Cross Stitched and Printed Cushion

My obsession with hand-crafted cushions continues. I'd been wanting to try cross-stitch over our "Dotty about Roses" fabric for some time now and so I finally did.

I liked the idea of having just one stitched rose and making it pop by choosing a contrasting colour to the print. I like that it isn't smack in the middle of the cushion.

This is my work in progress. So easy to follow the screen-printed pattern. The embroidery hoop is actually over the (finished) cushion front. Hard to believe that I've hidden the entire cushion behind the hoop, isn't it?

I want to play around with this idea some more. I think it would be interesting to try some French Knots over some of the dots. If you would like to play around too and perhaps use more than one coloured thread, you may choose from our Dotty about Roses tea-towel, napkins, cushions or fabric. Do send us photos if you do.

I should also mention that the Studio Shop will not be open this Saturday (yet another family funeral) nor the following as I will be away. You may contact me to arrange any other time to visit. All orders placed on-line next week will be shipped the following week.

Easy Cushion Finishing

Joy. I have finally finished my needlepoint cushions, previously posted here and here because I made it easy for myself.

Call me lazy but when I found out that I could use ready-to-sew cushion backs, zipper included, I couldn't resist.

You could also use these cotton backs for other projects if you dislike sewing zippers. I couldn't find them in Australia so purchased them at EmbroiderStitch.Com, a UK based website that has an amazing selection of needlepoint and craft kits.

So easy. Lightly press the finished needlepoint front and square up if necessary. Pin fronts and backs right side together and don't forget to open the zipper first! Sew along your last row of stitching.

I like my cushion corners to be square so after zig-zagging and trimming the edges, mitered corners were folded and held as pictured before turning inside out through the open zipper.

See. Square corner.

Is there anything more satisfying than a finished project? That's a big deal in my household.

Floral Dog

Meet Audrey. Isn't she a sweetie?

Audrey was made by Allyson's talented friend Lisa using the fabric cut-offs from her decorating projects (see previous post).

Luckily Allyson doesn't live too close to me as Audrey may just be kidnapped.

Lisa makes lots of toys. Find out more over at her blog, Livewell Farm.

Allyson's Living Room

I just love roman blinds especially after seeing this beauty hanging in Allyson's Brisbane home. Allyson is one of our lovely customers and chose our Cottage Garden organic jacquard fabric in Rouge (now on sale) for her blind.

The large drum lampshade features the Thea & Sami Hydrangea print on natural linen which lends a modern look to Allyson's existing vintage lamp stand.

The coordinating cushion (on chair) was sewn from the same Hydrangea linen by Allyson's friend Lisa who also made the blind. You may also purchase the linen cushions ready-made.

Thanks Allyson for kindly sharing these images with us. I can't wait to have my own blinds made!

Instant Fabric Sample

I just had a studio visit from Sue, a lovely customer who wanted to see fabrics for lampshades to match her bedroom quilt.

Sue really liked the dusty pink linen and Peacock Party design so I printed a sample for her on the spot to take home. She was thrilled. Where else could you have that done? Just asking.

Proud to be Cheap

The fabric sale continues! The Peacock Party design hand-printed on hemp/organic cotton has now been added to the clearance range.

There is limited stock of the Teal, Red and Orange print and I expect this one to go quickly. It would look great as cushions, don't you think?

Keep checking our Sales Page for other bargains including 20% off the July 16 Screen-Printing class until the end of the month.

The husband and I are going out to breakfast this morning but I will be in the Studio Shop later if you wish to pop in and shop direct.

Winter Cosies

Okay, so it's not snowing in Brisbane but I'm cold this morning. I'm wearing my new red Ascot Wool Scarf as I type and I'm loving it. Thanks Mel! That was super-fast delivery all the way from Perth.

Mel Paton makes gorgeous crocheted accessories and I've previously blogged about her work here.

Mel's sense of humour is reflected in her work. Mel admits that wearing The Nozy Nose Warmer "will make you will look eccentric (and a little bit like a mouse) but you'll be the one having the last laugh when your nose is toasty warm!"

