Saffrons Blog

A blog about fabrics, designing, ideas and things that inspire me.

New fabric bundles for July

Saffron Craig - Monday, July 04, 2011

Here are a two fabric bundles I put together for July. Lovley colours of all my ranges working together. With citrus greens, soft pinks and vivid purples.

» July Sampler green - 7 fat eights $25.00

Or this bundle if you are more for a blue palette.

» July Sampler blue - 7 fat eights $25.00

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1 comments

Trudi commented on 04-Jul-2011 10:01 AM

Hi,have only just discovered your beautiful blog. Don't know why it has taken so long as I love your fabric. And it seems I missed some great craft shows in sydney.The abcd meet up intrigues me too. Is there an info link, apart from facebook, about it?

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ABCD Sydney Winter Meetup - better than a birthday

Saffron Craig - Saturday, July 02, 2011

This week's ABCD Meet-up was the biggest it has been. I suppose winter is the perfect time to spend an evening inside a pub eating pizzas and having a glass of our favourite bevvie. Our private room at the gorgeous Three Weeds Hotel was full of wonderful people. There were many delighted faces when people greeted each other. I felt like I have really made friends now and my initial nervousness was not to be found this time. So much to talk about with one and another, sharing tricks of the trade and contacts. So important to have nice thoughts bubbling through my brain.

The goody bag was seriously amazing. I took a picture of half its content and have started a wee scrap book for all the wonderful cards, tags, stickers etc. that come with the bag each time. What happened to the other half? Well it went into little mouths, got clipped into hair, made into drawings and put on shelves to decorate my house. Better than a birthday. More stylish anyway :)

You might want to check out a few fellow bloggers.

The lovely Fiona Chandler of Fiona Kate. A small business owner creating great storage.

Stephanie Robles of Moobear Designs. She explained how she visited reverse garbage in Marickville and found awesome zippers, which she stitched into lovely brooches for us! Thanks Stephanie. I love mine. She has many more great ideas on recycling or up-cycling!

Blogger and crafter Siobhan Rogers of Beaspokequilts. Just lovely.

Thanks to our hostesses and organizers Steph of Bondville and Lisa Tilse of the Red Thread. We are so grateful to you. x

That's only a few of the many who attended. To find out more check out the facebook page.

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5 comments

Siobhan Rogers commented on 02-Jul-2011 10:02 AM

It was great to chat and meet lots of new people, nice now to connect what people make & do with everyone's goody bags. Xx

Steph Bond commented on 02-Jul-2011 03:51 PM

Lovely to see you as always Saffron. And thank you for the gorgeous fabric in the goodie bag too!

Steph commented on 02-Jul-2011 09:40 PM

Saffron!! I got a 3 line write up!! Woohoo...hehe super happy you are enjoying all your goodies... Your colored brooch is by far my favourite. From my end I am thinking of ways to make the most of your fabrics pieces... Any ideas?!? Hehe X Steph

Roberta Easton commented on 04-Jul-2011 03:17 PM

Thank you so much for the lovely fabric. Right up there now on my inspiration board. Love the post card too. sorry I did not get to chat with you at the ABCD or I wold have told you I have lot of bits and pieces around my house made in your wonderful fabrics.
Roberta x

lisa :: the red thread commented on 06-Jul-2011 05:32 PM

Thanks for coming along Saffon - it was lovely to see you. Love your scrapbook idea. x

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John Bokor's Exhibition of paintings at the King Street Gallery

Saffron Craig - Wednesday, June 29, 2011

My good friend John Bokor is excited to be exhibiting his wonderful paintings this week at the King Street Gallery, 177 William St Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia.

I for one cannot wait to see all his oil paintings hung together on the walls.

Tonight is the opening. :) I am taking the entire family. Patrick will most likely bring us all home as I am sure to enjoy a glass of bubbles to celebrate the occasion.

I wonder which will be our favorite and be given the red dots?

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2 comments

Rachael commented on 29-Jun-2011 07:05 PM

What beautiful paintings!! Have fun with the family, and enjoy those bubbles!!

elsa hart commented on 29-Jun-2011 10:56 PM

John's painting is wonderful ~ do wish I were there to see them all!

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Recapping the past week in June

Saffron Craig - Tuesday, June 28, 2011

We are out the other side of a crazy busy month for us. It was lovely to meet so many people. Sorry if you missed saying "hi" to me as I was busy on my stand.

Big thanks to Bec and Sandy and Rani for helping me look after the stand, while Patrick and I did the workshops.

