Saffrons Blog

I'm a fabric designer, mum and creative crafty person. A blog about fabrics, projects, ideas and things that inspire me.

My Creative Space - making my new cat softies

Saffron Craig - Friday, March 25, 2011

It's a bit of a bust in my creative space. I finally prioritized vising the dentist. I still can't feel half my mouth, have to say all the yoga I do helped with the anxiety of having my mouth open for over an hour, though not when I read the bill. Gulp.

I was kinda hoping for some huge creative buzz today but it is not coming. It's all business.

So I need to re-energize, put a smile on my face with a swim in the waves. The water is still warm and so inviting. I love putting my daughter on the biggest wave and hearing her laugh. Ok she screams like she is on a roller coaster.

My creative space - making the new cat softies

Making my new cat softie from the strike offs, just to be sure they match!

Then I will come back and do something in my creative space! Sew It Together is tomorrow and no idea what I am going to stitch. I might have to start something new?

Don't forget Earth Hour on Saturday night and voting tomorrow.
You can see more creative spaces here.

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1 comments

Casey commented on 25-Mar-2011 10:19 PM

Love them! :-)

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Introducing Steiner dolls by Donna

Saffron Craig - Thursday, March 24, 2011

On Etsy one can find so many gems and one such person is Donna, who lives in the bush near a river with her husband and two beautiful children. Just like me, in her spare time Donna likes to sew. She has a love for natural and beautiful fibres and a great respect for the Waldorf philosophies relating to children's play.

Donna has been crafting dolls since she was young and has now been creating Steiner/Waldorf dolls for almost 4 years.

Each doll Donna creates is unique. The hair is made from Australian wool or mohair and is often hand dyed to suit the dolls. Donna hand embroiders the simple features so that the child can create the emotions for the dolls. They have movement in their arms and legs so they are super fun to play with. So sweet, don't you just want to snuggle one?

Being curious I had to to ask Donna why she uses my fabrics and she responded:
"I use your fabrics because they just seem to lend themselves so well to the whimsical nature of my dolls. And I love supporting an Aussie designer."

http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Riverside-Dolls/193517007347813

On Donna's facebook page shows how her 6 year old is joining in.

You can purchase these amazing dolls here

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1 comments

Kirsten Heap commented on 24-Mar-2011 08:00 PM

Wow, her dolls are amazing.

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Do you want to learn how to sew? Join Quilt Class 101

Saffron Craig - Tuesday, March 22, 2011

If you are not lucky enough to have an Oma to teach you how to sew then you might be interested in this:
Bec from Chasing cottons is running the Quilt Class 101. It will run over a period of about 12 weeks and will teach you everything from the beginning with fabrics, where to source them, what to buy, what a Fat Quarter is and so on right to designing quilts, cutting, sewing, basting, quilting etc...until you have your own first quilt done.

Sounds great Bec. So if you are interested then all you need to know is here.

The first technique Oma taught me is paper piecing so I thought I would share this with you as Bec has kindly invited me to be a guest blogger on her blog Chasing Cottons showing you how I made theses bugs with paper piecing on my latest quilt I have been working on.

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3 comments

Bec commented on 22-Mar-2011 06:00 PM

Yay!!! I cant wait!! Thanks for the plug Saffron!! xx Cant wait to see your paper pieceing technique from your OMA xxx Love Ya xx

Mindy commented on 23-Mar-2011 08:32 AM

I am always interested in learning new teqniques to use for quilting fabric. Thanks for the tip.

Mindy commented on 23-Mar-2011 08:34 AM

I am always interested in learning new teqniques to use for quilting fabric. Thanks for the tip.

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Sew it Together goodie bags

Saffron Craig - Sunday, March 20, 2011

These are the sample packs I was making up last week for the Sew it Together goodie bag, which we are proud to be sponsors of. I am so looking forward to meeting the 60 talented ladies who are coming along. Should be a Saturday for me full of stitching and chatting. I am also doing a work shop with Material Obsession where I'm planning to learn how to use a wedge ruler. I want to make a circle or two, looking forward to that too.