Who can resist the cute Tea Cosy Chicken?

There's much more cosy loveliness to discover at Mel P Creation's Etsy shop, Facebook or Blog.

Images courtesy of Mel Paton.

Learn to Screen Print Sale

Our end of financial year sale continues! If you have been wanting to learn how to screen-print, we have extended the special 20% off rate until the end of June or until sold. The class is on Saturday, July 16th.

You may book directly on-line. Hot Air Balloons and Cars printed by Kylie Waye in one of our previous classes.

Patchy Thinking

I have too many ideas and I want to do too much so I'm not nearly as productive as you may think.

Today, I really should have been working on my new fabric design but got distracted by playing around with patch working for a personal project.

I just had to see what it looked like draped over my chair again (see previous post). I'm liking this look. What do you think?

The fabrics used are the Marguerite in Dusty Pink linen and the French Stripes in Sage Green. I think that I'm obsessed with chairs lately because my Upholstery class is now less than 2 weeks away and I still haven't decided what fabric I'll be using.

The Marguerite dusty pink linen is the same linen that we printed for the lovely chair Flourish and Blume upholstered here.

The F&B girls are such an inspiration and now have a Facebook page. Go like them and like Thea & Sami too :)

Text Print for Upholstery

We have more fabrics on sale. I'm almost sorry to see this one go now that I see how good it looks draped over the retro armchair but we need to move forward and make room for new designs.

The "Nature Will Prevail" print is available in a few colours in limited quantities in the Organic Cotton Canvas (as seen in photo) or on Hemp/Organic Cotton. This print will be discontinued so don't procrastinate if you like it. If you're wondering what it reads, follow the links.

More fabrics are on sale here and our screen-printing workshops are on sale until Monday.

Now, I can go back to working on a fun craft project that I will share with you soon.

A Little Bit of Media

Our Bamboo Coasters are featured in the current issue of Country Home Ideas. The coasters are a design collaboration between Thea & Sami and Red Revival.

If you have read the product promotion on page 108, I just wish to clarify that the coasters are sold in sets of 4 of the same design. The correct price is $24 per set.

Purchase coasters from our website or from our stockists.

Black & White Fabric Sale

Beautiful prints on discontinued black organic linen are now on sale!

These are fashion weight fabrics and we only have a few metres left of each so be quick if you want to make something special for yourself (or someone else). Choose from Cottage Garden (above)

or Marguerite. See more organic fabrics on our Sales Page.

Pretty Laptop Bags

What joy! I picked up my new laptop bag from the post office yesterday. I'm in love.

After an unsuccessful local search for a feminine and not black, blokey bag, I gave up and shopped on-line from Cool Computer Bags. So many choices and lots of bargains to be had at their site. They post worldwide and shipping was relatively quick.

I'm in love with light blues lately and chose this McKlein Willow Spring leather laptop bag in Aqua but it is also available in other colours.

Or if you prefer non-leather options, you may like this Mango Tango faux-suede number in Camel.


For the romantics, I recommend carrying your computer around with in Mellow World's Flower Shop case.

If you do order, make sure you measure your computer's dimensions and compare with each bag's description. My laptop fits perfectly in mine.

Let us know if you have found any other pretty laptop bags.

Printing in our Studio

It's rewarding to see people returning to our studio to work on their own projects. You may remember Tracy Hallmond's blue jellyfish print from April's Screen-Printing workshop?

Tracy was in the studio on Saturday to work on her screen printing skills and reprinted her jellyfish design in the hot pink/black colourway. Love!

Tracy's floral print. Tracy had her designs professional exposed onto her own screens. In Brisbane, this service is available at Gabba Screen Printing Supplies.

Even lovelier screen printed on linen napkins.

You sure look like you were having fun on Saturday Tracy! Studio hire is available for our ex-students (or experience printers) through our website.

SPECIAL OFFER: For one week only, you can book a place in our July 16th Screen-Printing Class for 20% off our normal price. You must book by next Monday the 20th to take advantage of this special. Contact me if you prefer to pay by credit card.

