Battery Recharge

Sorry for my absence. I've had an exhausting and boring week, mainly with packing up our little studio that will be relocated to its new home tomorrow. This weekend I should have been catching up with housework but I've simply had no energy after this last hectic and emotional month.

We decided that today was just too beautiful a day to waste indoors so the man and I drove to the Gold Coast and spent most of the day at Burleigh Heads (pictured) and it was wonderful. I hadn't been to the beach all summer and I had forgotten how much I love swimming in the ocean, lying in the sun and relaxing to the sounds of waves. Bliss.

Now my batteries are recharged and with the boys working on the move tomorrow, I can finally concentrate on finalising wholesale orders over the next week with new and old friends. I can't wait to share news of new stockists in the near future with you.

I hope that you have been enjoying our lovely weather too! x

April Screen-Printing Class Date

I have just listed a new Screen-Printing for Beginners workshop for Saturday, April 16th. This is especially for the annoying eager people who keep asking me when the next available class is.

Please book directly on-line or contact me if you don't wish to use PayPal. To see images and inspirations from previous classes, visit our page at Screen-Printing Class Designs.

Short or Long?

Thea & Sami linen table runners are now available in a new shorter length - 140 cm (55 inches).

Of course, for some, short just won't do so we will still offer you our longer 180 cm (70 inches) runners.


This is our new Dotty about Roses runner with matching placemats. Styling by Olive and Joy. You may order other runners here and select your preferred length from drop-down menus.

Other placemats are available here. More runners and other new products to follow shortly as my internet speed returns back to normal at midnight. Yay!

The big kid is no longer allowed to use You Tube without supervision. It's been painful trying to visit your blogs and waiting for images to upload. I can't wait to catch up with you all.

Junior Help Wanted

This image reflects my mood at the moment although it's not really as bad as it looks - they're not body bags or anything like that.

We are in the midst of packing up our little studio to move to bigger and better premises. Rolls of fabrics have been wrapped in lining to protect them from dust and dirt in transit.

I will be so relieved when it's all done and we are set up ready to resume screen-printing.

I will be looking for a junior assistant to help me with packing orders, tying and writing hang-tags and mixing inks, etc. This would suit a high school student who can work after school hours and possibly participate in a school-based apprenticeship.

If you know of any art students who may be interested, please contact me. Student MUST live in the Capalaba neighbourhood and/or be able to commute to our new Jones Road studio.

More Linen Cushions

I'm back! Sydney was good but tiring and I'm only sorry that I didn't get to meet everybody that I wanted to.

Now, there is a lot of following up for me to do with new and existing customers and with updating the website.

It certainly doesn't help that my big kid (that's the husband) spent all week watching latin music videos on You Tube in my absence so that our internet has now been slowed down to a pace that is so painfully slow that I want to pull my hair out! I have to wait 3 more days for the new account month to begin.

I have managed to list a couple more of the new linen cushions onto the website; "Dotty about Roses" and "Iron Flowers" both made from our European pre-shrunk linens.

The "French Stripes" cushions will follow shortly.

I must rush off now as we are carefully removing the staples from the canvas and felt cover off our yardage-printing table in preparation for it's move to the new studio. Hopefully, the team has already made a start this morning.

Blue Heaven & Pink Perfection

At Thea & Sami we take naming our designs and colourways very seriously. The perfect colour deserves the perfect name, don't you think?

As such, say hello to "Blue Heaven" the new colourway for our 'Dotty about Roses' design now printed on a lovely Hemp/ Organic Cotton basecloth.

and Pink Perfection. Purchase on-line here. Both colourways are also available as sweet tea-towels printed on white linen.

Dotty about Roses Hemp/ Organic Cotton cushions will soon be followed by their linen cousins and other new designs.

We're off to Day 3 of our trade show. It was lovely meeting our customers face to face. And a special hello to Theresa and Amanda, our lovely ladies from Urban Dweller who had dinner with us last night - so much fun!

Trade Show Display

Here's a peek at our Life Instyle stand.

Do you remember my Parisian windows idea? I attached my fabric swatches to the wall within the window panes to look like curtains. This took forever to do but I'm happy with the results.

More Parisian windows. Please excuse my less than perfect images due to artificial lighting.

Table runners and Red Revival's display.

Emma laser-cut out our lettering and made these awesome frame displays for her jewellery. The linen used is our Provincial Flax.

Today is Day 2 of the show so we must get ready now. See you there at Stand 78.

