Upholstery Sample = Back Pack

I've been sampling upholstery weight linens from various European manufacturers.

And we have a winner! I absolutely love the weight, colour and texture of this natural linen. Our first shipment is expected to arrive in 3-4 weeks. 

Not one to waste fabric, I gave my screen-printed sample to the talented Margo of The Climbing Tree to make this lovely and practical back pack for me. The denim is organic cotton which is a bonus.

I love the Margo's attention to detail including the ink coordinated top-stitching

and the fabric covered button. You may remember Margo's other bags from here and here. 

Contact Margo at The Climbing Tree to order your own customised bag or children's clothing.

Back in the Studio

We caught up with fabric printing yesterday for first time in ages (or so it seemed). I just love this first stage of the screen-printing. The 2nd run brings the yardage design together.

The design, Fretwork in Blue Marine is available for purchase here. Some of this will be made up as lampshades and new table runners.

New 'Floribunda' film positive. The screen will be ready today; in time for our students to print in our Fabric Printing class next Tuesday & Wednesday. We have one spot left if you wish to join us.

I've been looking at new heavier weights of linens for upholstery. It's been so hard to source these and I'm waiting for more samples to arrive from Europe. The biggest problem at the moment is that the 400+ gsm fabrics only seem to be 140 cm wide - which is the width of our prints. One linen mill may be able to make them wider for us. Will keep you posted.

So do you have a big Easter weekend planned? We're not celebrating until the following weekend but I am sooo looking forward to a big rest tomorrow! I hope you all have a lovely time with loved ones.

Green Floral Prints

You asked for green printed fabrics and we listened.

Cottage Garden in Ferny Green on natural linen is now available here.

Hydrangea in Ferny Green can be purchased here. More fabrics and colourways will be added throughout the week.

More good news: I've changed the way you can purchase fabrics from us. You can now buy in increments of 25 cm and the minimum purchase is only 1/4 metre. You've got to love that!

Please be patient though as some pages on the website are yet to be updated but do contact me if you need assistance.

The Fairy Godmothers

The Thea & Sami studio had two very special visitors yesterday.

I had the pleasure of meeting Katie Blume and Laura McEwan, also known as Flourish and Blume, the ladies who created this beauty. We spent 4 glorious hours together. It was non-stop excitement with the passionate exchanging of ideas and playing with fabrics.

I asked the girls to take my two ugly vintage armchairs away and work their magic! Ugly they may be but I have been told by Laura (taking measurements) that they are Don Rex chairs.

Apparently, these chairs are quite collectable but I haven't been able to find much information on-line. However, I did learn that Don Rex was a Queensland based furniture manufacturer in the 1960s and 70s. The factory used local timbers and Rex's designs were based on the popular Danish furniture of the day. If you know more about Don Rex, do educate us.

Update (6/8/11) It has been determined that these are not Don Rex chairs but Australian-made Tasmanian Blackwood in the popular Danish style.

This is the old fabric on the chairs which is highly unlikely to have been originally used by Don Rex.

I'm sure that Laura and Katie will do something fabulous with the chairs using 3 of our printed linen fabrics. We won't tell you which ones as we don't want to spoil the surprise. I know that I can't wait to see the transformations which will include new modern-shaped upholstery foam and cushions.

See more furniture magic over at Flourish and Blume.

Brilliant Upholstery!

There is a dynamic duo in Lismore, New South Wales who are upholstery geniuses.

Laura & Katie who operate under the name of Flourish & Blume find the most neglected, you-could-never-imagine-saving chairs and totally transform them into true works of art.

Look at these 'before' shots. Would you have seen beyond the ugliness?

The fabric used is our Petersburg Linen in Dusty Pink, custom-printed with our Marguerite floral in a Creme colour for the girls. You can read more about the upholstery process here.

I am quite excited about meeting the girls when they visit Brisbane at the end of the month. Watch this space as we are planning future collaborations.

Visit Laura and Kate's blog to see more of their amazing work and please show them some love.

Images are courtesy of Flourish & Blume,