I would like to say a special hello to Terese from Sydney who popped into the studio on Saturday too. Thanks Terese and I can't wait to see what you do with your Thea & Sami fabrics.

FABRIC SALE

I hope fellow Aussies all enjoyed the long weekend. I caught up with domestic chores and we enjoyed some home slow-cooked meals for a lovely change of pace.

I've been working on new fabric designs and will be printing them on white and natural linens. To make room for our new fabrics, we are having a Fabric Sale.

Many of our hemp/organic fabrics will be discontinued and items will remain on sale until sold. Be quick if you like something as some fabrics are in very short supply.

Some of our pre-shrunk, unprinted European Linens have been reduced too. Check out the Thea & Sami SALE PAGE and keep checking back for updates.

You are also welcome to visit our Studio Shop on Saturdays for a larger selection of sale items.

Urban Gardens

With our colder than usual weather today, I'm already wishing for Spring.

These colourful, UV protected planters by Greenbo put a smile on my face.

They look just as good on an urban balcony as they do on a country fence, don't you think?

I discovered them over at our new homewares stockist My Secret Garden or you can order directly through Greenbo.

Melbourne Dinner Parties

One of my favourite Meburnians, Shelley Panton is hosting another round of her famous dinner parties in her ceramic studio and shop.

How gorgeous is the setting from the last dinner party?

The intimate dinners with chef Nicolas Poelaert of Embrasse Restaurant and Andrew Marks of The Wanderer and Gembrook Hill vineyards are on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th July. Click here for further information and to book a place for either night.

I really wish I could attend but I will be in Toowoomba learning how to upholster my slipper chair.

There's a great interview with Shelley over at Daily Imprint and don't forget to check out our linen homewares if you do visit Shelley's shop.

Solar Energy Time

With rising energy bills, the Samios clan has been installing solar panels in our homes. Solar panels are now an affordable option for Australian households looking to reduce their power bills and generate their own clean electricity. June is the month to do so with current Federal rebates set to be reduced by 40% after June 30.

There are plenty of deals right now and locally in Brisbane, Rjay Electrical is a family-owned business who choose to use Blue Sun solar panels for their high quality equipment. The panels are designed in Australia to withstand the Queensland sun and have a 25 Year output warranty.

Skilled installers will work out the best system for your needs and are all Clean Energy Council Certified. I won't bore you with numbers but most households can expect to save $1200 per year for an average sized residential system as electricity companies buy back the extra power you produce at a subsidised rate.

If this is something you have been looking at, you can contact Val Cassimatis (my eco-conscious son) at val[at]rjayelectrical.com.au for further information and to arrange installation. I'm proud of what he is doing and a mother needs to keep her child employed and out of trouble, right?

Meanwhile, I'm still in Melbourne and wishing I had little solar panels on my coat to keep me extra warm. It's chilly here today.

June Screen Printers

Hello friends. Sorry for my absence but I've been battling a 2 day headache since Ianding in Melbourne for a wee chilly break. Fortunately, a Chinese neck and shoulder massage today put an end to my misery.


I thought I would pop in and show you images from last Saturday's Screen-Printing, smaller than usual, but no less inspiring class.

Sue Flewell-Smith recently graduated from a fashion course so was experimenting with design ideas for her participation in an upcoming fashion parade. The butterfly print at top is also her print.

A little hard to see here but the white on white print was stunning.

Here it is again on Sue's pale blue work shirt.

Pam Owens had been wanting to try screen-printing for a while so really got into it.

The simplicity of the leaf design becomes something special when repeated randomly onto the fabric.

Jasmin Pearson has built a creative business around ants. 'My Marching Ants' was created when her home was over run with ants; big, small and of every colour. Read more about it on Jasmin's Facebook page and see her other artwork over at Jasmin's Art.

Black ant.

Coloured ant. The initial plan was for this little guy to be a tri-coloured insect but time ran out. Never mind, some of the girls will be returning to take advantage of our studio hire facilities so will take their design ideas further then.

If you would like to learn how to screen-print and then use our facilities to work on your own projects, our next class is on Saturday, 16th July. You may book directly on-line.