We’re super excited to be bringing The Designer Project back for 2022 and can’t wait to share all of this year’s fantastic artists and their incredible work! To kick things off for the year we’re introducing you all to the ultra-talented artist and designer Michaela Burgess! Michaela works across a variety of mediums and has qualifications in ceramics, glass and object design. In 2015 she completed a Masters of Interdisciplinary Art and Design with a focus on textiles, fashion, urban design and community projects. Michaela’s designs feature vibrant colours and gorgeous textures, and have a unique Australian perspective which makes them feel effortlessly elegant.Michaela’s most recent collections “Bombay Mai Tai” and “Jungle Blue” are beautiful dreamscapes to exotic, faraway lands, where wild jaguars and elephants roam through lush tropical leaves and the air is fragranced with spices and sweet fruits. What’s more is that the designer has made both of these collections available in our Fabric Shop online and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Each of Michaela’s designs can be printed onto any of our stock fabrics, and with minimum orders of just 1m, custom designer fabric is accessible for even the smallest of DIY projects. Below we’ve shared a bit about each of Michaela’s incredible designs and the different types of projects we think they’d be perfect for!

“Bombay Mai Tai”

“Chameleons” draws inspiration from imaginary travels along silk road trading routes. The design is available in two gorgeously warm colourways; “Sand” and “Earth”

We would love to see “Chameleons” used for custom upholstery projects!

“Marigold” is an Art Deco influenced design with wonderfully decorative marigold motifs. The design is available in two colourways; the statement making “Teal” and the beautifully warm “Clay”.

“Marigold” would be perfect for a wide leg jumpsuit or a co-ordinating fashion set.

“Elephants” shows elephants taking their annual journey down the ancient pathways of their ancestors. The overlapping elements give the design a beautiful dreamlike quality. The design is available in two colourways; “Sand” and “Blue”.

“Elephants” would be fantastic to use for men’s summery linen shirts!

“Taj Mahal” layers intricate lace motifs and Art Deco elements to create a delicate print which is truly stunning. “Taj Mahal” is available in two soft colourways; “Sand” and “Nude”.

“Taj Mahal” would be great to use for bikinis, ties and pocket squares!

“Jungle Blue”

“Indigo Blue Zebra” is a hand drawn design that evokes memories of exotic animal prints and tribal patterns. Clean white keeps the design fresh and balanced.

We would love to see “Indigo Blue Zebra” used for summer dresses, tableware and bedding.

“Jungle Blue” uses a minimalistic colour palette of indigo and white to provide a fresh take on jungle inspired textiles. The design features intricately drawn jungle cat and botanic motifs.

“Jungle Blue” is perfect for coastal inspired fashion and homewares!

“Indigo Blue Paisley” features hand-drawn elements to create the paisley shapes, which are also reminiscent of block printing.

“Indigo Blue Paisley” would be a gorgeous design to use for upholstery projects and bedding.

“Indigo Blue Vine” uses the motif of a vine to create this lattice like pattern. The vines have a wonderfully rustic quality.

We think “Indigo Blue Vine” would be absolutely perfect for table linen that feels both understated and chic.

“Indigo Magnolia” features hand-drawn magnolia flowers in a richly detailed floral print. The design uses varying tones of blue to keep your eye wandering throughout!

“Indigo Magnolia” would be an excellent choice for men’s board shorts and summer shirts.

“White Magnolia” brings together the stylistic motifs found throughout the rest of the “Jungle Blue” collection. The white background keeps the design feeling light and fresh.

We would love to see “White Magnolia” used for swimwear and beach bags.

The possibilities are endless with Michaela’s “Bombay Mai Tai” and “Jungle Blue” collections and we hope the above suggestions have helped get the creative wheels turning! Each of Michaela’s designs are available to be printed onto any of our stock fabrics with the minimum order for printing just 1m!

