Saffrons Blog

Here I write about my creative projects, ideas and things that inspire me.

New quilt project—my love for trees—block one

Saffron Craig - Saturday, March 27, 2010

My love for trees beckoned me to create a new quilt. I want to make a quilt for our bed using our treasured Fairy fabrics.
I decided to make the centre panel of trees using 4 x 50cm square blocks so that they would be easy to work with. Being such a handy size I could paper piece the circles at night. I pinned all the pieces in place taking careful consideration to balance the tree and to ensure there is room to quilt around the shapes afterward.
Using beautiful silk thread I hand stitched the pieces in place. Silk thread renders stitching all but invisible and I must say it is so easy to use. It effortlessly glides through three layers of fabrics. So one block is nearly finished.

In the day I have been finishing up fabrics designs for a new range, organizing a party for Sequoias entire class. And I am on the 3rd week of my Bikrams yoga challenge so I am feeling fitter and stronger but also a tad sore.

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Kate Conklin commented on 30-Mar-2010 09:48 AM

Wow, you've been a busy girl. I love your bubbly tree. I haven't tried silk thread before, but it sounds nice.

nicole vos commented on 29-Mar-2010 03:32 AM

It's adorable! I love that particular shade of green in this line of your fabrics. Saw the pictures of Sequoia's party too, it looked like it was much fun. We also have 2 birthdays ahead of us in the next two weeks: Luna will be 5 yrs old and I will be not quite 40 :)

Cindy Wiens commented on 29-Mar-2010 02:53 AM

I love this line of fabric so much and am so glad I have some. If I have scraps left over after I make Kate's Fairy Hearts, this looks fun. Although I may have to order some more fabric. :)

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T-shirt designs to coordinate with patchwork skirt

Saffron Craig - Thursday, March 25, 2010

I can't give her a skirt for her birthday without a coordinating top now can I?

So I bought three long sleeve t-shirts and had a play. One uses circles of the fairy fabrics. I also have hand-stitched the cuffs and neckline to give it a more hand detailed feel. Of course she found it today well before her birthday and asks "why I did not hide it better?" and I have to agree. On top of the piano wrapped in a towel might not have been the best spot for an observant 5 year old. But I was not finished and it is my project for tonight I sigh!

The second uses the Owls and Koalas. I am a fan of chocolate and pink so I was pleased with how it turned out. A simple hour later and the embellished t-shirt looks like something a bit different than its plain beginnings. This one might be a surprise.

The third will have love hearts and it is still in the construction phase.

The party plans are planned, though I am still wondering what the big party will be like. I can handle all those 4 and 5 year old children can't I?

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Aralai commented on 08-Apr-2010 05:36 PM

Hi Saffron, I think those owls and koalas are very cute. Mum says that I can get one of the new forest quilt kits when they come out. Keep up the great work. aralai P.S.Hope to see you soon.

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Patchwork Fairy skirt pattern- try it out for free

Saffron Craig - Wednesday, March 17, 2010

A 5th birthday is up next week and I have made a skirt for her! I was not going to have a party and now I have gone and invited the whole class. Dear me.

This is the first sample of a pattern I'm making for the skirt. If you'd like to try out this pattern in a size 1-4 please contact me here. — thanks everyone for contacting us, we have plenty of sewers now!

This patchwork skirt is so much fun to make and even more fun to wear. Your little one will easily be able to dress her-self as it has a comfy elastic waist. If you can sew a straight line then this is a project for you. You will need a ruler, rotary cutter and board to make it, as there are no pattern pieces.
The skirt is constructed with three blocks, the waistband, the skirt and the hem. The pattern gives detailed instructions of the amount of fabric needed and how to make it.

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SHABNAM commented on 06-Jul-2010 05:29 PM

wow!! very girly, floral skirt.... little girls will love it

Saffron Craig commented on 19-Mar-2010 08:03 PM

Hello a special thanks to Leah, Margarita, Cindy, Thouraya and Ruth who should have received the draft of the patchwork skirt tonight. Thanks to all of you who emailed me.

Ruth Valentine commented on 17-Mar-2010 01:51 PM

Love the skirt pattern, sounds like it would suit the likes of me cos I CAN manage to sew in straight lines! :D I've just finished making a pair of bloomers for my daughter using a piece of your squiggly flowers fabric, suited them perfectly but I think a dress or skirt in matching fabric is now on the cards!

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New project—9 patch quilt

Saffron Craig - Saturday, March 06, 2010

While chatting to Kate Conklin about quilting she mentioned Fransson who did a tutorial on crazy nine patch blocks. With my cousins Baby Bronte joining us I had been looking for a cool project to make with my Fairy fabrics.

When Patrick returned from his Friday night out I had all but sewn the binding on. Watching the fabrics get chopped up and re-sewn was fun and rewarding. So much so that I will make another one soon. So the world of blogging brings us closer together and is inspiring me. How about you?