Toni, Saffron and Bec

Thank you so much Kate Conklin for making up a great quilt using the Infinity Flowers. I loved giving Grace a cuddle.

Kate and Grace

Other highlights included the show & tells we held each morning. Public speaking is something we hope to do more of. So rewarding for me to see how well received my new Imaginary Flowers range has been. As well as my new silk scarfs (see above picture of me wearing it) and the new wall decals. They will be in to the shop next week.

So great talking to shop owners, customers and fellow bloggers. And such fantastic support from the industry that stopped by daily to give me an encouraging smile and share a story of their journeys...

Such a huge week I am already thinking about what is next and going forward. Upwards and onwards as they say!

My daughter almost did somersaults when she came home from staying (I mean being spoiled rotten ;) at her grandparents all week. She made me giggle when she asked me on Monday morning how come a night goes so fast in her own bed and takes so long at Nana's? All the interstate people were saying the same thing.

Then it's ballet, end of term concert for the parents. We were all beaming. Now back to the routine of school, sending out orders, designing, play dates and stock-take. School holidays start on Friday for us, which means making up a bit of time with my daughter.

Thanks again. Great to meet so many people. Great time had by all.

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3 comments

Grace commented on 29-Jun-2011 08:30 AM

It was fun to meet you. I bought a scarf it is divine.

Colleen commented on 29-Jun-2011 08:31 AM

Loved visiting you on the first day, I bought your scarf which I love. I came from Adelaide. I definitely will be buying more of your designs. Hope you had a great week!

Nomi commented on 29-Jun-2011 11:43 AM

So glad I bought your new fabric range. I am getting them made into lampshades like the ones you had on display at the show.

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Day 2 of the Craft & Quilt show in Darling harbour

Saffron Craig - Thursday, June 23, 2011

We set up on Tuesday, I thought you might like to see the stand K48 so I took the photo just before I went home.

Lucky we did not have to fly in as there were certainly a lot of people sitting on airports unable to land in Sydney due to the volcanic ash cloud circulating the globe. However, with overnight drives, trains and buses they made it. Driving from interstate and far north NSW. Much is the pull of the show.

Day one of the show was a lot of fun. Great customers, a lot of support and my talk at 9.30am was fun. I am doing one every day so would be great if you could make it. Also great to let people know about me. Better Homes and Garden magazine stopped by, more about that latter.

Great to catch up with friends who I have not seen for a while.

Day 2 is dawning. I still have not heard the first Kookaburra, so it must be really early. I have to cut more pieces of fabric, get frocked and hit the Sydney peak hour traffic. If I am not going to see you there please send me good luck vibes.

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6 comments

Rachael commented on 23-Jun-2011 06:55 AM

Your talk yesterday morning was wonderful!! It was great to see your quilts in real life and of course your fabrics are so fabulous!! Have fun today!!

jodie drescher commented on 23-Jun-2011 07:23 AM

GOOD LUCK!!! not that you will need it for the show, only for the traffic getting there! How could people not fall in love with your fabrics with your gorgeous quilt taking up the back wall. I am in love with that quilt!

Shannon Pankratz commented on 23-Jun-2011 08:06 AM

Oh I wish I could stop by, but it's quite a trip from the U.S. Your booth looks amazing! Have fun this week!!!

Thouraya Battye commented on 23-Jun-2011 08:48 AM

GOOD LUCK with your morning talk...sadly we can only make it in the afternoon but hope to see you then!!!

Julie McMahon commented on 23-Jun-2011 11:48 AM

I'm traveling up from Canberra tomorrow - can't wait to see the booth but I won't make it early enough for the talk. Wishing you a very successful fair.

Lynne Shandley commented on 24-Jun-2011 07:20 PM

Lovely meeting you today (24th), listening to the talk on Wednesday - DH was on fire! I think you need some big girl clothes - not just for kids! Wish I could help out some of the smaller stalls, like you, with set up and pull down! I know setting up even
a crappy little market stall is pretty hard, can't imagine how much effort these ones are!

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Our first ever wall decals - Owl on a branch

Saffron Craig - Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Our first wall decals have arrived just in time for the show. How exciting! And printed in Australia no less. It's a new material that has a textile like feel, not that icky plastic you usually get, and it can be removed and reapplied dozens of times. Perfect for indecisive little children...

We'll be adding it to our shop for $19.50 for an A4 size tonight. They are just so awesome.