2021 for The Designer Project has been truly incredible, and being just the second year for the initiative, we cannot wait for all the amazing artist features that will be in store in 2022. To wrap up this year’s series we’ve been sharing the gorgeous work of Surface Pattern Designer Tanya Freitas and what a showcase it’s been! The Sydney-based designer creates beautifully rich and detailed designs, and has made a selection of her unforgettable florals available in our Fabric Shop. As part of Tanya’s feature, the designer herself has written a blog for us which we’ve shared below! The guest blog covers off Tanya’s workspace, background and typical design process. Keep reading to find out more about Tanya and her captivating designs!

Tanya Freitas

Hey everyone, I’m Tanya and it’s so exciting to be part of this The Designer Project! A textile designer by trade, I currently own and run Wild Coral Design, a boutique studio specialising in contemporary print and surface design. I live in the beautiful harbour city of Sydney, with my hubby and two little kiddos who keep me super busy but are also my reason for pursuing my dream of working freelance so I can be there for all the drop-offs, pick-ups and tantrums in between!

“Parkes”

Today I’m excited to open up the (virtual) doors to my studio and share with you snippets of my creative process, inspiration & workspace as well chat about my collection of prints now available with Digital Fabrics. Yay!

Tanya’s home studio

I work out of one half of the spare room in our home (my hubby has the other corner)! It has the best natural light and I’m forever grateful for this space! I keep my work area pretty tidy, however it often features several notebooks, planners, reference books and multiple cups of tea I’ve been drinking throughout the day. In case you’re wondering – I’m a 100% English Breakfast with milk kinda girl!

One of Tanya’s works-in-progress

I like to think of my creative aesthetic as ‘Contemporary with an Ethnic Heart’. I grew up in India so the art, architecture and colour of that part of the world is a constant source of inspiration when it comes to my designs. I often like looking ‘back’ on Art history movements to draw on motif and pattern inspiration and of course you’ll rarely see a print without a floral in my collections!

“Rosetta”

My process is 100% digital these days. My beloved iPad pro, iMac and Photoshop are my creative best mates and I love that I can use technology to create art that still retains that imperfect, hand rendered quality I’m always aiming for.

Tanya designing

The ‘Ditsy Boheme’ collection of prints is a reflection of my love for florals, warm colours all featuring that ever present, ethnic flair while ‘Nowhere but Home’ is a project born out of the pandemic lockdown, inspired by neighbourhood walks and my 5K surrounds we were allowed to explore.

“Carlotta”

As much as I love prints and fabric, I’ve never really persisted long enough at a sewing machine to master it but it’s always my dream to see my prints made up into beautiful products for fashion or home. Thanks to Digital Fabrics, I’m hoping this collection finds its place in the hearts of many talented sewers who can give life to my little drawings and create products to keep forever.  So, with all these prints ready to be snapped up from the DF Fabric Shop and with minimums of only 1m, you can’t go wrong! I can’t wait to see what you create.

“Ditsie”

It’s been a pleasure to chat with you and I so appreciate that you’ve made it to the end of this post 🙂 I’d love to keep in touch and see what you do with my fabric, so please feel free to tag me and Digital Fabrics in all your sewing adventures! Instagram is home to all the latest in the Wild Coral world and you can follow along here @wild_coral or head over to my website, if you’d like to see more of what I do and get to know me a bit better!

See you around soon,

Tanya x

“Floral Bokeh”

If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!

We couldn’t be more thrilled to have the incredibly talented Tanya Freitas as our final feature artist for The Designer Project 2021 and think she’s the perfect finish for what’s been a truly fantastic year of showcasing local talent! Tanya is a Sydney-based designer who creates stunning print and surface designs. Tanya first studied Textile Design at university and then worked as an in-house designer for several years before launching her surface design studio Wild Coral Design. The designer’s work reflects her love of nature and colour, and gives a nostalgic nod to her Indian heritage while maintaining a fresh and contemporary feel.

We adore the designs that Tanya has made available in our Fabric Shop with the selection focusing on florals and features a playful variety of styles ranging from muted line-art through to a vivid celebration of botanic forms. Each of Tanya’s designs can be printed onto any of our stock fabrics, and with minimum orders of just 1m, custom designer fabric is accessible for even the smallest of DIY projects. Below we’ve shared a bit about each of Tanya’s stunning designs and the different types of projects we think they’d be great for so keep reading!

