Those of you who have followed the Spoonflower fabric-of-the-week contests for even a few months probably don't need an introduction to prolific designer Samarra Khaja, aka Sammyk. Samarra has a light-hearted design style coupled with a great sense of both humor and color, and she's won our contests multiple times. She's also gone pro recently, with two new fabric collections debuting with Timeless Treasures (and more in the works). Samarra graciously agreed to answer some questions about her new collections during this busy Thanksgiving week. Read on for more about her new work and a chance at a giveaway!
You’ve won Spoonflower’s fabric-of-the-week contests so many times at this point that I’ve lost count of your wins! Do you feel like you work better when given a specific theme and deadline, or do you prefer to be more spontaneous in your designing?
Yes, the contests are clearly an addiction. Although you wouldn't know it, I do have an ongoing to-do list of random designs I want to create and they almost always get trumped by the weekly challenges and that darned bee in my bonnet to try my hand at an entry. I really do love being given assignments. I thrive on it. Add to that a hard deadline and I'm really in my element, painting myself into a corner to see what I come up with in a limited period of time. It's the MacGyver-esque cobbling together of seemingly disparate ideas into something convincingly cohesive that I really love. The crazier my concoction the better. That's why I had to make a roller derby toile. It made no sense in a perfect enough way that I simply HAD to create it.
Your dad is an architect and your mom is a painter. Do you ever see their influences on your style and aesthetic? What else influences your design work?
I grew up around clean lines, modern and bold visuals, and I think a lot of that comes out in my work. I'm a big fan of interesting handwriting and clean penmanship, too. My having traveled and lived all around the world is a huge influence, combining bits and pieces of different things into (hopefully) interesting visual mash-ups. Most recently, coupling that perspective with seeing the world through my children makes for an even more interesting mix. I like to make things I haven't seen put together before. I like playing with scale, layers, styles and genres and coming up with something that has a whimsical, irreverent and happy feel to it. I love visual surprises and discoveries!
Where did you get the ideas for your two new collections, Imagine That being released in Spring 2011 and Alphabet due out next month? I’m especially curious about the story behind Alphabet, which features hands signing American Sign Language letters. Funnily, I originally started the Imagine That collection for your Project Selvage competition last spring! I was expecting my second son at the time, so I was doing a lot of channeling of young child pretend play imagery that I thought he might enjoy. Thematically, it's about dreams, creativity and the endless imagination that children possess. Stylistically, it was inspired in part by the classic book, Harold and the Purple Crayon, a wonderful ode to the youthful thirst of imaginative minds. (I highly recommend it!)
Alphabet was inspired by a pattern I created pairing grid-based LED letters along with their Braille equivalents. That exploration of the ways we communicate branched into wanting to illustrate the alphabet through American Sign Language letters. Having a brother with Downs Syndrome and being of mixed heritage, I'm very aware that the world is made up of oh-so-many different types of people with different characteristics that define them. So I was thrilled to design a fabric that celebrates an amazing form of communication that is often overlooked.
How is designing fabric different now that you’re not just on Spoonflower and have gone pro?
I have to pay more attention to my colors. 
I'm clearly a color glutton and when given half a chance, I'll pick five barely discernibly different reds, just because I can. It's when you find yourself having to whittle 83 colors down to 18 that you realize you probably should have controlled yourself in the first place.
I'm clearly a color glutton and when given half a chance, I'll pick five barely discernibly different reds, just because I can. It's when you find yourself having to whittle 83 colors down to 18 that you realize you probably should have controlled yourself in the first place.How do you think Spoonflower will continue to fit into your fabric design life?
I think Spoonflower will continue to be a big part of designing for me, as it really gave me the platform to be the textile designer I am now. Not only that, but I'm now part of an amazing community of designers that I can talk shop with, which is invaluable to me. Even if I do slow down with my contest entries, the themes themselves will continue to spark ideas and help generate thinking down avenues I'd not necessarily travel otherwise. That's something I simply love as it keeps my creativity and ideas fresh and challenged.
Did you sew before you started designing fabric? Do you try to have an end use in mind when you’re working up fabric designs?
Yes, I did. My mom taught me how to use her machine when I was young, and my hand-sewing is also pretty swanky if I'm not in a hurry. (My ladder stitch is quite impressively invisible.) I made a twin-sized machine quilt for myself when I was 11. I was very proud of myself for that project! My parents still have it at their home. I look forward to passing along my skills to my sons. My 3-year old has requested an orange sewing machine (his favorite color), so I'll have to see if I can come up with something suitable for him once he gets a little older.
