And the winners of the 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge are ....

Animation by Casandra Infanzon

Casandraonline! for her very sweet animation depicting her world in stitches, The Floating World.

"Ever since I first found out about this challenge 3 years ago, it's been an important tradition for me. It came at a time in my life when I was struggling to feel like I could express myself through creativity (something I've always loved). I had a new baby and was honestly overwhelmed by motherhood. But I found this challenge and I felt so happy again! I also felt very inspired by the Umbrella Prints company, their story and aesthetic." Casandra.

Animation by Casandra Infanzon

And Knotted Cotton's - Six Coffees and a Tea quilt!
Unanimously chosen by Soule Mama & Petal Plum (Thank you for helping us choose ladies xx)

Knotted Cotton's - Six Coffees and a Tea quilt

                                        
Here is what the lovely Soule Mama had to say about Catherines quilt,  

"I love that her inspiration truly came with the arrival of the scrap pack as she saw her much-loved coffeepot collection reflected in the prints. The use of vintage and repurposed materials in the rest of her quilt certainly fits with the theme of using what you have, and the combination of piecing, applique and stitching makes it such an interesting visual. Vintage, but modern, and oh so pretty to look at. It's wonderful. Well done!" Amanda

Congratulations to everyone who entered this year - we are truly impressed and think two other particular works deserve to be mentioned ... Amanda Paino's collage

          








































And Simone Symonds quilt 'Organic Bias'

                                                               
And last but not least congratulations to Deborah Gunthorpe for being an outstanding supporter of the 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge and all its entrants efforts, winning our very delicious Audience prize. 

2016 Trimmings Challenge JUDGE: Petalplum

Photos via @petalplum

Ellie Beck first caught our eye online with her dreamy photos and eye for natural beauty. Looking at her photographs takes you to another place of calm and tranquility, a little moment in time, capturing the sun, her children and sweet creations in the soft dappled light. Ellie & her family live a creative and inspiring life in the rainforest of NSW where they enjoy the simple moments, the abundance of nature and the surroundings; the slow life they have built. We are all so lucky to be able to share the most beautiful way Ellie cherishes her work & family via her Instagram.

You can also hang out with Ellie (yes you can!) at one of her creative workshops, teaching natural dye, slow stitching and more- she has some coming up in June at The Craft Parlour in Palm Beach, Queensland.

Photos via @petalplum

Also, check out the stunning handcrafted jewellery & homewares made from recycled skateboards by Ellie's husband Sam at Deadwood Creative - a fascinating re-use of materials.

We are delighted to have Ellie of Petalplum help choose this years winning 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge Quilt, thank you for joining in with our vibrant and creative community xx

2016 Trimmings Challenge JUDGE: Soule Mama

@soulemama Photos by Soule Mama

Umbrella Prints are huge fans of Soule Mama and have been for over a decade so it is our absolute pleasure to have Amanda Blake Soule lending us her keen eye to help choose a winner for the 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge Quilt entries.

Amanda (as you probably already know) is the editor in chief of the comforting and inspiring magazine, Taproot. Taproot is amongst many things "... a collection of curated stories written by and for people living fully and digging deeper; people who are interested in deepening their connections to their families, communities, and themselves as they strive to live locally and closer to the ground."

Our stash of Taproot Magazines (all 15 of them!)

Taproot magazine makes us want to run away to the country, grow vegetables, live simply and cherish the time we have with our families. Whilst a tree change may have to wait, every issue of Taproot magazine is filled with really practical beautiful things you can do right now ... slow down and be present with your family. An antidote to modern life.

One of our favourite recipes for the winter blues

We asked Amanda what her favourite thing to do with fabric trimmings is?

I save all my fabric scraps. Maybe it's the influence of my depression era grandmother who made something out of nothing all the time - in her cooking and in her sewing too. Or maybe it's the influence of my children, who pick up what I think to be true 'scraps' on the floor of my studio and then turn them into something magical with tape, glue, stitches or even nails! There's so much potential in a little piece of fabric, isn't there? I do love quilting with the scraps I keep (my most recent favorite being the cut up scraps of baby clothes from my children), and I love finding any and all ways to incorporate what I keep into a new creation. Lately, I've been making a lot of rope baskets and folding fabric scraps into and around the rope here and there. That's just what I did with my own Umbrella Prints scrap pack, and now the giant basket holds my latest round of wool roving, at the ready for spinning.

