Umbrella Prints 2014 Challenge Update

So back at the end of March I told you about the Umbrella Prints 2014 Trimmings challenge.  You can read all about that blog post here.  Well in usual fashion I've left it to the last minute (entries are due by May 30th) and on Saturday night I pulled out my Soft Pack and got to work. I started with this fun and soft palette and decided that I wanted to try to use every single scrap of fabric I had.  That tiny mint heart scrap was my starting point.  It's only 1" wide.

And I ended up with this.  Those are teeny-tiny 1" blocks, 62 of them to be exact, on a background of Kona White.

I had to make some adjustments to my background blocks because I didn't account for seam allowances when I cut them all but that was no big deal.  I got to work sewing and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it went.  I even had success lining up all the little seams!  Those little blocks finish to only a 1/2" square.  This is by far the smallest thing I've ever made.

I decided to try hand quilt again using some perle cotton in white that I picked up at Joanne's a few months ago.  Several tries/epic fails later I'm echo quilting the heart.  Now to get this baby finished in time for the May 30th deadline to submit!  I've got 48 hours.  No biggie.  Stay tuned for the big reveal of the finished product!

I'm linking up with this weeks WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

Umbrella Prints 2014 Challenge

Australian based textile company, Umbrella Prints, just announced their 2014 challenge and I'm excited to say that I'm going to participate this year!  The challenge is to create something, anything really using one of their trimming packs (you can find the full rules here).

I've been admiring Umbrella Prints fabrics for pretty much the length of my quilting 'career' but have never been able to break down and purchase some of their beautiful fabrics, until now.  One of my favorite prints is the Grand Hearts, pictured below.

Image Credit: Umbrella Prints

There is one version of it printed in a red/persimmon color that I absolutely covet.  Check out this photo of a chair re-upholstered in that very fabric! Love it!

Image Credit: http://evokeyarnandfabric.com.au/

I purchased two trimming packs:  the Soft and the Dark, because I'm not sure yet what direction I want to go in.  My envelope came complete with a cute little hand written note on it!  It's the little things that make companies special, I think.

Each pack came with a cute little postcard and an Umbrella Prints label scrap.  Here is the Soft Pack.  Pretty pink, mint, beige, lots of white, and some pops of aqua and orange.  How fun!

And here is the Dark Pack.  Navy, Black, Grey, Burgundy, and lots of bold geometric patterns!

Now all I have to do is brainstorm what I'll make with these two.  Luckily I have until May 30th to figure it out and execute my plan.  No biggy right?

I'm linking up with Stitch by Stich for anything goes mondays.