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Welcome to Wildfire Designs Alaska
Welcome to my website. From this site you can view all my designs, find a store that sells my patterns, learn quilting tips and techiniques used in my designs and link to my online store at www.shopwildfireak.com. New Designs Check out my newest designs! Inspired by my traveles to Japan and Hawaii, these new designs feature my Summer Zen Signature Batik Collection with Hoffman California Fabrics. Click on the Designs tab at the top of this page to view all my designs.
New Online Store I have a new online store through Squarespace! All my currently available kits and pattern will be listed in my secure online store at www.shopwildfireak.com. The 'Add to Cart' buttons won't be available any more throughout this site, and the 'Designs' tab is now more of a gallery of my work, past and present. Overall it makes it much easier for me to keep the store and website up-to-date with available inventory. You can access the store from the 'Shop' tab above or directly at www.shopwildfireak.com. Video Tutorials on YouTube! Click Here! For years I've thought of making video tutorials to post on YouTube, but I didn't know where I'd find the time to do all the editing. Finally in the summer of 2024 I decided to just stick a phone over my hands and film myself putting one of my laser kits together. I realized I'd never have the time to make a 'fancy' well edited video, but something is better than nothing. So just a warning, my videos are very basic, but they go through all the steps of assembling a designs and fusing it, then suggestions on next steps. I also talk throughout, so you can mute me if you like, or get to know me a bit since I rarely stop talking. I also want to warn people that I'm terrible with social media. I just don't have the time. So if you watch one of my videos and have questions please email me since I rarely ever look at comments. I try to answer common questions and address new questions in the next video. Typically I plan to add new videos each year in late winter/early spring when I'm finishing up new designs or making new samples for the summer. Speaking of my laser kits.....What makes WDA laser kits special? I pre-wash all the applique fabrics to shrink, block and remove excess dye and all my kits use Lite Steam-a-Seam 2 as the fusible webbing. This fusible is more expensive then other non-permanent fusibles out there, but the only one I use because of its permanent bond. When used properly there's no need to stitch down your appliques. See my Tips page for step-by-step instructions on how I use Steam-a-Seam fusible web OR watch one of my video tutorials on my YouTube Channel. A Note From Me It's been a crazy busy couple of years and it's been hard to find time to sit down for a week or so and update my site and online store. I'm a small business, but many of you don't know that small means just me. :-) Besides doing all my design work - from the first drawings, writing the pattern, testing them (sometimes I miss mistakes so please let me know if you find any) and doing all the graphics and printing - I also fold and package up all the patterns (I have had some family help here occassionally I must admit); cut, wash, prep, laser cut and package all the laser kits (also finally desperately needed help this past year keeping up with that); and process all my orders. On top of all that I also try to keep up with my email (which I can sometimes be terrible at), social media (very terrible at that) and finally at the end of the year when things start to slow I usually try to restock and update my site. It's a lot for one person to do and I think most people out there think I have a lot more help than I do (and as I mentioned before I've often had help from close friends and family in the crazy busy summer months - and thank you so much to them because I would have drown without their help). So on that note, thank you to everyone who has patiently waited for an order, or to see my new designs, or understood when their package took a little longer than expected or when I didn't respond to an email right away. I put my hands on everything that leaves my studio and try to make sure that you receive quality patterns and kits. History of Wildfire Designs Alaska I was born in Kenai, Alaska and raised in the family fabric store, the Kenai Fabric Center with my mother, grandparents, aunts, and later a sister and several cousins; all of whom taught me to sew, crochet, knit, and so much more. While in college I worked with my family at their fabric store, where I found a talent for creating samples of wallhangings and preparing kits. After several years I decided to try designing on my own. My first pattern, Caribou on the Kenai Flats, was inspired by my hometown. After 50+ years my family's quilt shop closed in October 2020. I miss it all the time, it was more than a store, it was where my grandparents lived and where I grew up. No other shop will ever compare. Treasure your family and all your unforgettable local quilt shops. Thank you for your interest and support for Wildfire Designs Alaska! |
