Meet Ella Blue, An Australian Fabric House

I’m so excited to be sharing the Australian fabric house Ella Blue with you all. When I teamed up with Fat Quarter Shop for the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Sew-along I was really stoked that we were going to be using Ella Blue’s Ella Basics range to form the core of my fabric bundle for the sew-along. I’m a proud Australian and so to be able to share the amazing work that’s being done by this Australian fabric house was something I was really thrilled to be doing.

I first came across Ella Blue when Emma Jean Jansen was signed to them. I was so excited to see some I’d been following on social media collaborate with an Australian company instead of going offshore like so many have had to do in the past. I’ve used a lot of Emma’s fabrics in my quilts (my latest quilt used nearly all fabrics from her line) and they always add such a great depth to my work, from the colours to the details.

I’m really loving seeing this company grow and move from strength to strength as they find their voice in this industry. I’m jump up and down in my seat thrilled to be able to watch as their journey unfolds and can’t wait to see what fabrics are released at the upcoming Quilt Market. But enough about me, let’s find out more about the amazing that is Ella Blue.

Why did you call the fabric house “Ella Blue”?

The name of the house was formed from a number of origins. Firstly we wanted to express the identity of the house in a way that was fun, feminine, vintage and all the things we love. We felt that the name Ella reflected these ideals, pointing to a singular identity to encapsulate our vision. The choice of blue came in part from the slang ‘true blue Aussie’. We wanted something that subtly referenced our Australian roots in a manner that wasn’t so overt.

When and why was Ella Blue founded?

Ella Blue was founded in 2013 and even though we are a baby comparatively to other larger houses we feel that we have a unique visual language that is entirely thanks to our Australian designers.

What’s the mission or goal of Ella Blue?

Ella Blue was founded as a platform to distribute Australian designed modern fabrics to the rest of the world. The heart of these ideals is that we love quilting and want to see it thrive in Australia and internationally long into the future.

How many people work at Ella Blue?

We are a small group of passionate people, you can count our team on two hands!

Where’s the fabric made?

Our fabrics are made in Japan.

How long does the process take to create a fabric line?

The process varies from range to range, and is dependent on the designer. We won’t go ahead with production until we and the designer are satisfied with the way their designs are represented on cloth.

Is there anything special about the process you use that differentiates you from other fabric houses?

Aside from our small size, we set ourselves apart in that we are about our designers first. We endeavour not to interfere with the creative process as it’s important to us for our designers to work on what gives them joy. You will see that none of our designers are ‘locked in’ to a certain style through the progression of their ranges. We feel this gives our product value.

What advice would you give to those wanting to be fabric designers?

Know what you love and don’t compromise on it. Build up a portfolio of work or even start on the range you’ve been dreaming of and make a start. Things will come together from there.

Do you work with Bloggers or Instagrammers to promote your fabrics?

We often work with creative people who find us or we find through social media. It’s amazing how socially connected the craft community is.

What advice would you give to those that want to make items for promotional events, like Quilt Market, on behalf of Ella Blue?

If you would like to make something for us, let us know! The first step is to ask.

What’s one of Ella Blue’s proudest moment to date?

We achieved great success at the last quilt market and are overjoyed that we are gaining momentum so early on in the life of the house. It is a blessing!

Where’s Ella Blue going in 2016?

We are really excited about the future.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?

We are really excited to be releasing four new collections at International Quilt Market in October, Melba by Emma Jean Jansen, The Cat’s Pyjamas by Jodie Carleton, Foxglove Garden by Leanne Beasley and Cotton Forest by Rosalie Dekker.

You can find Ella Blue in the following places: Website | Facebook |  Instagram