Bush Gum Blossoms Blog Tour

****GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED****

Welcome to my stop on the Bush Gum Blossoms fabric tour, the first of two collections by Aussie designer Amanda Brandl for Kennard&Kennard Fabrics. I'm very honoured to be here today, showcasing this glorious fabric! Tune in to the very end, where you can win your very own fat quarter bundle!If you haven't yet heard of Amanda and her work, you are in for a treat! Hop over to her site and read about her journey. She has a passion for Australiana, particularly its unique flora and fauna, and has set about translating some of our most dearly loved treasures onto fabric for the whole world to enjoy. Her designs are fresh and vibrant and inspiring and get you just itching to create with them!Here's a bit of back story about Kennard&Kennard Fabrics. They are a family owned company in Australia who have been in the textile industry for over 60 years, and producing patchwork fabric for more than 20 years. They are deeply influenced by their rich Aussie history in the community, and also have a great range of quilting widebacks, ranging from classic to modern and contemporary. Their fabric quality is second to none, and is a real joy to use.If you haven't already seen the first two ladies' stops on this blog tour, go and check out Sarah from Piccolo Studio's amazing quilt, and Kylie's projects from Wombat and Poss. They began the tour by showing off the beautiful Taking Flight collection, and I'm kicking off the first of the projects with the Bush Gum Blossoms fabrics.And now onto my creations... I have two different projects to show, so keep reading!I wish you could reach through the screen and feel the luscious, soft handle that this fabric has. It's just glorious! I couldn't wait to get playing.

This is squaring up 108 HSTs...I did it in batches and it really saved my neck and shoulders, which I need to be really careful of. I wanted to use large blocks to show off the nine prints to their very best, so I decided that 5" HSTs would be just the trick.To the 9 prints in the line, I also added in a self patterned white solid, a pink print from Amy Sinibaldi's Playground line, and a green text print that I had in my stash. This line plays perfectly with other fabrics!

The Aussie bush fabrics here really are the star, and I wanted the quilting to reflect that, so I used organic wavy lines in 6 colours pulled from the fabrics to resemble the shape of long, thin, gum leaves. It was so fun to do! I made a rule that the lines could touch, but not cross, and I love the effect.

I found an organic Cloud 9 print in mustard for the binding and backing. It has the same soft handle, and really added to the fun brightness of the design.

I enjoy the quilting and binding process so much...I'm always a bit sad when it's done.Except that then it's finished. I do like that part too lol.

And of course we had to take her out into the wild, modeled by hubby (and actually infront of my parents-in-law's house). It's the rustic gate and fence that I love here.My plan was to really randomise and have no particular pattern for the HSTs, so you can really enjoy the patterns that your eye finds by itself. This quilt is a great lap size, finishing at 45" x 60".

And because I'm Aussie with gum trees everywhere, here she is draped over the most majestic of gum trees that I know of. It's just the perfect model for this Australiana quilt. Unfortunately every time I see this tree, the massive limbs are closer to the ground, and it won't be long before it drops them altogether :(.

My second project just had to be a clutch...specifically a foldover clutch.

I've been crushing on these for a while now, and with the bag making supplies that I've been accumulating, it was the perfect time to make one.

This showcases my favourite large print of the collection, and I've paired it with a faux cork vinyl.

It continues my love affair with rose gold, which only seems to grow each time I use it! The zipper, pull, and rivets are all rose gold, which offset the pinks in the fabric perfectly. I also had some pretty pink leather scraps that were perfect for pulls, tabs and tags. And I had to put in my new shoes as photo props!

The fabric side of this is reinforced with flex foam, which is perfect reinforcing for the dense quilting that this gives. It's the perfect amount of body, without being difficult to sew at all. The fold over is secured with a magnetic snap, in rose gold once again.

And the lining is the pink gum leaf print from the collection. Who doesn't love a pretty interior?!! It makes you smile everytime you open it.This clutch measures 10.5" x 7.5" when folded and is a self drafted pattern. It's just waiting for my coordinating lobster clip to arrive, and then I'll add a carry strap to clip onto that side tab. All hardware is from my favourite local gal Miriam. Great prices, and great service!

And finally, if you'd like to WIN this FQ bundle of new release fabrics, leave a comment below, telling me what you'd like to make. Competition is open worldwide. I'll choose a winner next Friday, and notify you by email and announce it here on my blog.Follow along with all the other wonderful makers on this tour:Wednesday March 14th: Sarah Scott | Piccolo StudioThursday March 15th: Kylie | Wombat & PossFriday March 16th: Ali Phillips | Arabesque Scissors- you are here!Monday March 19th: Kellie | sewMimi.KTuesday March 20th: Robyn MacWilliam | Bumblebee BoutiqueWednesday March 21st: Michelle Hickson | Cole and TaffyThursday March 22nd: Anne Boundy | Said With LoveFriday March 23rd: Ange Hamilton | A Little PatchworkMonday March 26th: Vickie Zaleski | Crocheting VixenTuesday March 27th: Wendy Gontier |Wehago DesignsWednesday March 28th: Elise Baek | Elise & EmilieThursday March 29th: Samantha Green | For The Love of FabricFriday March 30th: Sharon Burgess | Lilabelle Lane CreationsMonday April 2nd: Rose Johnstone | Threadbare CreationsTuesday April 3rd: Jess & Laura | Two of a KindWednesday April 4th: Raylee Bielenberg | Sunflower StitcheriesThursday April 5th: Blog Wrap up and thank you!