I stumbled across Umbrella Prints a few weeks ago while taking a lazy tour through a bunch of new-to-me sewing blogs. Turns out I discovered the Australian company, which makes beautiful organic printed fabrics, just in time for their 2014 trimmings competition, which challenges artists, seamsters, and crafters of all types to make something awesome out of a packet of leftover bits of fabric. The competition is in its fifth year, and previous winners have included this bright pink fish puppet, a jaunty mask and crown, a gorgeous art book, a matching set of sewing accessories and stationery, and an entire collection of whimsical collages.

Fish puppet by Cate of Fabri’cate, winner of the 2013 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Competition

Mask and crown by Monica Hajek, 2012 winner of the Umbrella Prints Trimmings Competition

Concertina Book by Alisa Coburn of Ink Caravan, 2012 winner of the “most popular award” in the Umbrella Prints Trimmings Competition

Sewing kit and stationery by Nova of A Cuppa and a Catch Up, winner of the 2011 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Competition

Fabric collage by Lisa Stubbs, winner of the 2009 Umbrella Prints Trimmings Competition

This year’s competition is already underway, with entries due on May 30. Six different packets are available on Etsy or directly from the Umbrella Prints shop. And they’re beautiful:

I ended up going with the “Earth” packet on the bottom left, a set of bright reds and yellows and oranges that I am so excited to work with. Now I just have to wait for it to ship from Australia….

(Want to play along? Full rules and information are here.)