Who's That Girl?

My parents were leggings and now I'm a groovy head band.

Don't you just love it when you can save your fabric off-cuts? I have been packing ours into fabric and scrap packs which are popular with crafty types but not so easy to do with the jersey pieces. The head band was my contribution for the goody bags at last week's ABCD (Artists+Bloggers+Crafters+Designers) meet-up. I wanted something original that represented our work. The head bands were a hit and I have now listed them here in the Thea & Sami on-line store. Great stocking fillers, don't you think?

I was very impressed with the number of goodies that were upcycled from other crafters & designers present at the event. For images of the event and of the items, visit Bondville or Udessi. Steph from Bondville and Kim from Udessi always organise these great meet-ups and I am already looking forward to the February one.

Thank you to Curlyhead aka Eleni Papadatos for being my gracious if, at times, reluctant model. Eleni is leaving for Africa for 6 weeks next Monday so we wish her a Bon Voyage and safe journey. I was a little panicked about being left alone but my little possum is coming home from Melbourne soon so will be helping me print (snaps for Elessa).

Get Ready for Summer!

I'm back! I am happy to have solved all my computer problems. I was smart enough to have backed all files onto an external hard drive so nothing was lost. If you don't do this, buy one tomorrow! Sooner or later, your computer WILL crash.

The next step was to steal Voyt's lap-top and to then ask computer whiz Chris Herford of Executive I.T. Connections to install all necessary design programmes for me. I highly recommend her services if you are in Brisbane.




















I will be updating the website over the next couple of weeks as time permits with new products. Our Summer Days Tote bags are now in available in our on-line store. Made from our "Airlie Beach" 100% organic canvas hand-printed by us. 

The Deck Chair and Retro Bathers motifs were designed by Eleni Papadatos aka Curlyhead Design. When you work in the Thea & Sami studio, you are required to do everything including modelling. Luckily, Eleni got into the spirit of things and came prepared with sunnies and beach caftan. She even wore bronzer! I love a girl who is serious about her craft.

You can also see our products this Sunday at the Young Designers Market including fabric packs.

Studio Assistants & Giveaways

I have missed blogging this week but it really has been a busy time. In between moving the last of my belongings from the old studio yesterday; I have been training eager helpers to print the new organic cotton canvas fabrics with me.



Meet Karen Gaffney from Dragonfly Interiors who is also a trained interior decorator. You can see her screen-printing here with great concentration and you also have a peek at our new striped canvas in the yellow & white colourway.

I met Karen after sending out my monthly VIP e-news. I was looking for a screen-printing trainee preferably with a background in interior design/decoratoring and Karen had wanted to learn how to screen-print fabrics for some time. Is that fate or what?



Karen has a soft spot for dragonflies, okay it's really an obsession and she is currently giving away a lovely coffee set on her blog; available in your choice of red or blue. Karen imports hand-made ceramics and silk lanterns from Vietnam.



My other lovely assistant is my cousin Eleni Papadatos. Eleni is a natural-born screen-printer and THE colour queen! This girl can mix any ink colour in no time and is currently studying graphic design at Southbank TAFE. To find out more about Eleni and to follow her new blog, please visit Curlyhead Design (I wonder how she came up with that name?)

Karen, Eleni and I did attend the ABCD (Brisbane Artists + Bloggers + Crafters + Designers) evening on Thursday and it was fabulous! It was wonderful to catch up with old and new friends. Unfortunately, I was unable to take any photos on the evening but you can see some great images of the evening over at Bondville.

I did manage to take a photo of some of the lavender pillows I made for the goody bags. Nothing like a good aroma for people to remember you by. The fabrics were various printed off-cuts and the lavender was sourced from a farm that organically grows it.

As you may know, I give away a mystery prize at the end of every month to one of my followers as a way of saying thank you. I am a day late but I used random.org to choose follower no. 121 who is Tess Curran of A Beautiful Calamity. I have met Tess as she is a Brisbane girl who works as a freelance journalist, particularly for one of our favourites; Peppermint Mag.

It's funny how good karma goes around as I also won a blog giveaway this week for being a follower of Emjie. You can see the adorable owl I won from her blog here. Thank you Melissa! Funnily enough, Emjie will also be receiving a gift from me for signing up at my Pay It Forward post.

I will be at the Young Designers Market tomorrow so please come and say hello if you are in the Southbank neighbourhood. I will have a bargain bin of hand-printed goodies plus the new printed organic leggings. New products for sale at the market and to be posted here soon include hand-printed placemats.

Trees Inspire

The natural beauty of trees and flowers never ceases to inspire artists as two of my lovely screen-printing class attendees from last Saturday would attest.  Eleni Papadatos was pleased to have replaced an old beloved tree t-shirt with a couple of her own new versions.



Legal Eagle Toni Wills explored her creative side with her floral and tree designs printed on beautiful natural fabrics.