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It's never too late... to bribe your kids into helping you that is. Many challenges have delayed our production this week; table runners cut the wrong size (look out for new fabric packs as a result), manufacturers with 'sick' staff and the list goes on..
I was anxious to push things along so had to recruit my son, Valerio, into helping me today. 'Big Deal' I hear you say. Well, yes it is as he is so NOT the crafty type. He is more your mathematician, chess/poker playing, computer games kind of guy.
So I had to do what any desperate mother would do, resort to bribery. A mattress for his new lodgings was negotiated. Don't judge me. I have read many a blog post from you crafty mammas where child labour has been used to achieve market readiness. Admittedly, my son is no longer a child but traditional methods still work.
Doesn't he look sweet placing the freshly-printed tea-towels through the textile dryer? All put through twice!
The other one didn't get away without contributing either. Elessa (who accompanied me to the Valentino exhibition) returned to Melbourne on Monday night but spent a good portion of the day wrapping dozens of soaps. Oh, what good kids I have. Thanks Possums!
Do you remember our old shed? It's still sitting in the corner of our backyard but hopefully not for long.
As this is the future site of our new screen-printing studio, I thought you may be interested in an update. We've gone through the long, council application process and have successfully addressed all of the environmental and other conditions and are now on the home stretch.
I'm kind of excited seeing the 'proposed development' sign erected outside our front fence. We've had a couple of calls from curious neighbours but without objections so everything seems to be on track.
If all goes well, we should be able to relocate by the end of the year. I am looking forward to working from home, not paying rent and especially to increasing our production capacity with a second yardage-printing table. Will you come to our grand opening?
Many Brisbane vintage lovers will know the La Bella Donna boutique at Morningside. It is a shopping destination not only for quality vintage fashion and accessories but also for pre-loved designer wear. Many a formal dress has been aquired here.
When I moved house earlier this year, I sorted my clothing and shoes into 3 categories; items to keep, items for charity and better quality items to sell. Now, with a husband in hospital at the time, a house to pack and a small business to run, I did not have time to do the eBay thing. Instead, I called on the services of Anna Travierso, the savvy owner of La Bella Donna to sell my treasures on consignment.
Anna personally came over to my house and picked up the selected clothing and shoes to take to her store. I have consistently been getting payments from sales ever since. I can't praise her services enough and wish to take this opportunity to personally thank her. You're a star Anna!
Here's La Bella Donna (the beautiful lady) Anna wearing a stylish 1940's dress.
Shoes for every occasion.
Granny chic hats.
Speaking of granny chic, the sign on this amazing lace dress made me giggle. It reads "Please don't touch me, I'm very old (90+ years)". Can you imagine some fragile old lady saying this to you?
Beautiful old world knick-knacks.
A beautiful jewellery display that you could replicate at home. Take an old vintage frame, cover the backing board with rich red velvet (or black), hammer in some small nails and voilà .
How sophisticated is this terry-toweling beach assemble? Unfortunately, not something that I could wear but would look great on someone with nice pins.
Where? Find La Bella Donna at 643 Wynnum Road, Morningside. See map here. You may also browse and buy selected vintage pieces via their website.
Please excuse my photos. I am blaming the lighting.
You may not hear much from me over the next week as I am frantically trying to finish screen-printing and organising the sewing of our wholesale orders. This is what my dining room table looks like this morning. I have started collating the products as I receive them.
It's all about time management. Right now, I am posting this while waiting on the phone (for the last 45 minutes) for Qantas to finally answer my call. I am not happy.
I booked a flight to Melbourne next month and immediately paid for it via BPay only to receive an email this morning informing me that I didn't pay in time and that my flights have been cancelled. If I ever get to speak to a real person, I'll let you know the outcome.
I'm very disappointed (being polite here) Qantas!
Update: apparently there was a computer glitch and all Qantas customers got the same email. I'm still waiting for their phone call to confirm that flights are okay so still a little nervous about it.
Hello everybody. Are you enjoying your weekend? I was planning to go into the studio today but have decided to stay at home instead. It's cloudy and gloomy in Brisbane plus I feel tired so it's the kind of day that I just want to lounge around in my pyjamas.
I wanted to tell you that I have now added another page to my blog. The link, Custom-Made Furnishings can be found on the top right-side corner in my right column when you click on the icon and features custom-work using our fabrics. So you can refer to these posts for decorating ideas.
I just mailed some fabrics to our new, local lampshade maker so I look forward to showing you the results.
You are also welcome to submit any of your own Thea & Sami creations to the blog.
Do you remember the custom-made lampshade we made recently from our sweet Marguerite printed hemp/organic cotton? Well, here it is in it's new home.
Margaret, the lovely owner, was kind enough to email me this photo of the lamp shade with the lamp base that her husband made.
