Alabama Studio Style and chat with author Natalie Chanin

My copy of Alabama Studio Style written by Natalie Chanin and published by STC Craft|Melanie Falick Books arrived last week.  To say I had been anxiously awaiting its arrival is an understatement.  Natalie's first book, Alabama Stitch, is among my favorite craft books.  It is jam-packed with inspiration and projects unlike any other craft book I own.  I was hoping that Alabama Studio Style would be just as wonderful and I am not disappointed.  It is absolutely beautiful to look at and the range of projects and recipes is fantastic.  They include a skirt, tunics, dress, tops and many items for the home.  I am already dreaming about what I am going to make first.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to chat with Natalie about the book.  Here's what she had to say.

Erin:  How did you decide on the projects that make Alabama Studio Style so beautiful?

Natalie:  I think that we learned a lot about putting a book togetherwith Alabama Stitch Book.  There was just so much that I didn’t know thatfirst time around and I was very naive about how difficult it is to make abook!  With Alabama Studio Style, I knew that we wanted to include adress, more home furnishings and recipe sections.  From there, I made alayout board on the wall that pretty much indicated each page in the book –this was something I did not understand the first time around.  WithAlabama Studio Style, I feel that the book as a whole was very thoroughlyplanned.  I collected fabric swatches, colors and techniques together foralmost a year before ever starting to make the projects.  After I feltthat we had a good flow from color and style, we started making projects, writinginstructions and putting together the recipes sections to go with the projectsin the book.  From there, everything just started to fall intoplace.

Erin:  One thing that I absolutely adore about the new book is thatthere are a few projects with little or no embellishment (like the plaintank).  Did you make a conscious decision to include some simpler piecesthis time?

Natalie:  That’s a great question!  It was a very conscious decision toinclude the plain garments – we call them Basics in our studio.  The garmentpatterns included in Alabama Studio Style are really my favorites and thepieces that I wear everyday and work into my wardrobe. While I love veryembellished tops, skirts and dresses, I also love the simpler pieces foreveryday living.  For example, the camisole tunic is one of my favorite piecesat the moment. I love to wear it over pants or a skirt and then to layer other piecesover and under it for these colder days.  A little secret: I sleep in thecamisole tunic – very comfortable and looks great.

Erin:  Oh, now I am going to have to make one for a nightgown too!  That's brilliant.  Alabama Studio Style has stitches and techniques that compliment the onescovered in your first book, Alabama Stitch, but that also work really well ontheir own.  Was it important to you that the techniques in both bookscould be used together as well as separately?

Natalie:  Thank you, I am so happy to hear you feel this way! It wasreally important to me that the books work both as individual books and as anintimate part of one another at the same time.  We worked really hard towardsthat goal.  I can’t wait to see how people interpret the two, take theinformation and then move beyond.  

Erin:  The possibilities do seem endless!  I think that is why your books are so inspiring.  Just like Alabama Stitch, Alabama Studio Style is a visual treat.  Whatinspired you to chose the color palette for these projects?

Natalie:  I wanted the projects to really feel like part of a whole.  Idid tear sheets, and fabric swatches and thought about this for almost a year. Alabama Studio Style is also such a part of my home and personal life – most ofthe book was photographed in my kitchen and living room - that many of thecolor palettes are also very personal to me and the colors that I choose foreveryday living.

Erin:  It's very obvious to me that you love what you do - it's evident in both of your books.  I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.  Thanks, Natalie!

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You can also have a chance of winning a copy of Alabama Studio Style (or the STC Craft book of your choice) by visiting STC Craft|Melanie Falick Books and commenting on this post.  To read more about Natalie's book, follow her on her blog tour and visit her blog.

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