Finding Inspiration at the Tilda Jubilee Event

It’s been 25 years since one of my favourite fabric designers started her fabric company, Tilda. To celebrate this wonderful milestone, Tone Finnanger from Norway, was invited to attend a special jubilee event in her honour. Organised by the Australian distributor of Tilda Fabrics (Two Green Zebras) it was a chance for Tilda lovers to find out more about Tone’s creative process, to shop all things Tilda and to meet with likeminded friends.

As a sewing pattern designer, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the events and to sew some projects using the Jubilee fabric collection that Tone created especially for this milestone. I visited Brisbane (in Queensland, Australia) for the event on the 17th February 2024 and met up with some of my designer friends from the Creative Abundance team (that’s the company that distributes my wholesale patterns). Here we are in a team photo – the first in a long while, as we are all spread out all over the country.

It was so amazing to see our team in person (especially my dear friend Jemima from Tied With A Ribbon), as there really hasn’t been much of an opportunity for us to get together since 2020. And it was so lovely to visit the shop booths where some of my favourite local stores had Tilda fabrics, patterns, kits and projects for sale. It really was a Tilda wonderland for all who attended.

One of the biggest highlights was having the opportunity to briefly chat with Tone about her work and my love for her designs.

Hearing Tone talk about her creative process, and how it has evolved throughout her life, was so inspiring and motivating. My guiding word for this year is CURIOSITY and it was lovely to experience that spark in curiosity!!

Another highlight was meeting likeminded creative friends. It was fabulous to chat to people who have worked with my patterns, made my projects and who follow along with my creative journey. There were lots of lovely conversations on the day, and a few photos with friends too.

Tone created her latest Jubilee range as an homage to all of her favourite past collections and prints from the last 25 years. She explained how she took prints from various collections and recoloured and tweaked them so that they would create an updated and cohesive grouping.

I was invited to help showcase this collection and these are the Tilda Jubilee prints that I chose to work with.

Here’s the first project I made from those prints. I picked my favourite pieces and paired them with the Tilda chambray in the colour Petrol, to create an updated version of my Clara Tote Bag pattern. Despite its simplicity (or maybe because of it) this pattern is really popular. I think it’s because it doesn’t require any printed templates. It’s the most straightforward and simple introduction to bag making that I could create.

The other project was made with the Farm Flower blenders in the Jubilee Collection and they’re paired with a white Tilda solid and the sage green Tilda chambray. This is the Serious Sewist’s Set with a seriously sized boxed pin cushion with a felt bee appliqué and a matching bee scissor charm. You can find both of these patterns as instant digital downloads in my store.

These projects were on display at the Brisbane and Melbourne Tilda Jubilee Tour, along with some beautiful pieces from my fellow designers. How lovely are these designs from Tied With A Ribbon?

My fabulous friend Nic from Craftapalooza Designs also had some beauties on display, including her wonderfully textured Bloomax Quilt pictured below. It’s coming to her store soon.

Participating in a special event like this one is a great way to feel reinvigorated about our fantastic quilting community here in Australia. It’s lovely to be inspired by what everyone is doing. And I’m sure everyone felt the same way.

Thanks for letting me share a little about my experience. Happy stitching, Lauren.