Here is the quilt I whipped up. I am usually a hand quilter but this one was machine quilted which I am still learning to do. So forgive my scribbled quilting style and don't call the quilting police.. please!

If you fancy making one all you need is a 50 cm bundle of my Fairies and a few other fabrics and you can make a quilt as fun as this one.
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Cindy Wiens commented on 13-Mar-2010 04:56 PM

Saffron--really cute. And I totally commend you for machine quilting. I haven't gotten the courage to try that yet. Way to go!

Anna Lloyd commented on 09-Mar-2010 02:26 PM

It looks great! I might try that pattern myself...

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New designs— The Forest Elements range

Saffron Craig - Tuesday, March 02, 2010

March has arrived so fast. I have been so happy and inspired lately. Here it is, the entire range, the Forest Elements in purple and magenta.

This range will arrive in April and it is available now for wholesale to pre-order. We have only ordered a limited quantity so if you find yourself taken with it please contact us on our wholesale inquiry form.

If you have a project in mind for the forest elements we have put the products up in the shop; click here if you want to pre- order now.

I will be sure to let you know when we have it. I am very excited.

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Gwen Murray commented on 30-Mar-2010 08:18 AM

fab

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New fabric designs—Squiggly flowers in magenta

Saffron Craig - Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Squiggly Flowers are the 4th design in the Forest Elements range. I chose purple and magenta on a white background to tie into the range. A design that can be used for just about everything, it is the floral of the range.

These Squiggly Flowers started as sketch I scribbled one night in front of telly. Patrick thought it was great and encouraged me to develop it. So after playing with the scale I decided on this design.

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design courses commented on 09-Apr-2010 10:01 AM

So beautiful.;)

Cindy Wiens commented on 02-Mar-2010 03:57 PM

It just keeps getting better and better!

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New fabric designs—Bird in Leaves

Saffron Craig - Wednesday, February 24, 2010

This design came from a special moment of being at one with nature. As I watched the birds in the leaves I was awestruck by their trust in me. I was only a foot away and they just kept on at eating and playing. So close I might have touched them. During this precious moment I felt I got a feel for what they were up to. It was one of those moments that really made me feel inspired and alive.

My favourite element of this design is the negative space. I was really excited as to what I might create with the fabrics and where and how I could cut it. I even drew up bags and clothes and a quilt and tested the fabric in those patterns, having a good play before finalizing the shape and scale.

This is the third design from the Forest Elements range. Again, I made so many strike offs in this design as it worked in almost every colour way. The plan is to print more colour ways down the track.

A detail of the purple bird on the fabric to show the colours and the vibrancy of the design. It is the first time that I have used so much black, which is exciting and took a lot of thinking and research. But I found there is a lot of black out there in the fabric world. And as this is a winter range with winter just around the corner I thought it would work well.

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Julie commented on 26-Feb-2010 04:56 PM

Oh yum, I saw some eggplant coloured linens that are going to work with this fabrics so beautifully. A usual I am inspired.

Cindy Wiens commented on 24-Feb-2010 02:15 PM

Fabulous!

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New fabric designs—Geese bubbles

Saffron Craig - Monday, February 22, 2010

The second design in the Forest Elements is called Geese Bubbles. The golden goose and the elk motives continue into an all over print with bubbling water.
Choosing colours for this one was fun as it worked in so many different combinations, but in the end I liked the design best in magenta with black and white. It's will be a great fabric to play with.

A detail photo of the first strike-off.

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Cindy Wiens commented on 23-Feb-2010 03:43 PM

Saffron, how fun!! I'm saving up postage money because I can already tell I'm going to be making a purchase.

Sharon Feigl commented on 23-Feb-2010 11:36 AM

Simply divine :) Hugs, Sharon

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New Design - Elk Landscape in purple

Saffron Craig - Thursday, February 18, 2010

How exciting I get to show you a new design. Elk Landscape - a mythical landscape design in purple, magenta, yellow and gold. Grazing elks and geese in bubbling water in an untouched wilderness. Here are a few little peaks at sections of the fabrics.

While in a mediation a huge golden goose flew by—my mind was a wee bit surprised to meet her. She wanted to be on this design, as such she had to be gold.

I will post more over the next month. I have got 8 new designs to show you. Oh yes, these are due in April. Shops can pre-order wholesale. Get in quick as we only printed a limited amount!

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Karen Brown commented on 12-Mar-2010 10:38 PM

Just love it Saffron. Fabulous colours and designs for working with this winter :)

Lyn Urquhart commented on 12-Mar-2010 08:44 PM

Fabulous, I love these colours together.

Kate Conklin commented on 21-Feb-2010 11:27 AM

I'm just itching to get my fingers on this fabric. Well done on another beautiful design Saffron.

Lurline Geoghegan commented on 19-Feb-2010 10:57 AM

A very different look - very interesting - sounds like lots to look forward to and to be tempted with! Congratulatons! Hugs - Lurline♥