I'm often a deer in headlights when it comes to end use. Sometimes end use generates a specific pattern or (more obviously) a sewing kit, but typically, I create a design as a means of solving a visual puzzle and that becomes a road of discovery for me. Once I'm done, I'm not always sure if it would be best used as a coat lining or a dress or curtains or a pillow. That's when the uncut fabric hoarding steps in and begins to pile up. 😀
Do you have any other fabric design collections in the works at the moment? And if so, when can we expect to hear more about them?
Oh, yes! I'm firing from all cylinders at the moment and there are a number of collections in the works. Spring 2012 will debut some more; some that might look familiar to SF aficionados and some other new ones. I can't wait to share them!
Thanks, Samarra! Thanks also to the folks at Timeless Treasures who have kindly sent us a bundle of half-yard cuts from both of Samarra's new collections. If you'd like a chance to win this bundle plus six fat quarters of some of Samarra's Spoonflower designs–five of which are being released for sale for only two weeks!–please comment on this post. Entries close next Tuesday, 11/29 at 7:00 pm EST, and we'll announce the winner on Wednesday, 11/30. Good luck–and happy Thanksgiving to all our US customers! ENTRIES FOR THIS GIVEAWAY ARE NOW CLOSED, AND WE'LL ANNOUNCE A WINNER LATER TODAY ON THE BLOG.
cool!
Woohoo! How exciting! I love hearing about the success of fellow SF designers and am so glad that Samarra’s Imagine That collection is coming out with Timeless Treasures- one of my faves from Project Selvedge!
Wonderful to hear of those who are living the dream thanks to starting at Spoonflower. Love Sammyk’s designs too!
Awsome!!
great story. I’ve voted for SammyK designs so many times!
Awesome!
very exciting can’t wait, hoping I win
What a great couple of collections – congrats!
ooh! I’d love to win some of her fabric!
Beautiful job, Sammyk! Good luck in your new ventures!
TT is pretty smart to hire such a popular designer!
Congratulations, Sammara! Your creative talents will
add so many new choices to the current fabric market!
Oh, nice work Sammyk! Would love to win some fabric 🙂
Great story! Would love to see some of your fabric in person 🙂
Bravo Samarra! 😀
A COLOR gal myself, I LOVE Samarra’s designs! Congrats on hooking up with Timeless Treasures!
When I grow up I want to be able to design as well as Samarra! Great interview!
So happy to hear such a great story, I can only dream. Keeping my eyes & mind open for such a thing in 2012!
Love that first photo, sometimes (often) I feel a need to do the same – hide in a pile of fabric! thanks for a great interview.
You had me at Chefalopod.
Great interview! I really love Samarra’s style since my first day at Spoonflower. So many of her designs are on my very long wish list…
I definitely need to increase my fabric stash! 🙂 Love that these awesome designers are getting contracts through their work on Spoonflower!
I’m a huuuuge Sammyk’s fan, and I’m really happy that you’ve posted this interview. It’s always nice to know a bit more about a community member ^_^. I would like to congratulate Samarra for going pro… That’s awesome and sooooo well deserved for her amazing work. She’s very talented. Way to go S!!!
Lovely interview – looking forward to the new designs!
Ooh fabric put me down ;D
YES!!! I would LOVE to win the fabric bundle plus six fat quarters of some of Samarra’s Spoonflower designs!!! Crossed fingers! 🙂
cutest pic EVER! Samarra is a huge inspiration to me ~ I’d like a few of her brain cells implanted…. oh yes I would. Awesome awesome. And oh hell would I like a little stash of all of that…. here I am. Send me fabric!! Happy thanksgiving to all of you great folk over at Spoonflower and YEY go girl Samarra!! xxx
I would so love to win some fabulous fabric from this very clever and witty ladies’ collection
I love reading these interviews – am a big SammyK fan and have had great fun using some of her designs – if I won this it would send me into creative overdrive.
Love this,Well done. When hard work and pure passion pays off; Bliss mode! I could totally use some of these amazing fabrics in my funky creations…Please please please let it be me 😛
Very nice!
Woot! Woot! Congrats Samarra! Your designs are such a cocktail of colour & humour – so entertaining. And yes, I would just LOVE to win some of your awesome new fabric. Thanks Spoonflower & Timeless Treasures for the give away.
Great to read about her successes!
I’m constantly blown away by Samarra’s amazing color sense, clever ideas and top notch illustration style. It’s about time she was nabbed for a licensing deal. Bravo!
wahooo! amazing news!
