Pattern & Palette Play – Butterfly Fabrics
We’re all in a flutter this month! Spread your wings and create beautiful, patchwork butterfly gardens with these stunning butterfly fabrics from Millhouse Collections, Craft Project and others! Compiled by Janai Velez Butterfly Fabrics: Art Gallery Fabrics ‘Winged’ Wingspan Melon WNG-1020, designed by Bonnie Christine. Distributed by Craft Project – Charles Parsons. Windham Fabrics ‘Painted […]
Diary and Calendar Christmas Gift Ideas
Stuck for Christmas gift ideas? Want something both useful and pleasing to the eye? Consider some of these gorgeously designed planners and calendars to give that special someone a fresh start in 2018! With a glossy layout and helpful organisational features, these presents will be sure to make someone’s day – or year. Keep reading to check out our fabulous […]
Designer Edge – Megan Nedds
When you look at this cheetah in mid-chase, you’re struck by its realism. You’re taken along on its hunt for prey – its eye fixed on its quarry, its posture streamlined and its movement sleek and effortless. by Susan Hurley Similarly, a quick glance at the needle-felted foxes has you caught up in their play. […]
Fabric wrapped architecture and landscapes
First, there was Christo … In the 60s and 70s, Christo and Jeanne-Claude had the world talking about their monumental, fabric-wrapped architecture and landscapes. Amanda Browder takes up the reins, using acres of cloth to ‘electrify’ the drabness of cities and towns. Her urban artworks are joyous celebrations of texture and colour. By Janai Velez […]
“Stoked” by Sun, Sewing & Sustainability
Sarah Lancaster hits on the road, spruiks nature’s wonders and sews up a storm – all from her trusty caravan, called Cecil by Janai Velez If you’ve been in New Zealand recently, you may have seen a white and aquamarine caravan with a solar panel and yarn-bombed fixtures driving past or parked at craft markets […]
Designer Edge with Ulla-Stina Wikander
So you can’t afford a Van Gogh! So what? You can always stitch one in tapestry form. And if you are Ulla-Stina Wikander, you can then cut up your finished masterpiece and use the oddments to cover your vacuum cleaner. Or telephone, or typewriter, or pram. Or…. by Susan Hurley That might sound like stitching […]
Desginer Edge – Maria Wigley (Selvedge)
Classy cursive, long, loose thread ends and lacy lettering. Maria Wigley’s ‘threadmanship’ is practised and precise … making text float is no mean feat! by Janai Velez An array of writings is translated into stitched artworks by the UK-based textile artist Maria Wigley. “Poetry and songs have a huge influence on my work, as does listening […]
Quick Stitch: Create your own Pyramid Corner Bookmarks by Staci Wendland
QUICK STITCH: LEAF TIPS Staci Wendland’s page-pyramid corner bookmarks add handmade charm to books bought as gifts. They’re made in minutes from just a few scraps of fabric but will be used and appreciated again and again. What you need: Three squares, 10cm (4in) of cotton fabric Two squares, 10cm (4in) of fusible interfacing General […]
Designer Profile: Nicole Vos van Avezathe
Getting to know … NICOLE VOS VAN AVEZATHE Being European, do you love cosy days inside in winter or do you dream of swaying palm trees and golden beaches in the tropics? I’m definitely more a fall/winter person. The idea of snuggling under a quilt with a book is more appealing to me than lying […]
Designer Edge – Meet Heather Everitt
After a visit to an English museum’s butterfly room, Heather Everitt’s embroidery style took flight. by Janai Velez “Instead of the traditional Victorian displays of butterflies, impaled with pins, they had a butterfly room with the gorgeous creatures cleverly suspended under Perspex so they looked as if they were flying.” And the spirit of their beauty […]