What's New

We have been busy, busy, busy. Besides getting new product samples organised for our upcoming trade show, we are suddenly getting more orders so will be revealing new stockists soon, including one overseas.

Today, I thought I would show you the future site of the Thea & Sami screen-printing studio. This is in the corner of my backyard. Unfortunately, this old shed will have to go as it's not big enough but we will ensure that all salvageable materials go to a good home.

This is my front yard. I love the old wagon wheel although it's surrounded by weeds at the moment. I hope to replace these with colourful flowers in the Spring.

We have also inherited a cubby house. The space underneath was used as a chicken coop by the previous owners. The cubby isn't exactly child-safe at the moment so we will have to make sure that it is before inviting the clan over for Christmas. I really want to spruce it up so hopefully hubby will be off crutches soon so that he can add sanding and painting to his ever growing to-do list.

If you look closely, you may notice the broken ladder rung. That was thanks to me climbing on it this morning. Yes, I know I am much heavier than your average child but somebody had to test it.

Unfortunately, I won't have time to feature a Friday Follower this week as our (potential) client database and images are due tomorrow for the Life In Style invitations that are being sent out. I am very impressed by the level of support that is available to us as exhibitors.

We are really going to need some help soon. I am looking for a new part-time studio assistant (fabric-printing skills would be an asset) and ladies who would like to do some contract sewing at home. You would probably need to have an overlocker and industrial machine. Please contact me if you are interested and live in the Brisbane area.

Too Much Fun

Five lovely ladies escaped from spouses, children and pets last Saturday to attended our screen-printing class.

Having a well-deserved coffee break were (l-r) Louise Johnson, Jane Morison, Abbie Beeson, Klaudia Puljic and Justine Kelly.

There was a lot of cute going on in this class. Simple designs work so well for screen-printing.

Floral designs always look elegant on natural linen.

Abbie did an amazing job of printing her leaf motif in a randomly tossed design. It's easy to create your own fabric design with the use of a small screen and repeating the print in this way.

So you want to know when the next screen-printing class is? Unfortunately, not until the end of August, after we return from Life In Style. Please book on-line.

Flea Market Finds - Romantic

Have you enjoyed your weekend? I didn't do much today as I was exhausted. I even slept in (past 9.00 am) which is very unusual for me. However, I do have some lovely romantic finds to share with you, gathered over the last few weeks.

I love the colours of this floral tapestry so much that it's the starting point for decorating my new bedroom. It was bought from The Good Vintage on Etsy.

Closer to home, I found this amazing violin case.

Découpaged with sheet music and folk-painted with these gorgeous flowers, who could resist such an original work of art? Circa 1920, it was very reasonably priced at the New Farm Antiques Centre.

Remember those vintage frames I found in Bangalow? Well, of course I haven't had time to paint them but I did find a couple more that were at Blake & Taylor.

I wish I had bought them all as the price had been drastically reduced and I think they are perfect for framing our hand-printed linens.

Not at such a thrifty price but as part of the Romantic theme, I do need to include the coffee table I bought this week. To see what other lovely people have found, head over to Her Library Adventures: Flea Market Finds.

Friday Follower - Michelle

I have a new friend! I initially met Michelle Mitchell on-line when I stumbled across her blog last week and then we met for real this week.

Michelle is one of the dealers at the (addictive) Woolloongabba Antiques Centre. The name of her shop is called Divine Finds and that they are. This place is a special treat for those who love the romantic and shabby chic but I will let Michelle tell you more:

1. What is "Divine Finds"?

Divine Finds is a newly established vintage homewares store. We sell one-off pieces, many are custom-made for our clients. We have a shop space in the Woolloongabba Antiques Centre (such a great place) and sell privately from our home to designers and private customers.

2. What inspires you?

Beautiful people and things. I am quite open minded to beauty in any format. Anything that is striking to the eye makes me feel alive.

3. Do you accept custom orders for your furniture (or other items)?

Yes absolutely. I am really lucky to have my husband working with me. He is the work horse and I am the creative director! Our signature pieces, trestle tables and bench seats are often custom made to order. They vary in colour and style and are used for outdoor / indoor dining tables or office desks.