Read blog post

Amanda's conundrum: Should I sew or knit?! via @soulemama

photo by Amanda Soule via Soule Mama

Photo by Amanda Soule : Umbrella Prints Trimmings X Clothing line basket

Thank you for being a part of our lively and creative community & helping us choose a winner of the 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge Amanda xx

2016 Trimmings Challenge closed

Gorgeous Entry from 2015 by Tumbling Blocks

The adorable Dorie of Tumbling Blocks with her beautiful quilt

Thank you so much for your entries this year. Entries are now closed and you can view, comment and repin all your favourite Trimmings creations on Pinterest until June 7 when we announce the winners, here and on Instagram

And to celebrate the skills of the quilting community once again, the most outstanding quilt will be chosen by Soulemama and Petalplum.

In order to encourage the love and sharing of all the hard work we will randomly gift a lucky person who comments* with some beautiful fabricy goodness.

Close up of Tumbling Blocks' Quilt from 2015 by Tumbling Blocks

*Entries are posted to this Pinterest board on June 1 - comment on all your favourite Trimmings creations to be in the running to win this prize.

Gorgeous Entry from 2015 by Tumbling Blocks

2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge #umbrellaprintstrimmingschallenge

WELCOME TO THE 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge.  
We are so excited to be here again this 7th year running & super encouraged by your enthusiasm!

This is a unique challenge where you have the opportunity to create & share something different and wonderful from the little pieces of our printed fabric we call Trimmings. We are looking for work by designers, artists, quilters, makers, tinkers, film makers, animators, children, professionals, thinkers and you!

This year we again have the absolute pleasure of having the input of two judges who will lend their insight & creative eye to help choose our winners;

thank you to Amanda Blake Soule of SouleMama & Ellie Beck of Petalplum :)

What can you make/do with Umbrella Prints' Trimmings? 
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGE?

It's really simple
1. Buy your Umbrella Prints Trimmings from our online shop

2. Make anything you like, surprise us! AND we have a quilters/patchwork category

3. Take a clear, simple & beautiful photo of what you make/do with your Umbrella Prints Trimmings. One packet per entry.

4.  Post your photo to the internet somewhere- Instagram (#umbrellaprintstrimmingschallenge), Pinterest, Blog, Flickr or your own website and share your story linking to Umbrella Prints.

5. Most importantly, email umbrellaprints@yahoo.com.au by May 31 with a link to where you have shared your photo online so that we can find you!

We will pin your photo to the 2016 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Challenge  board on Pinterest on June 2. Come check out what everyone has made. 


FAQ's are all here, we think...

PRIZES
We have two major prizes this year, both will be chosen based on skill & creativity.

Makers' Prize
For the most innovative, beautiful, creative and well presented entry, $300 worth of Umbrella Prints your choice, includes fabrics, jewellery, new artworks & more.

Patchwork/Quilters' Prize
To celebrate the skills of the quilting community we have $300 worth of Umbrella Prints organic fabric or product to give for the most outstanding quilt, chosen by Soulemama and Petalplum.

and we have ... 
5 Golden Tickets
How fun will it be to find a Golden ticket in your Trimmings packet! We will be slipping shining golden tickets into 5 lucky packets. Ticket holders receive an Umbrella Prints prize valued at $50.

+ Audience PrizeIn order to encourage the love and sharing of all your hard work we will randomly gift a lucky person who comments & repins* with $100 worth of Umbrella Prints fabric.

*Entries are posted to this Pinterest board on June 2 - repin & comment on all your favourite Trimmings creations to be in the running to win this prize.

DATES
Challenge Starts March 1 Buy your Trimmings packet here
Create your entry March 1 - May 31
Entries Close May 31
Viewing June 2 - 6 Comment and repin!
Winners Announced June 7

FAQ's here

Buy Your Trimmings Here

Rose

Rose, the tiniest of Amy's three children, chose this bright acidic yellow print as her favourite "lellow" and love's her gorgeous fabric hat (custom made for her by Little Papaya Studio with Umbrella Prints' Bird in Paradise in Sumi Black organic fabric).

We loved how she played in the bright yellow Banksia flowers and other native trees on this trip down the South Australian coast.

Eve

Photos from a recent trip to Encounter Bay.  Eve chose her favourite Umbrella Prints fabrics so we could make some clothes and Little Papaya Studio made this fantastic hat for her which she hasn't taken it off since. Such a happy day and seeing Eve in our fabrics is a joy!