Saffron Craig Wall Decal - Owl on a branch

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4 comments

Susan Potts commented on 21-Jun-2011 11:38 AM

Simple and gorgeous! My bedroom walls were painted when I was a child but then they were gone over with a stencilled roller of suns, moons and stars! Wish I could find a stencil roller like that again.

Paula Port commented on 21-Jun-2011 12:45 PM

Absolutely love the colours and patterns used. This would look so awesome on the wall above a bed covered with a quilt in your similar fabrics. Planning and saving! :)

Elaine Wong commented on 21-Jun-2011 03:10 PM

This is so lovely. We're about to move into a new rental & I can see them decorating the walls of my girls' bedrooms.

Sequana commented on 21-Jun-2011 10:53 PM

These are your best idea ever! Such FUN! Almost makes me wish I had a little kid around here again.

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The Rosehill Craft & Quilt Show and now off to Darling Harbour

Saffron Craig - Monday, June 20, 2011

What a huge few days. Back to back shows is really big for me.

There was lots of chatting and explaining who I am what I am doing.

I enjoyed seeing familiar faces, chatting to retail owners, discussing their business and learning what they do. I always want to learn from others.

Thanks for the support from existing customers as well as from the few new businesses who are starting out.

On Sunday after I came home I lay down in Sequoia's quilted cubby house, contemplated the weekend while my little one relaxed me by reading me a story or two and Patrick cooked for us.

The three hours of driving, the worrying, the business thoughts all had me so tired, my throat was aching. I drank about 3 liters of Lemon and Honey tea trying to sooth it, the tea had me up 4 times in the night for the loo.

So much still to do for tomorrow when we will start setting up for Darling Harbour. Yep put the booth back up again.

I will blog later or maybe add a few facebook posts about how I am having a heart attack with all that I am doing and wish I had a team of helpers. Thankfully Bec from Chasing Cottons and Sandy Norman have offered to help me on two days. I also have my husband working two jobs.

So far I have softie panels, Owl panels, fabric bundles and quilt kits, wall decals and applique kits and my first embroidery pattern all packed into boxes waiting to be bought.

Wish me luck!

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4 comments

Samelia's Mum commented on 20-Jun-2011 05:29 PM

I'm looking forward to seeing you on Sunday. Your talk is the first stop on my want-to-do list. Coming up from Wollongong, so hopefully I get there in time :-)

Rachael commented on 20-Jun-2011 06:35 PM

You're doing an amazing job!! I think it's strange the 2 shows are so close together. And 3 cheers for your helpers, especially Sequoia for reading you relaxing stories. This time next week it'll all be over. See you on Wednesday, If you've lost your voice
you just hold up fabrics for us to oooohh and aaahhh over.

Nicole commented on 20-Jun-2011 06:45 PM

Hope my Bug panel arrived on time! Wish I could help you out in your booth, I'm sure everything will be ok though. :) Take care!

Stacey Parish commented on 20-Jun-2011 10:29 PM

Good luck! I'm sure it will all be brilliant. Look foward to seeing you at the show.

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Visit us at the Rosehill Craft & Quilt Show tomorrow and Sunday

Saffron Craig - Friday, June 17, 2011

We will be attending the Rosehill Craft & Quilt trade show this weekend where we will be showcasing all of my designs.
More info here: www.quiltandcraft.com.au/

Our distributors Kathryn and Jim Broomhall (FD Textiles) put together my booth today. Big hugs to you.

Hope to see you there with your happy smiling faces. The sun is out and I am happy. Lots of new fabrics to see.

Moving up in the world, the stand is closer to the front and bigger.

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5 comments

Rachael commented on 17-Jun-2011 10:38 PM

Have fun at the show, dont sell out before next weeks show at Darling Harbour.

Natalie Yates commented on 18-Jun-2011 07:17 AM

Wow how great your stand looks. Well done Saffron!! Would love to have visited this year. Good luck this weekend... we all know you'll ROCK!!

Denise Carruthers commented on 18-Jun-2011 08:18 PM

Well done Saffron, looks fantastic indeed..... hope it's all going well as I'm sure it is...

Kirstin Bokor commented on 19-Jun-2011 03:56 PM

The booth looks so good - oh I do hope it all went well. Are you all talked and smiled out? - I've been gardening, and eek I smell of sheep poo. sorry to share that, but it just took me by surprise. xoxo

Siobhan Rogers commented on 19-Jun-2011 04:48 PM

booth looks great, see you at Darling harbour?