Have a look at this list of blogs by the people who are attending SIT. There might still be one spot left if you are around Sydney on March 26, 2011. If you're keen you can pay for your place here.

I am also going to have a stall in the afternoon selling my fabrics and bundles.

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4 comments

Sandy Norman commented on 20-Mar-2011 08:00 PM

Looking forward to meeting you next Saturday... Will you be bringing some of your new fabric range.

Sandyn

Sheridan commented on 20-Mar-2011 08:35 PM

Thanks Saffron! I'm delighted to have you as a sponsor AND as a participant!!

See you on Saturday!

Becky commented on 21-Mar-2011 08:57 AM

I am really looking forward to meeting you on Saturday. Just don't let me buy any owl or koala softie panels, I own enough to make a lot, but don't seem to be able to say no to them!

Hilary McFarlane commented on 21-Mar-2011 11:08 PM

Wow we are being really spoilt. Hope it hasn't taken you too long to pack all of them!

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Post card swap

Saffron Craig - Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Today I received my post card from the postcard swap. It is amazing. It's everything I love.
Sharon Payne Bolton created this one using vintage laces from France detailing original papers from Nice from 1891! It also includes original French postage stamps, hand dyed silk for the ribbon sealed in bees wax for preservation. I know because I have stroked it plenty.

And it smells so good too!

Sharon Payne Bolton Postcard

A beautiful letter that came with it explains the huge efforts that Sharon went to. It is full of romance and master craft of bygone days.

When you receive an object of such beauty you want to delve into that world so I hopped over to see Sharon's website to visit her studio and immerse into her world.

These are my favorite images.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sharon. So much beauty and inspiration.

Also thanks to Hilary who mentioned the post card swap to me, which is organized by the lovely Beth. You can see more postcard creations on flickr here.

This is what I designed and sewed for the swap. Have a read what my lovely swap partner said about it.

My my, I will have to participate more in swaps. So much fun.

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1 comments

Cissa commented on 18-Mar-2011 10:13 AM

I just returned home from 3 weeks in AU. I loved your fabrics when I was there in 2009 and I love the Birds and tree in this new collection too. I bought some to bring home and later I saw the picture on the magazine. Glad I had bought it. The quilt is beautiful.

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Kate's quilt in The Australian Patchwork and Quilting

Saffron Craig - Monday, March 14, 2011

This morning I bought the Australian Patch work and Quilting magazine only to discover Kate Conklin's wonderful quilt Off the Rails, which is a funky, modern quilt pattern. The quilt features my Bird Tree range, which is so lovely to see. The APQ has done a lovely job. The magazine is Volume 20 number 2 with the quilt being on page 80. Kate's design uses the slash and stack method which is a lot of fun to cut out and really easy to piece.

The instructions to make the quilt are in two sizes, small 100x 128 cm (39 1/2 x 50 1/2 inches) and a larger size 133 x 192cm (52 ½ x 75 ½ inches). It is quite easy to make the quilt even larger.

The magazine features the original magenta colorway of the Bird tree fabrics, of which I only have three kits left in the smaller size, you can buy that here.

Below is a new colorway I put together as an alternative, though it differs slightly from the quilt published in the APQ, I think that these colours are really lovely and work just as well. The photo shows what you will find in the larger size quilt kit when you buy one here. Of these we only have five available. Lucky for us the Bird Tree range has been very popular.

Indigo & green kit
I also love working with the lovely cooler tones of the indigo and green colour-way of the Bird Tree range. Below is a picture of what these fabrics look like together. You can purchase the indigo kit in large or in the small size. Simply choose the Indigo kit from the drop down box.

Below is the quilt top I made last year using Kate's Off The Rails pattern. As it was for a couple I thought I would use this range as it is not gender specific.
In this previous post you can read up about how I made the quilt in the indigo and green Bird Tree colour way.

