A Woman For All Seasons

I LOVE my new organic cotton tunic and have been wearing it for 3 days! I just don't want to take it off. It is just so incredibly soft, comfortable and showing off our hand-printed fabric is just an added bonus. Fear not people, I have been changing my leggings and top.



Now you know what we have been working on lately. Our organic cotton basics have been very popular and so through encouragement from my wonderful business mentor, Jane Hopkins, Thea & Sami has developed a range of trans-seasonal jersey fashions. Jane is just one of the hand-picked business skills mentors available through the QLD Small Business Solutions programme. If you live outside Queensland then I'm sorry because you're out of luck.

Named in Jane's honour, I introduce you to our "Play Jane" tunic made from 100% organic cotton jersey which beautifully skims the body and is available either printed or not. In keeping with our sustainable philosophy, the tunic is of high quality and can be layered and worn in several different ways; with a belt, without a belt, as a summer dress or as a tunic over a top and leggings for the cooler months. Best of all, organic cotton = no pesticides and no nasty chemicals, yay!

Our coordinating "Too-busy-to-shave" leggings and "Hug-Me" 3/4 sleeved, fitted t-shirts are now available in our on-line store. The tunics are now available on-line! Click here. The leggings and t-shirt are made from 90% organic cotton and 10% spandex to retain their shape. More colours to follow shortly.



The black "Play Jane" worn with a vintage gold braided (model's own and not for sale) becomes a sexy little black dress. Bring back disco, I say! And the best thing is that these beauties are machine-washable and crush-proof. Perfect for travelling.

Plain tunics will include black, red and green. A few people have suggested that we make printed leggings so that is the very next thing that we are doing. As a small business, we are very fortunate to have found a local manufacturer that supports us and will sew small batches for us.



More red. Since you all love red, you will be happy to hear that we have received a shipment of red organic cotton jersey so this will be added to our on-line eco-fabrics too. The "Play Jane" tunic in natural white features our "Marguerite" print. Worn over the ever-versatile "Hug-Me" tee or again, as a sleeveless dress with a belt. Which version do you like?



Are you now wishing that you could screen-print your own designs? Come and learn how but be quick because I will only be teaching one more Brisbane class and that is happening this weekend. There is still a couple of spots left but first in, first served. Book on-line at Screen-Printing Workshops.
Author's note: workshop is now full!

Eco Bridesmaids

I was a little sceptical when eco-designer Bec Lewis purchased some organic cotton/spandex from me a few weeks ago to make some bridesmaids dresses but I should have known better than to distrust the sewing talents of Little Brown Dog. Black Jersey may not an obvious choice for a bridal party but the outcome is very impressive and no doubt the dresses combined sexiness (clinging in all the right places) with comfort as I'm sure there was much dancing involved.

The bridal party from left to right is (Bride) Sascha Mason (nee Candlin), Heidi Greentree, (Baby) Scarlet Mason, Naomi Roberts, Jacqui Horricks and Debbie Salter. The baby's adorable dress was also an eco choice as it was made from an old sheet by Bec.



Note the sexy side split.  A good environmental choice does not have to compromise style is what I keep saying.



Little Brown Dog is famous for cleverly upcycling otherwise discarded items.  This couch critter is made from fabric swatches from an old upholstery sample book.

Organic Cotton Jersey

Thea and Sami hand-printed organic fabrics have been featured for the second time in a great American blog called Crafting for a Green World. Check it out here.



Speaking of organic fabrics, we are now offering organic cotton jersey fabrics for sale on our website. This is the fabric that we are using in our new range and is the softest fabric ever! With no pesticides used in the crop production and no nasty chemicals in its finish, these fabrics are ideal for sensitive skins, particularly babies and children. Good for you and the environment.

The range also includes organic cotton/spandex that is ideal for leggings and fitted tops such as our Va-Va Voom top. In keeping with safe environmental practices, the white fabric is bleached with hydrogen and not chlorine.

I have shown an example of nicely this fabric drapes and we have a lovely range of feminine styles coming soon in these lovely organic fabrics.