Linen Napkins Now Available

Hello friends. I'm blogging from my hotel room in Surry Hills today and loving the internet access.

I have no excuses to not keep working so I have been slowly but surely updating the Thea & Sami website and our new hand-printed linen napkins are now available for ordering.

Inspired by Emma's idea of presenting the bamboo coasters gift-wrapped with the baker's twine, I have done the same with the napkins. Do you like them presented like this?


Do check them out on our website and let me know which you like best. Would you prefer white napkins? I may order some next time.

Today we are setting up for Life Instyle which opens for trade tomorrow here in Sydney. I'm getting excited about this so hope to meet some of you there.

We're within walking distance to Moore Park so I'm glad that I can partake in some much-needed exercise and luckily I brought my umbrella as it looks like it may be raining but it's better than the recent heat wave, right?

Bamboo Coasters

I love collaborating with talented friends and I couldn't be happier with the Thea & Sami range of bamboo coasters created by Emma of Red Revival.

You may choose from any of 4 floral designs based on our fabric designs: Hydrangea, Peony (from our Cottage Garden design), Rose and Iron Flower.

I know many of you liked the initial Rose sample but I feel that this scale works better within the collection.

Bamboo is hard-wearing and has eco-cred with it being a sustainable material. The coasters are sold in sets of 4 and gift wrapped with cotton Baker's Twine.

For more information and to purchase, visit the on-line store.

Emma and I will be exhibiting at the Thea & Sami stand 78 at Life Instyle in Sydney this week. We hope to see you there!

Brisbane Craft Cafe

Brisbane craft lovers can now celebrate because The Crafters Nest has just opened at Wooloowin and will be offering a variety of craft and fine art classes for young and old.

The cafe is housed in a lovely old character building typically found in Brisbane's older suburbs.

The Crafter's Nest is the brainchild of keen crafter Tracey Donohoe pictured here.

The official opening was yesterday afternoon and Emma and I were there, after all there was free champagne :) We each received one of these adorable paper hand-bags for which you will find Tracey's project instructions for in the Handmade Living book.

Guests were enjoying the space of the upstairs craft room.

Lots of paper craft supplies.

More supplies for the avid crafter

as well as gorgeous hand-printed fabrics from the talented Thea & Sami. Hey, it's my blog, what do you expect me to say?


I especially love this room which houses vintage and hand-made hats by local milliner Christine (aka Maudie) who can also teach you how to design and create a hat of your own. Call Christine on 0423 869 064 for more information.

Christine's room is decorated with sweet bunting made from vintage lace and embroidered table cloths.

The craft cafe is located at 109a Adamson Street in Wooloowin. Call Tracey on 07 3262 7447.

To find out about upcoming art and craft classes, visit Tracey's Blog or on facebook at The Crafter's Nest.

Faux French Tea Towels

These linen tea towels aren't really French as they are designed and screen-printed by us in our Brisbane studio.

They're high quality though and I do like them and I hope that you do too.

They are now available for you to purchase through our on-line store in Red, White or Blue (so French) prints. I think they would be ideal for gift wrapping a bottle of wine.

I am madly trying to update the website before my Sydney trip so will keep you posted as I do. Please note that any orders placed after Monday (tomorrow) will be dispatched next week.

Grrr..

Don't you just hate it when your good work is undone shortly after?

Yesterday, I FINALLY took time out of my busy schedule to trim and wash Zoe as well as clip her nails and apply necessary flea/tick treatment. I did not let her out of the house until she was totally dry.

Two hours later, I looked up from my computer to see this unpleasant sight. The brat thought it would be a great idea to go digging in the yard after her bath.

She seems quite pleased with herself, doesn't she? I was less than pleased so back in the bath tub she went.

Thank you for all of your kind comments in response to my previous post. I have decided to go for a overdue physical check-up when I return from Sydney.

My aunty's brain tumour had metastasised from breast cancer, something she was unaware of. She had no idea that she was sick as she felt no pain and was always too busy working. It was discovered far too late. Look after yourselves dear friends.

I will be back later today to share the details about a recently opened Brisbane craft cafe.

Normal Programming Interrupted

This week has been even more stressful than I originally predicted. My heart is very heavy today. So many things have gone wrong but nothing compares to the news that one of my favourite aunties lost her battle with brain cancer early this morning. The poor dear deteriorated quickly these last couple of months and ironically, because she lives interstate, I last saw her at my uncle's funeral last year.