Here are her words:
"The story of the lamp base is that my husband is a cabinetmaker (was a cabinetmaking teacher) and ages ago he made this base, from Tasmanian Blackwood. A friend, who was a home decorator, made him the original shade for it but over the years and a couple of moves, the shade disappeared. While unpacking in our new home, I rediscovered it and thought I would purchase another shade. That was not an easy task as all the commercial shades were not suitable in size or shape.
Then my daughter suggested I look on the internet and hey presto your page came up and I fell in love with the sample on the page in the exact material I had in my mind. Thank you Thea. It looks great in our lounge room with our new lounge"
I'm happy to say that our custom-made lampshade put an end to Margaret's 6 month search. Please contact us if you would like any of our fabrics in any lampshade size.
What are you doing today? I'm off to teach a screen-printing class. Photos to follow.
I am so happy to present this week's Friday Follower to you. Sandrine Marsh is a special lady who I also have the pleasure of knowing outside the virtual world. She is French but now lives at the Sunshine Coast with her young family. She is oh-so-stylish and this is reflected in her creations so do read on to get to know her better.
What do you make?
I design and make unique accessories from felted scarves, hats, brooches, wraps in the cooler months to hats and head pieces in the warmer times. I also work on commission creating with customers. I have also just released a new range of casual sun hats with a Sandrine twist (see top image) which is very exciting!
How did you start your crafting business?
I always had a fascination for Millinery. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to study Millinery with some brilliant Milliners and I came back from that experience ready to experiment and develop my own style. My path crossed with some more brilliant people and I learnt to make my own felt. The idea behind that was that I really wanted to make the hat from scratch, starting from the fibre.
This was the start of my journey into felting and exploring the possibilities this art can offer. I guess the need to create/make has not stop to grow since and as I started looking for an outlet with a local market. The response was so great that it gave me the courage to keep creating and developing that creativity into a business shape.
Is this a full-time occupation for you?
The opportunity to develop my creative side came when it was time for me to dedicate more time to my children and family. So my time feels more than full but I need to wear lots of hats :) As my girls are growing up, I have more and more time to concentrate on myself and my plans which is really exciting.
What inspires you?
The list can be very long...
Nature, I think I draw a lot from it. I also need nature and lots of light to feel my happiest. Colours, art, clothes, fabrics, people, emotions, music, cultures, travel, books, blogs, the sunshine.
Often people say that my work is "very French, sometimes a little quirky", so I guess that my cultural background and the places that I have visited and lived have left some great memories. I now realise it is often perceived in my work.
Where can we purchase your work?
You can find some of my range in my Etsy Store and at markets around Brisbane and in particular the BrisStyle Indie Designers Markets. Also at a lovely boutique called Soul Fire in Montville, Sunshine Coast (near the clock shop).
Do share something interesting about you.
Hmmm.... Things about me to share (in random order):
- I was born and grew up in Marseille and Avignon (France)
- I worked and lived 5 years as an expatriate in West Africa where I met my hubby
- I have a scientific background and also worked in Cancer Research for a little while
- I LOVE dark chocolate with almond I am a bit of a nutrition, health and fitness junky
- I have an earring impairment that taught me to lip read
- I lived for 8 years in Western Australia before coming to the Sunshine Coast.
Impressive. I am certain that you were the most stylish of all research scientists, Sandrine! I can personally recommend Sandrine's commission services, having recently acquired a beautiful, hand-felted wool and lace vest. I'm sorry that I haven't had the chance to photograph it.
Sandrine has generously offered my blog readers free shipping when purchasing any item through her Etsy store. Simply mention "Thea" in the note to seller when paying. This offer is only valid until Monday, September 20th.
Thank you Sandrine for you time and generosity! You may also visit and say hello to Sandrine over at her blog histoire de soie.
All images are courtesy of Sandrine Marsh.
Yay for the newest issue of Peppermint Mag that arrived yesterday! How adorable is the cover?
Boo to the postman who bent it in half and shoved it in my mailbox. There's no respect, I tell you.
Double yay for our new fabric-wrapped, natural soaps being included on the Limelight page (p.10). Thanks to Peppermint for the sweet words too, referring to Thea & Sami as their favourite Brisbane screenprinter. *Blush*
If you haven't heard of Peppermint Mag (where have you been?) it is a Brisbane-produced, eco-fashion magazine that also features green living articles as well as crafty and vintage goodness. You can subscribe to your own copy through the Peppermint Mag website. Keep up to date via Peppermint Facebook.
So I had to do what any desperate mother would do, resort to bribery. A mattress for his new lodgings was negotiated. Don't judge me. I have read many a blog post from you crafty mammas where child labour has been used to achieve market readiness. Admittedly, my son is no longer a child but traditional methods still work. 