Don't you think the love in the faces on their wedding day is just beautiful? It's a picture of when Sharon and Mal received their quilt.

A big thanks to Kate Conklin for such a great project and to the APQ for recognising it as such.

Oh yes I think I should mention I really, really enjoyed making mine. :)

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1 comments

Dianna Bingham commented on 15-Mar-2011 06:57 AM

As I will, am all ready to go! Once I finish my Christchurch Hanging Hearts. :o)

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What wave-length are you on?

Saffron Craig - Thursday, March 10, 2011

I thought I would find out if my family is on my wave length.
So I my asked daughter "Should I trim the threads on Sophie's first birthday card? You know, threads or no threads?"
My daughter explained I should trim the left and keep the right long. (nice)
My husband said "keep em.."
We are indeed on the same page artistically; quick, messy and spontaneous.
How about you?

What is inside the parcel? Well a custom made pair of Archie and Moo shorts.

And a dress I whipped up from a new pattern I'm testing for the first time. Which I like, so I am going to remake it into a top according to my 5 year old's instructions; I've opened a can of worms...said with a smile.

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3 comments

kate Smith commented on 10-Mar-2011 06:49 PM

I wouldn't mind a copy of that pattern myself except I might make it more A-line. Love the fabric choices!

Rachael commented on 10-Mar-2011 07:08 PM

I love the idea of keeping all the threads all wild and long. The clothes are so cute!!

patricia gooden commented on 10-Mar-2011 11:56 PM

If I am being honest, I would have probably cut them off. BTW, I just received a fat quarter bundle of Magical Lands from Marmalade Fabrics here in the U.S. and they are splendid!!! I cannot decide what to do with your fantastic creations yet. I might have to make something for myself.

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Banksia's in my painting studio

Saffron Craig - Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Snap shot of my painting studio with my iPhone. I have been painting lately, which I really love. It's always fun to get messy and push paint around a canvas. There is such a freedom to it.

Painting has helped me to discover the right colour palette while allowing me to place this large scale banksia on a surface.

Works in progress. I like to sit back and look at them for a while before I continue or start again.
What do you think?

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2 comments

Kelli Hynes commented on 08-Mar-2011 05:55 PM

LOVE MUCH! You have really simplified these alien looking pods. Terrific job once again young lady. Are you creating your next range?? Some Australiana??

Rachael commented on 10-Mar-2011 07:11 PM

LOVE your banksias!!! Absolutely beautiful!!!

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Support for Christchurch

Saffron Craig - Sunday, March 06, 2011

A lovely set of hand made Magical Land cushions are currently up for auction here to raise money for Christchurch, the current bid is $55.00. They retail for $135.00 so please show your generosity for those in need. All proceeds are going to help the people of Christchurch with funds going to The Salvation Army and Christchurch Womens Refuge.

So far 500 items have been donated and it is great to see all the support and how many talented people are coming together with hand made goodness. You can help by browsing and placing a bid here. Who doesn't like handmade?

You can contact the organizers via email, a wonderful group of crafty mums and many of whom own and operate small businesses. They had often wondered how they can get together to help people in need and that's where the idea started. You can follow their journey on Facebook here. In a little over a week they had 1,994 likers on their page so there is a hive of activity.

Saffron Craig set of 3 magical lands cushions

So if you'd like to own some stylish cushions and help out people in need, then go and place your bid here!

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This time last week

Saffron Craig - Friday, March 04, 2011

This time last week we visited Peg's Pieces in Kirawee. I feel as though I received more than I gave with new blogs and websites to visit, new projects to make, many laughs and the encouragement of seeing all my fabric in one room.

From the very well equipped shop of Peg's Pieces I bought much, including equipment to start a simple embroidery, which I feel is half way, well I have made a start.

I bought some great buttons to make capes for all the birthdays coming up.

I heard about a post card swap and bought the equipment to make my post card. I have since made and posted it to the US in a bright yellow "for Aussie" envelope. I will share the story with you once my NY partner receives it. Here is the flickr group.