However, I will always remember her for being jovial and always quick with a witty remark. She was 65 but last month, my brother-in-law and sister also grieved the loss of his 30 year old cousin because of a brain tumour. What is going on?

So far, this year is not a good one but being the eternal optimist, I do hope that things will look up soon. I will be back shortly with happier news but just thought I needed to share where I'm at right now. Please appreciate and make time for people that you love.

Stylist in the House

One of my goals for this year is to be more proactive about sending out media releases so yesterday I made time to photograph some of our new products.

With the natural sunlight that filters through our lounge room windows, I can take decent photos with my Panasonic Lumix but thought I could use some help in the styling department.

Send in the troops! I invited my friend Julie Palmer to assist me because frankly, the lady oozes style! You may remember my previous post about Julie and her business Olive and Joy here.

This photo was me having a little fun but I really liked Julie pretending to sew the table runner at her antique Singer machine. The other props are all mine - yep, lucky me. You can view more images over at Julie's blog.

Our linen tea-towels are always popular and I will be listing the new ones on the website as time permits as I only have so many hours in each day. I already collapsed from exhaustion early last night.

I had to get up at 4.30 am this morning to pack everything to be freighted to Sydney and dropped it off at Melanie's at 7.00 am as we are both exhibiting at LIS.

Seeing that I was running out of time, I woke my man up at 5.45 am to help and had to bribe him with breakfast afterwards at The Wicked Sisters. Highly recommended!

I still have a lot to do before next week but am treating myself to a pedicure this afternoon because tomorrow evening I have a date to see this hottie. Is anybody else going?

Beckoning Designs

Beckoning Designs is the creative outlet of stationery designer Beck Thompson. Don't you love the play on Beck's name?

Based in Bendigo, Victoria, Beck creates beautiful hand-bound guest books, address books and photo albums.

Guest books may be customised for weddings and for Bed & Breakfast establishments.


In addition, Beck has a collection of Australian designer fabrics notebooks and this is the Thea & Sami Cottage Garden version

Beautifully finished.

You may view Beck's full range on her website or connect through her Facebook page. You've got to love anything hand-made and local, right?

Travel Companions

Today I'm trying to figure out who's coming to Life Instyle Sydney with me or more correctly, which props and products are.

The newly refurbished foot stool is in as it takes up little space and will double as a seat. I've been using it as a prop for taking photos of new cushions for my invitation to trade show visitors. I'm emailing that out today so let me know if you would like me to add you to our list.

Do you remember my sweet vintage scale from here? It was purchased from the Woolloongabba Antiques Centre. I think it's adorable as a soap stand don't you? It's coming to Sydney too.

I'm also taking the vintage ironing board bought from here. You will have to keep following to see what it will be used for.

Now, I have to get back to work. This will be a stressful and busy week as I madly try to finish screen-printing, sewing samples and preparing price lists, etc.

I hope you all have a lovely and less stressful week!

Bamboo Roses

I love seeing my designs in new products so you can only imagine how excited I was to see this new "Dotty about Roses" bamboo coaster.

The detail amazes me and can only be credited to the talent of Emma Gascoyne of Red Revival who is a wiz with the laser cutter.

We will be selling these in sets of 4 and Emma and I will be taking wholesale orders at Life Instyle
in Sydney next week.

Bamboo is a strong and sustainable material so I feel extra good about that.

If you want to preorder a set for yourself, please contact me.

Do You Or Don't You?

I have a hate/love relationship with Facebook. I don't spend a lot of time on it as I prefer to read and follow blogs.

However, I was tempted to look at my daughter's page today which I'm always a little wary to do as I'm afraid of what I may find. Boy, was I right!

What did that crazy girl do!?! I was shocked and horrified.

This was my pretty little girl before the madness struck.

Why Elessa, why? Is this the reason you didn't come home for Christmas? (the girl is in Melbourne). I'm now grateful that my son won't befriend me on his Facebook page.

I ask all parents out there: do you or don't you look at your kids' Facebook pages or would you rather be blissfully unaware?

Not All Bad..

With so much heart-breaking devastation after Cyclone Yasi, I've decided to focus on the positive today.

While sheltering at the evacuation centre in Cairns, Akiro Pruss gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Isn't she precious?

While the baby hasn't been named yet, the parents are adamant that she won't be called Yasi and I don't blame them.

It's also amazing and good news that no fatalities have been reported (to date). If you do want to see some images of the storm damage, visit the Brisbane Times here.

Image source here.