Great interview. I’m very excited to see Samarra’s new lines. I’ve been a fan for quite awhile and have my fingers crossed for some fabric.
Inspiring interview, yes, please count me in for the draw!
SO exciting – LOVE SammyK xxx
Your designs are so cheerful. I can think of lots of things to make with them, especially bags with lots of pockets from the fat quarters.
So proud to see one of our own go pro!
Wow! I love the alphabet designs! 😀
Love Sammy’s work! She’s great…so HAPPY for her!!
I’m so glad SammyK won the Project Selvedge, she is an amazing designer! Congrats! And thanks so much to Spoonflower and Timeless Treasure for the generous giveaway!
Great interview and great prize! Fabric, I’m addicted.
I enjoy reading about how designers come up with their ideas and what sparks their creativity. Ms. Khaja has a wonderful line of fabric designs!
Those fabrics are gorgeous!
yes this would be great fabric to create with . its unusual and gives you a good mood to make something
What a great story. Love all the designs Sammyk puts out there and await what she comes up with every week. Best of luck to her and her foray into the world of fabric design!! Thanks so much for the giveaway!!
Very cool! I love hearing success stories!
And custom fabrics? Fantastic! I’ve been dabbling more and more in sewing. 😀 I’d love to win.
congratulations, now just keep designing so we can all have more fun sewing.
Congratulations Samarra. Your fabric collection is delightful.
Beautiful work, and inspiring interview!
Happy Thanksgiving! Nice designs.
So great to see someone make a career out of her passion. Thanks for this interview!
What gorgeous fabric I would dearly love to win this bundle
First, congratulations to Samarra! As much as I’d LIKE to be a designer, I wasn’t given that gift. I’m happy for the people who are that talented. I wish you much more success, Samarra! And thanks for this super giveaway. Fabric is always the best thing to win – not that I’ve won that much! – and I appreciate your generosity. Thanks for this chance.
Congrats Sammyk! I can’t wait to see your new stuff.
The alphabet set looks awesome!
So glad to hear how learning the sewing machine at a young age inspired you. My daughter is 2 now and is fascinated with it. She sits beside me while I sew.
I’ll be watching for the new designs. Love the fabric, put me down for the drawing!
Great interview and beautiful fabrics!
I love Samarra’s work!
What a great prize to be in the running for 😀
Wow, who wouldn’t want a chance to win SammyK’s fabrics! So glad you are getting your chance to shine Sammy and that you are creating and selling professionally! Love to hear that you are hoping to pass on your skills to your boys, I have boys, 3 and four, and they are already showing keen interest in sewing and textiles, my youngest loooves fabric, he likes to go and organise my fabrics, he sorts them into piles – colours, patterns, plain, texture…very interesting to watch.
Hoping this comment works, hard to figure out how to do so here… congrats SammyK! Hope to buy your fabrics for years to come 🙂
caitlindevlin@hotmail.com
Beautiful fabric! Well done Samarra.
I really enjoyed hearing more about your influences and design process. really beautiful and imaginative fabrics!
SammyK’s biggest fan here…can’t wait to see the new designs!
I’m new to this company but have had a love of fabric and design for 40 or better years. Would love to win her fabric just to be able to enjoy it!
Thanks for story on this Turkey Day. Linda
Beautiful fabrics!! I Would love a bundle of these!!
very inspiring!! i love fabric and the millions of ideas that designers come up with.
A great fresh and inspirational interview.
Inspiring!!!
LOVED the story and thank you. I’ve entered a 1/2 dozen contests here and I love to hear when talented designers have the opportunity to go pro! Love. Love. Huge fan of spoonflower & it’s community! Would love the opportunity to win this little stash!
wow look at all the colors! id love to know if this is open to us Aussies if so put me down!
Eeek! What would I do with those lovely designs! Can’t wait to get my hands on them. Great job Samarra!
Humor, color, line. Yeah, Sammy K has it all. As someone already commented, you had me a Chefalopod. Just the names she chooses for her designs make me laugh out loud, and one look at her fabric makes my fingers itch to have some. Congratulations on going pro – may you sell lots and lots and continue your creative shenanigans!
I am with Sammy’s son on the orange sewing machine! Why are they always white? So boring. 🙂
Loved reading about this designer, thank you!
Congratulations, Sammyk. I would love to win any Sammyk fabric. Her designs are always excellent, interesting and unusual and very often quirky or humorous too. Fabric is never stuffy with Sammyk (unless it’s a plushy) 🙂
Thank you for sharing your interview with SammyK. Very interesting and so exciting for her. Congratulations SammyK on your new endeavors!