“Boho Fleur” features beautifully drawn flower motifs, delicately outlined to give a vintage feel. The design gorgeously pairs vibrant and muted hues to create a versatile print.

We would love to see “Boho Fleur” used for wide leg trousers, button-up shirts and tote bags.

“Rosetta” is a stunning garden rose inspired floral with a statement colour palette of rusty reds and blush pinks. The illustrated details have us swooning!

“Rosetta” would be the perfect print for decadent tableware, scarves and pocket squares.

“Floral Bokeh” is a hand-painted boho inspired print. The design features dainty flower motifs in pastel hues, which are set against a deep background.

We think “Floral Bokeh” would be fantastic for blouses, camisoles and aprons.

“Ditsie” is a sweeter than sweet floral print! The design pairs soft dusty pinks with pops of pastel denim blue to create the prettiest of colour palettes.

“Ditsie” would be great to use for tea towels, oven mitts and hair scarves.

“Burra” is a beautifully rich design, layering plenty of gorgeous floral and foliage elements. The design has a wonderfully warm colour palette setting lilacs and corals against decadent caramels.

We think “Burra” would be the perfect design to use for statement jumpsuits and sarongs.

“Carlotta” is bursting with life and colour, inspired by neighbourhood gardens and sidewalk foliage. The vibrant print has a statement colour palette of lilacs, midnight blues and chartreuse.

“Carlotta” would be an excellent design to use for statement homewares and summer dresses.

“Coree” takes a more pared back approach, with sweeping linear details and a simple two-colour palette. We adore the combination of dusty lavender and burnt orange.

“Coree” would be the most stunning fabric for upholstery and bedding!

“Parkes” is a fun, quirky print, inspired by sidewalk bushes and fallen foliage in autumn. The design layers big, bold, leafy motifs with a playful colour palette of chartreuse and bubble-gum pink!

We would love to see “Parkes” used for statement cushion covers and tote bags!

All of our project ideas above are suggestions only as the sky’s truly the limit with Tanya’s stunning collection! Each of Tanya’s designs can be found in our Fabric Shop, so head on over and elevate your next DIY project!

We’re very excited to share that for our latest instalment of The Designer Project we’ll be showcasing the creative work of Sydney-based designer Lillie McDonagh! Lillie is currently in her final year at UTS where she is studying a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication. The creative primarily creates illustrative and print design works and in particular loves risograph printing. Her designs perfectly balance a playful charm with chic simplicity, and we just can’t get enough!

We’re over the moon that Lillie has lent us her talents by making a range of her designs available in our Fabric Shop. Lillie’s “Lil’ Bit of Sunshine” collection is warm and sunny, featuring bright and playful prints which are intended to bring a sense of joy to any DIY project. The designs all feature delicate hand-drawn illustrations set against big, bold colours. Each of Lillie’s designs can be printed onto any of our stock fabrics and we can’t wait to see the different types of projects you use them for! Below we’ve included a little bit about each of the designs and the types of projects we’d love to see them used for.

“Golden Moon” is inspired by the night sky and features minimally drawn star and moon motifs with a warm neutral colour palette. We love the variation in star motifs seen throughout the design.

We think “Golden Moon” would be a fantastic print to use for bedding, pocket squares and swimwear.

“Summer Sunset” is a wonderfully warm print, featuring a bold colour palette inspired by the drawn-out sunsets of summer. We love the combination of pale pink and vivid coral.

“Summer Sunset” is an ideal design for swimwear and hairscarves.

“Sunshine Confetti” is a fun and playful print which encapsulates the joy of celebration! The design features squiggle and spot motifs reminiscent of small paper streamers and confetti.

We would love to see “Sunshine Confetti” used for tote bags and button up shirts.

“Autumn Leaves” features beautifully illustrated leaf-motifs which give the sense of falling leaves.