We do custom make lovely cushions, lamps and recover the odd piece of furniture too! I love fabrics so anything that involves fabric I'll happily be a part of!

4. What is your design background?

I was a teacher who majored in Textile Art a long time ago! Other than that I'm simply someone who loves design and working with people to bring beauty into their lives.

5. What keeps you busy when you're not working on Divine Finds?

Ten years ago I founded the charity Youth Excel which works with disadvantage youth in Brisbane's high schools. You can check it out on our website. It has been a huge part of my life and my sole focus up until this point. I feel that the design work is really giving my life some balance and a creative outlet.

6. Would you like to share something interesting about you that isn't common knowledge?

I am a teacher who hates reading.

Thank you Michelle but oh dear! I hope there aren't any children reading this although I'm certain that you will all enjoy reading this new book called "Australian Vintage Living". It's available for purchase at Divine Finds or on-line.

Personally, I couldn't resist this vintage cofee table upcycled by Divine Finds so I bought it. I will share some more images from the Antiques Centre with you soon.

Don't forget to check out Michelle's blog and send her some love as she is only new to the blogging world.

All images taken by Thea.

Farewell Mick & Micky

Yesterday was a sad day for the Samios family. My uncle Mick passed away peacefully in his sleep. We had all visited him in the morning but he was already unconscious with difficulty breathing due to a bout of pneumonia worsened from a recent hospital infection.

My uncle had a pet cockatoo that talked a lot and had been a member of his family for 40 years. As my uncle and aunt had no children, they were both very attached to their pets and the cockatoo was named Micky (junior).

As youngsters, my brothers and I loved visiting Uncle Mick. The cockatoo was let out of his cage and allowed to perch on the Hills rotary clothes hoist. We used to love spinning that thing and watching the cockatoo flap his wings and get excited. Not very nice I know but in our defence, we were just kids.

Well, the weird thing is that the cockatoo died yesterday too. How eerie is that? It's going to be so strange visiting my aunt who is now alone with neither my uncle or cockatoo being there anymore.

It reminds me of a song that I learnt at school (a very long time ago) called My Grandfather's Clock: "But it (the clock) stopped short. Never to go again, When the old man died...."

Rest in Peace Uncle Mick and Micky. I will remember you both fondly.

New Printed Natural Linen

I am loving the European natural linens that we are now printing on. Newly listed in our on-line store is our Hydrangea print. Hand-printed on natural flax linen, the fabric is also available as a plain coordinate here.

If you are looking for elegant tableware without having to sew, I have also listed beautiful new table runners in this print. Not only is this fabric gorgeous but it has been prewashed and preshrunk by the manufacturer so is definitely safe to wash.

The table runner and fabric is also available in a dark red print.

The navy colourway is printed on the Petersburg European linen, offered as a coordinating plain linen here.

We will be printing our Cottage Garden design on the same linens this week. Do you have a busy week ahead? We are sourcing and trying out new local manufacturers this week; not particularly my idea of fun but necessary for the seamless production of our growing range homewares. Luckily I have delegated this task to new business partner Voyt.

Flea Market Finds - Very Retro

I love reading Sophie's Library Adventures, particularly on Sundays when she and others reveal their Flea Market Finds. As a vintage collector from way back, I have wanted to participate for a while so today I am organized enough to do so.

One of the my most treasured finds is this screen-printed hanging found at a local Vinnie's shop a little while ago for a pittance. I'm not sure what the plant is but I love the artist's lines, colours and texture of the hessian (or burlap).


The design is signed Rodriquez. Upon further research, I discovered that this is an Australian second generation family business that is still designing and screen-printing tea-towels, particularly for the tourist market.

Do you remember the IKEA buffet that I gave away earlier this week? It has now been replaced with this vintage teak sideboard found at the Woolloongabba Antiques Centre. While not exactly at flea market prices, I am more than happy with it as I had been looking for a while and it is in excellent condition. It is now storing all my table linens and family photo albums.

This ceramic little fella was found at a thrift store while I was living in Ontario, Canada for a couple of dollars. His eyes are ridiculously large but I love him. He is in fact a money box. Check out more thrifty finds here.