A Housing Remake: Jamie Fingal’s Studio Revival

By Modern Quilt Journal

In April 2021, acclaimed textile artist Jamie Fingal breathed new life into a forgotten studio piece, resulting in a strikingly colorful and personal collage titled "A Housing Remake." Known for her bold fabric choices, whimsical motifs, and mixed media explorations, Fingal used this project as an opportunity to revisit and reimagine her past work in a playful and meaningful way.

Rediscovering the Past

The project began with the rediscovery of an old fabric collage—unfinished and set aside. Instead of discarding it, Fingal chose to revive the piece by layering, painting, and transforming it into a fresh, contemporary composition. What makes this remake especially resonant is her use of a background fabric from her very first fabric collection with Hoffman California Fabrics, released in 2013. This self-referential touch bridges past and present, tying together years of visual storytelling and design evolution.

A Mixed Media Celebration

"A Housing Remake" is a true mixed-media hybrid. Fingal combines an eclectic mix of fabrics from various sources—including her own designs—with ink and watercolor illustrations. Her signature house motifs appear throughout, animated with her trademark use of color and confident linework. These watercolor enhancements bring movement and vibrancy to the piece, softening the structure of fabric edges with brushy spontaneity.

The resulting work has a lively, textured surface where stitched seams meet painted skies, and whimsical details peek through layered forms. Fingal’s collage aesthetic is both cheerful and deeply intentional, demonstrating her instinct for composition and material dialogue.

Studio Sustainability

This piece isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s also about process. Fingal’s remake exemplifies sustainable studio practices: reusing, reimagining, and refusing to discard potential. In doing so, she reminds fellow artists that inspiration can live in forgotten corners, waiting to be rediscovered.

“It’s always amazing what happens when you give yourself permission to rework something old,” she notes in her post. “It becomes something entirely new, but with history woven in.”

Continuity in Creativity

“A Housing Remake” is a testament to Fingal’s ability to create continuity in her body of work. From her early Hoffman fabrics to her current illustrations and design explorations, her voice remains distinct—cheerful, optimistic, and deeply expressive.

To view the piece and read Jamie Fingal's reflections, visit the original blog post: jamiefingaldesigns.com.