We would love to see “Autumn Leaves” used for bedding, pocket squares and bow ties.

“Spring Blooms” features one of our all-time favourite colour combos, pink and red, which gives this delicate floral design a contemporary feel. The beautifully drawn motifs are so dainty they invite you in to take a closer look.

“Spring Blooms” is a perfect print for soft accessories, camisoles and pocket squares.

“Warm Rainbows” features playfully drawn rainbow motifs set against a warm, earthy backdrop. The variation in rainbows is simply a joy!

“Warm Rainbows” is the perfect print for statement wide legs pants and tote bags.

The possibilities are endless with Lillie’s “Lil’ Bit of Sunshine” collection and we hope the above suggestions have helped get the ideas flowing! Each of Lillie’s gorgeous designs can be found in our Fabric Shop with the minimum order for printing just 1m!

It’s that time again where we introduce our newest feature artist in The Designer Project and we are SO excited to announce that the incredibly talented Cass Deller is who we’ll be focusing on this month! Cass is a contemporary watercolour artist and surface designer based on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, QLD. Cass loves modern design, watercolour illustrations and hand lettering and attempts to capture the effortless beauty found in nature, through her simple brushstrokes.

Cass’s approach to her art is organic and intuitive and we are so thrilled that she has made a selection of her coastal inspired designs available in our Fabric Shop! Cass’s collection is playful and laid-back, featuring a warm colour palette and gorgeous hand-painted motifs. Each of Cass’s designs can be printed onto any of our fabric base cloths which means you can order custom designer fabric that’s tailored to you! Below we’ve shared a little more about each of Cass’s stunning designs and have included some ideas for the different types of projects we think they’d be perfect for. Keep reading to find out more about Cass Deller’s summery designs!

“Beach Sesh” is inspired by a lazy summer day spent on the beach. The design features delicately hand-painted watercolour motifs set against a beautiful oyster coloured backdrop. The adore the bright little pops of colour the peaches create!

We think “Beach Sesh” would be a gorgeous design to use for swimwear and tea towels.

“Miami Palms” is both chic and understated, pairing hand-drawn palms with a warm backdrop. The colour palette is inspired by coral-coloured sunsets.

We think “Miami Palms” is a great print to use for soft accessories and baby’s clothes.

“Bleu” is a wonderful statement print with bold hand-painted botanic shapes. The design is inspired by the Greek Islands and perfectly pairs a rich blue with a neutral background.

“Bleu” is an excellent choice to create show-stopping homewares and fashion pieces!

“Mediterranean Palette” is bursting with hand-painted fruits and leaves and simply screams summer! The design is inspired by warm days and balmy nights, and has us dreaming of a getaway.

“Mediterranean Palette” is the perfect statement print for playful tableware, bedding and cushion covers.

“Mustard Foliage” celebrates warm, earthy hues and features loose watercolour brushstrokes capturing organic leaves and flowers.

“Mustard Foliage” is a fantastic design for both men and women’s fashion. We’d love to see this used for bucket hats, swimwear and boardshorts!

“Pink Garden” has been hand-painted in a loose, organic watercolour style. The design is soft and feminine pairing beautiful pink and coral blooms with touches of subtle greens.

“Pink Garden” is a great choice for full piece swimsuits, camisoles and men’s summer shirts.

“Mango Floral” is inspired by hot days lounging by the pool. The design features a stunning floral silhouette design and the most gorgeous combination of marigold yellow and a soft blush pink.

We would love to see “Mango Floral” used for summer fashion! We’re thinking sun hats, playsuits and kaftans!

All of our suggestions listed above are just to help get the ideas flowing, The sky’s the limit with this collection and we cannot wait to see the different types of projects you use the designs for! Cass Deller’s complete collection can be found in our online Fabric Shop.

For our latest instalment of The Designer Project we’ll be featuring the work of Perth-based surface pattern designer Shelley Lee Steere! Originally a primary school teacher, Shelley is now the owner and designer behind surface pattern focused design studio Motif Manor which primarily creates patterns for home décor, kitchenware, and stationery. We’re very glad that Shelley’s career went in a very different direction because it means she can share her gorgeous surface designs with you all!