Congratulations!!! Sammyk has always been one of my favorite designers.
Best wishes on your new venture Samarra. I LOVE all of your designs and look forward to seeing more!
As a quilter who has been making baby quilts lately, I would put the fabric to good use (though I actually have plenty of fabric, but a quilter always is looking for more).
Sammyk, I so admire your work. You are gifted with a wonderful talent for putting designs together.
Lovely fabrics and awesome giveaway. It’s great that a designer can use Spoonflower to garner notice and catapult their career forward. Best wishes to Spoonflower and to Samarra. alternate email mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for sharing your story and thanks for the chance to win some yummy fabric! 🙂
Love the prints. Congrats on the collections.
Congratulations for this succes Samarra. I would love to win some of your fabrics !
Amazing interview! Would love to get some fabrics of Samara.
Uncut fabric hoarding is so familiar 🙂
Such gorgeous fabrics! The designs are stunning and so varied, had a quick look on spoonflower, it has definately made me think… Congratuations on going pro samarra!
What a great interview…very inspiring!
Great interview!
thats awesome! I would love to be a professional fabric designer, good luck! 🙂
Lively and intriging interview. I am curious to see more SammyK’s work.
I’d definitely love to win this, I love her designs!
Yayyy! I would love being entered in this awesome give away!! Thank you! 🙂
oh wonderful interview and really lovely designs! so nice to be reading about the wonderful platform Spoonflower has provided… now i am motivated to get myself to join more of those weekly contests! 😀
How inspirational! Thanks for the interview and especially thanks to Samarra. Looking forward to the new SammyK designs – woohoo!
How exciting to win and get to design a whole line. Congrats! I’d love some of your fabric. 🙂
Fun giveaway and fun fabric! Thanks for the chance!
What a great idea, and what wonderful fabric! Sign me up.
…”That’s when the uncut fabric hoarding steps in and begins to pile up” – this cracks me up! There’s a bit of that going on at my place too.
I have been voting in the weekly contests for a while now and really noticed SammyK as a designer. I am thrilled that she is getting some professional recognition. It was very interesting to read her story.
Awesome fabrics! Put me down too please.
Great interview and inspiring! Her designs are so fresh and fun!
Wow – Sammyk seems like such an inspired young woman, and the snapshot I’ve seen of her prints is a thing of beautiful, chaotic awesome. I can’t wait to see the two new collections. I have plans for my kids’ bedrooms and I think her work will be part of it!!
I’m pretty new to Spoonflower and I always wondered about the background behind most of the artists. It’s so refreshing to see an art production site that shows such a comfortable interest in their designers. I can see myself getting addicted to various artists or themes and trying to collect samples of every design… curse you all!
Thanks, Spoonflower. Wish me luck on my decoupage rampage…
Great article and awesome business!
Ooh, so pretty. I love finding out more from designers.
Great interview! Would love to create something with her new fabrics!
I’m just learning how to sew, (I’m thirteen), and what can I say- I love it!
I think Sammyk’s designs are so great- I would LOVE to be able to design that well ‘when I grow up’! (I’d also really love to win them…) 😉
Right now in school I’m starting to sew a sweater, which seems really fun! I’ve sewn a dress and vest already, and I’m planning on sewing my Christmas stocking this year… I have only one fabric for sale now, (morning coffee-edited), but I want to continue to put more on sale.:-)
If anyone has tips on designing for me, please let me know! You can get to me through my blog:
http://www.hulkfam.wordpress.com
Any tips are greatly appreciated… 😀 <3
Well, that's my sewing life story so far... ha ha ha.
(and ps- those fabrics are really great! I took a look at the bundle! Yoo-hoo Sammy! Congrats from Finland...!)
Did I just publish that comment? I hope it wasn’t lost… It was a lot of work to write it…
Ooo. Never mind! 😉 I had a blond moment…
Big fan – I would love to win!
Would love to play with the fabric. Thanks for the contest!
Oh those are some lovely fabrics. You guys at Spoonflower are awesome!
I love the quirky prints! They are beyond fabulous 🙂
I love reading these kinds of “success” stories. And of course, I would love to win this giveaway, yippee!!
Don’t know if I made it in time for the contest, I really hope so!
This is an enjoyable interview to read. Thanks for the chance to learn of Samarra’s journey and the role of Spoonflower. Please enter me into the giveaway as well. Congratulations to Samarra on her success.