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Introducing my first Imaginary Flowers quilt—and it's big

Saffron Craig - Tuesday, June 14, 2011

My Imaginary Flowers quilt is a big one. Made for the Naked Bed Challenge, it sure challenged me on many levels.

It's only my second enormous quilt I have made and I am drawing up the pattern this week. I will be selling it as a kit at the Craft and Quilt fair in Darling Harbour.

Large quilts are super difficult to photograph for me. I just can't get the distance to show the full quilt. We've tried hanging it from various contraptions around the house but it somehow never looked as good as I wanted. So I have taken some photos of details hoping to capture it.

This quilt is going to be the feature of my booth at the 2 upcoming quilt shows and i have a feeling it might take up the entire wall.

This is a wee detail of the super large quilt.

Saffron Craig - Imaginary Flowers quilt

This is half the quilt and me standing on the dining table.

A detail of the middle section. I wanted the Imaginary Flowers to appear to be floating in the quilt. I love how the stitches show up so beautifully.

Saffron Craig - Imaginary Flowers quilt

I think this picture captures the feeling of the quilt.

Saffron Craig - Imaginary Flowers quilt

This is the back of the quilt. The Lean to Stripe cut into squares and sewn together creates a pretty modern style of quilt I think.

This quilt was long arm machine stitched by Kim. I had asked Kim to use a high loft batting so the quilt felt puffy and snugly. Over the phone I chose a stitch pattern while looking at designs on the web, and Kim scaled the pattern to fit the quilt. Once she'd finished this large project she couriered it back to me. I did not even have to leave my house. Saved me driving to the Hills district and back.

It took me two nights to bind the quilt. Lucky it is super cold in Sydney and a perfect thing to do while watching great TV, Doctor Who's last episode. Did you see it? River Song.

This beauty is the result of two months of work. Phew glad it is finished.

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10 comments

Rebecca Eckersley commented on 14-Jun-2011 12:02 PM

Stunning, love the use of the white and the quilting stitch compliments your fabric design so well.

Andi Herman commented on 14-Jun-2011 01:01 PM

Looks lovely. I do love a big bed-sized quilt!! Good luck at the show. Andi :-)

Kate Conklin commented on 14-Jun-2011 01:46 PM

It's gorgeous Saffron! I love how the prints blend into the background fabric. So dreamy! You're such a tease though.. I want to see the whole thing. I suppose I'll just have to wait until quilt market. Not long now.. yay!

Helene | 25reasons commented on 14-Jun-2011 03:52 PM

This is so very stunning! I want! Since there's no chance at all of me flying to Sydney to see your gorgeous quilt on your wall, I'll have to wait and hope that: 1. you'll post full pics of the quilt, and/or 2. you'll make a pattern for it. It's gorgeous!
Hope the show goes really well for you!

Roslyn Henley commented on 14-Jun-2011 06:12 PM

Love the way you have used the pattern and the white. Can't wait to see it in its entirety if you can get a pic when it is hanging up in your booth. I imagine you are relieved it is finished but I bet you will keep walking past to look once it gets on
your bed (I presume that is where it is destined for after the market). Agree with Kate - big tease not getting a whole photo.

Toni Coward commented on 14-Jun-2011 08:25 PM

Saffron - the quilt looks amazing! Can't wait to see it in real life. Can't wait to see you more!!! xxxxxxxxxxx

Sharon Feigl commented on 14-Jun-2011 08:33 PM

Looks fantastic Saffron...wish I could see it in its entirety. Unfortunately any evil thoughts of sneaking off to Sydney have been banished by the turmoil at Melb. Airport. It'll do great at the show :)

Diane commented on 15-Jun-2011 09:48 AM

Love the fabric and the pattern - would love to buy just pattern. I live in USA!!

Chris commented on 15-Jun-2011 10:44 AM

Cant wait to see it at the Quilt market....see you there

Stacey Parish commented on 17-Jun-2011 08:55 PM

So gorgeous, I can't wait to see the quilt in person and say hello!

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Softies get their own baby quilt

Saffron Craig - Friday, June 10, 2011

I thought the softies would like their own play blanket, a mini quilt of sorts.

Who said cats and dogs don't like each other?

»Softie panels are available here for $14.00

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2 comments

2paw commented on 10-Jun-2011 10:30 AM

Those lucky animals, what a cute quilt and such a good way to use up the lovely prints that surround the softies!!

Sharon Feigl commented on 10-Jun-2011 04:40 PM

They make gorgeous quilts...perhaps I'll have to buy another different panel now :) BTW I second Andi's request. Come to Melbourne, we're friendly too