and your son for the photos) it’s pretty impressive. :)

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  2. Mimi Avatar
    Mimi

    I’ve always wondered…. thanks to you and your son, I have a clearer picture now!! Would love samples of that fabric!!

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  3. Patricia Bravo Avatar
    Patricia Bravo

    Hey Mimi! In fact, your dream will come true! Sit on your favorite chair and hold it tight because… next week I’ll have an AMAZING GIVE AWAY for all you girls!! Woohoo!! Stay tuned :)
    Love,

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  4. Patricia Bravo Avatar
    Patricia Bravo

    It’s amazing, complex and exciting all at the same time! It makes me want to design more beautiful prints each time… It’s a process that never cease to dazzle me!
    Love,

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  5. Ann from Denmark Avatar
    Ann from Denmark

    Oh…wow!!
    I have always thought the giant fabric rolls were printed in a HUGE colour printer, like the ones we have for ordinary paper prints. I had NO idea that it actually involves manually making the colours like this. Double wow :)
    I have just recently discovered your lovely fabrics (and blogged a little about it), I am not even sure you can get them here in little freeeeezing cold Denmark (?). Cannot wait to read more about your giveaway!

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  6. patricia Avatar
    patricia

    Thank you for showing the process behind the design–very interesting. Just think of how many lives your creativity and your family’s work touch. That must be so gratifying. Keep those delicious bundles of imagination coming!

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  7. Missy K. Avatar
    Missy K.

    So amazing. I’d love to see this on “How its Made”.

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    Reply
  8. Andie Avatar
    Andie

    Very cool – it’s so impressive that you do this all by your little self! Like – you just decide, yeah, I’m gonna design and manufacture my own line of fabric and find a company to print and ship it. I so admire your hutzpuh to go after your vision! And, well, you know how I feel about your fabric…

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  9. Tania Avatar
    Tania

    Wow that is awesome to see. What a crazy process to print. So neat how it all comes together.

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  10. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    I have always been awe of fabric designers…it is such a process…and to answer your question, YES!!! I love it when the UPS guy drives up with a load of fabric for me!

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  11. Patricia Bravo Avatar
    Patricia Bravo

    LOOOOVE reading your comments! This is what this blog is about… the nicest conversation between you and me! Thank you so much for your appreciation, you girls are the sweetest!!
    Love, Pat

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    Reply
  12. Epban Avatar
    Epban

    What a fun tour! Thanks for taking us along. Beautiful fabric as ALWAYS!

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  13. mab Avatar
    mab

    Thanks for sharing! This is an interesting look into how fabrics get printed. Love it!

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    Reply
  14. Judith Avatar
    Judith

    Thank you for that interesting post. I also didn’t realise those colours were mixed by hand. That is impressive.

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    Reply
  15. Germaine Shick Avatar
    Germaine Shick

    I LOVE PARADISE! It speaks to me on sooo many levels!
    My hands are “itching” to create with it!
    Awesome look see on the making process…wow!
    What a neat job that would be!

    Like

    Reply
  16. Lee Avatar
    Lee

    How interesting! Thanks so much for sharing this. I have a background in graphic design and four-color printing, so I guess I always thought fabric was produced in a similar way. Not so much! And how fun it must be to see your own designs being put into production. Very cool.

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  17. Evelyn Avatar
    Evelyn

    Too bad its done in Asia and not in the US.

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We’re AGF

At Art Gallery Fabrics®, we aspire for the best, from creation to delivery with reliable quality, and top customer service. We believe strongly in the quality of the fabric that is transcended in our superior thread count and fine weave, our mills uphold sustainable printing methods and are OEKO-TEX certified 

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