Shelley’s “Australian Flora” collection is a gathering together of mini collections which are each inspired by a different native flower. The designs reflect a new and deeper appreciation of the fantastic range of unique and unusual flowers we have here in Australia. The collection features a versatile colour palette and intricately drawn motifs which are truly stunning. What’s more fantastic is that the whole collection has been made available in our Fabric Shop online, meaning each of the designs can be printed onto any of our stock fabrics. Below we’ve shared a bit about each of the designs and the types of projects we think they’d be great for so keep reading!

“Gum Blossom at Night” is a rich artwork which sets dancing gum blossoms against a deep, moody backdrop. The design layers lines and motifs, keeping the eye entertained.

We think “Gum Blossom Night” would be a gorgeous design for statement tableware and sleepwear.

“Gum Blossom Leaves” features a timeless colour combination of petrol blue and cream reminding us that sometimes simple is best. The delicately drawn leaf motifs are perfectly scattered evoking the earthy floor of the bush.

“Gum Blossom Leaves” would be a great choice for smaller scale products such as pocket squares, bow ties and zipper pouches.

“Gum Blossom Spots” is a perfectly imperfect polka dot print pairing pale pink spots with a warm blush background. This design, along with “Gum Blossom Leaves” are perfect complimentary designs to “Gum Blossom at Night”.

We would love to see “Gum Blossom Spots” used for hair ties, hair scarves and camisoles.

“Grevillea in Bloom” heroes the incredible grevillea flower through it’s wonderfully intricate design. The floral motifs are structured through a classic ogee shape making the design feel wonderfully decadent.

“Grevillea in Bloom” is the perfect print for statement homewares!

“Grevillea Ogee” is a smaller scale, monochrome iteration of “Grevillea in Bloom”, making it the perfect supporting design! The artwork pairs soft coral shades with the delicately illustrated floral elements.

We think “Grevillea Ogee” would be a great choice for bedding and kitchenware.

“Banksia” is a real statement print, bursting with banksia flowers recognised by their unique sawtooth leaves. The variation seen throughout the warm colour palette gives the design dimension.

“Banksia” would be a fantastic print to use for cushion covers and upholstery.

“Sunrise Banksia” features illustrated banksia flower and seed pods in the same layout, with plenty of space seen throughout allowing the elements to breathe. The design pairs soft peachy tones with a rich chocolate brown to create a really versatile print.

“Sunrise Banksia” is a great design for women’s blouses and wide leg pants.

The warm and earthy colour palette of “Sunset Banksia” has us very much feeling as though we’re watching the sun go down. “Sunset Banksia” along with “Sunrise Banksia” are complementary designs to the “Banksia” print.

We would love to see “Sunset Banksia” be used for accessories or swimwear!

“Golden Wattle” uses teal and mustard to pay homage to the traditionally Aussie “green and gold”! The design features boldly outlined wattle branches whilst subtle echoes of the motifs can be seen layered in the background.

“Golden Wattle” would be a gorgeous choice for sarongs, tote bags and cushion covers.

“Wattle Blossom” features delicately drawn sprigs of wattle set against a rich, teal backdrop. The artwork is a pared-back, complimentary design to “Golden Wattle”.

We think “Wattle Blossom” is a wonderful design for bucket hats, swimwear, and tote bags.

Shelley admits that “Protea” isn’t inspired by a native flower, however it’s definitely one we’d like to call our own. Strong, hand-drawn and layered protea flowers peek out from behind rustling leaves in this large-scale print

“Protea” is the ideal statement print for homewares which we’d love to see used for cushion covers, tableware and over the top curtains.

The possibilities are truly endless with Shelley’s “Australian Flora” collection. Our ideas above are suggestions only and we hope they’ve gotten your creative wheels turning! Each of Shelley’s designs can be found in our Fabric Shop online.