Heather Bailey - Pop Garden, Bijoux and a giveaway

I was talking to someone on the telephone the other day about Heather Bailey's Bijoux and Pop Garden fabric collections. She loved the fabric as individual patterns and designs but was struggling to get her head around how to mix and match the prints together. We had a lovely conversation about this, but later I was thinking that that's an issue with fabric collections from any designer isn't it when you really get down to it. Which fabric designs are the 'neutral' designs that most easily mix and tie all the other patterns together?

I guess as always, sometimes in a sewing project that just isn't an issue, big, bold prints can look very happy together and some beautiful patchwork quilts and clothes result from that happy combining. But on other occasions you may want to use fewer fabrics - just one or two perhaps in a skirt of dress so you want some colour and pattern harmony. So, the question was how do you do this? Are Pop Garden and Bijoux completely different?

Obviously, I'm only able to give my point of view but I have added a little bit of 'fact' that I've gleaned from a fabric brochure and from Heather's own website; blog and shop. Check out the Flickr sites too, because how other 'crafters' are mixing and matching fabrics is always inspiring and a great way to get the fabric taste buds working overtime!

Basically, Pop Garden and Bijoux are 'designed' to go together. To quote the brochure they are "sister collections to mix and match". Bijoux is defined as "jewel or trinket", "anything small and of elegant workmanship" so the designs in this collections are just that, small and elegant. The 'Swirly bud' designs are floral.

The 'Tiled primrose' is a pretty geomtric print with little dashes of accenting colour ...

There's the 'mod beads... again a colour rimmed 'bead' with a central colour, small and pretty.

All those patterns work alone in just the same way that other 'neutral' type patterns such as 'polka' dots' do but they also work beautifully with the larger floral patterns.

.......

Pop Daisy in Rose - a very modern looking design....

... or

...Rose Bouquet in Ice - a softer vintage style floral design...

or the Sway type designs with gorgeous a stenciled look...

and not forgetting the dramatic, bold and beautiful...

zig-zag stripe ...

.... or the paisley style designs of Pop Garden. Just as all the fabrics work together within each distinclty named collection .....

Two fabrics from Pop Garden. Just look at the drama in this combination.

They work beautifully across both ranges, marrying up the 'Pop Garden' with the small and delicate patterns of Bijoux.

.. I quite like this - Switly Buds in lime and Pop Daisy in Rose.

When it comes to colour, the combined collections consist of "three playful palettes" , which if you look at Heather's own shop are; Poppy Leaf, Butterrose and Sugar Mallow. Fabrics from both collections are organised into those three colour palettes. Useful information when trying to decide which colours may or may not go together....which pinks, yellows, golden yellows are going to 'fit' nicely.

These are fabrics from my own shop which form part of the 'Poppy Leaf', palette.

... and from the Butter Rose palette;

Pretty soft peaches, pinks, mossy and lime greens with hints of red... glorious!

And the Sugar Mallow Palette;

with it's intense feisty pinks as well as the softer pinks of Rose bouquet in Ice and Mod beads.

There are no rules so just enjoy yourself combining the patterns and the colours..... one combination I've seen recently is this....

think frothy ra-ra skirt type of combination ..... hot colours... gorgeous skirt - definitely not for a shirnking violet!

Which colours and patterns would you combine?

So, because it's HOT.... and when Wimbledon is finished I just know that you're going to need to get sewing again plus, if you've waded through all of the above then you absolutely deserve an award, I've decided to have a giveaway of a set of fat quarters from the Sugar Mallow palette.

That's these ones.....

So, if you'd like to join in, just leave a comment on this post..... you may come from anywhere, the post seems to reach most parts of the globe quite successfully. I'll consult the random number generator on Friday 10th July.... which should give time for a whole weeks sewing before you get too involved with the childrens summer holidays from school

Speak soon and Stay cool....

Comments

[Claire]

I love Heather Bailey and her vinrant colours, finaly your blog has let me comment! Great shop and site!

[Jenn]

Pop Garden is my favorite line of fabric EVER! I can't wait to see what she comes up with for the fall. Anyone have a preview? or a release date?

[Corey]

Oh, I just adore Heather Bailey fabrics!!!! She is currently my fave designer and I can't wait for her new line this fall. Thanks so much for such a great giveaway!

[Wild Rose]

Oh, they are all gorgeous!

Marie x

[jennie]

My word I am so inspired by your Blog....I am mentally planning all the gorge stuff I could make now how do I get it into the house with out hubby noticing!!!

Thankyou
Jennie xx

[TK Posh]

These fabrics are great! Would be perfect for my
designer aprons!

[Christine]

I love Heather Bailey designs. They make great handbags/purses - so lively and pretty.

[MARIANNA]

Hi, back in uk and I might be lucky, you never know... It's nice to ftollow you on your blog anyway .
Good luck to everyone.
Marianna

[Stephanie]

What a great post - thank you! Love the fabrics by the way.

[hannah]

interesting post, thanks :)

[Celena]

Awwwwwwwwwwww.....really yummy and pretty colour! Love the combination you did. I am new to sewing, this giveaway definately will enhance my skill and tiny stash :-) Please count me in too!

[Topcat]

loving the combinations you've posted - very inspiring.

[Joanie Hoffman]

Thanks for the giveaway, and for all the photos of the lovely fabrics. I'm almost drooling at the colors and patterns. There goes any extra cash I may have had! The fabric shop is calling me....
Happy days,
Joanie

[Jane Weston]

What yummy fabrics!! please count me in...there is so many lovely things I could make with them ;o)

[Nifty Thrifty]

Wow - what eye candy you have shared with us. I wish I was one of those people who could instantly put two fabrics together and it works. I spend ages ummming and ahhing but get there in the end. Lovely yummy fabrics there x

[Yamie]

I would love to win as I am quite scared in putting those patterns together - and now that you've showed me how good they look - I can't wait to try it out. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

[Mollimoo]

Beautiful colours so inspiring! I'm never brave enough when it comes to colour combos. Thank you for the helpful information! x

[Glamglass]

Just Gorgeous!! i love the pop daisy in rose pattern!!

[Sue Cahill]

Such lovely fabrics, I crave all the new lines but have not won the lottery, yet! To win your giveaway would be such a rush.

Thanks for the chance.

[Nadine]

I have just received a couple of these fabrics from your website and I love them. I just want more!

[Julie-O]

I am just beginning crafting and am often concerned about colour and pattern combo's - so thank you for the helpful info! Would be estatic to have more fabric.

[Sarah]

I am so in love with these fabrics! You are so generous! :)

[cherrie]

A very interesting post and some beautiful fabrics. I am not a person who worries about who made what but will combine new with old or anything else that works. I recently used a piece of Kaffe Fassett with a vintage skirt. A perfect colour co-ordination. I do appreciate though that some people are scared of branching out so this well researched post is a great help. Also nice to know about how the designers work. Thanks

[michelle]

Seriously beautiful fabrics. I'm totally addicted to your pictures.

[Lara]

Thanks!:D I also have some of her fabrics and I'm also struggling to combine them!:)