Back in Love with Alexander Henry.....

Truth is, we did sort of fall out of love with Alexander Henry fabrics for a while. What we loved best about Alexander Henry was the cutting edge prints, especially the skulls and retro inspired fabrics.

Pleased to say that with the latest prints that have just arrived we are now back in love with Alexander Henry!

Check out these designs which include some old favourites but also new......

These two Goo Goo prints are real show stoppers! The design is tiny and lovely pastel colours on one and bright on the other - perfect for baby items:



Also we are head over heals with Griffith Park which hold their own as stand alone prints and also come together and would look fab as a modern quilt.

Available in 2 bundles:


Finally to commemorate our new found love of all things Alexander Henry we've put together this bundle appropriately named containing some of the funkiest prints;

The I Love Alexander Henry Bundle

Enjoy!

New Hideaway Collection Just In!

The complete collection of Hideaway by mother & daughter combo, Lauren and Jessi Jung is now at Seamstar.

With 4 colourways and 33 delightful prints, we are so so pleased with these fabrics.

Here is our top 5 reasons why this is a fabulous collection:

1.Versatility.
So many different things would look great made out of this collection. In fact we challenge you not to be able to find something you like here!

We have been really pleased to be able to collaborate with the ultra-talented Abi from Sew You who has made these stunning items from some fabric we sent over;

Gadget cases (if you're ever stuck for a gift then pop over to Sew You for some lovely things);

Our favourite, this lovely case with all the detailing and lining;

If you need more inspiration then have a look at these quirky cushions, quilts and bags by Lauren:

We think this Glade print (available in 4 colours) would look adorable made into some lounge pants for a little one!

Plus watch out for our Hideaway quilt soon with a Measurements & Materials list.

2.Detail of the prints
We've had this collection for over a week and are still finding things (which is also one of the reasons this collection would make great items for little ones, they'll be picking out details for ages). The Tapestry print has a tiny spider's web which is repeated in the Timepiece print.

Spot the little person in the Cuckoo Clock print!

3.Scale of the prints

The prints are tiny and so cute! Obviously having tiny prints is perfect for quilting but also for lining purses, tiny bunting, needle cases etc.

4.Scandinavian inspired quirky loveliness
Hands up, who doesn't love Scandinavian design. No one!

5.Colourways
All 4 colourways are lovely. The reds aren't an overpowering red but a gorgeous orange-red.

The sky blues are to die for and all the greens and yellows just, well, make you happy.

What's more, the fabrics will look great at any time of year. Choose a colour to suit the seasons.

We have a Price Match Promise plus a Multi Meter Discount on all of the fabrics in this collection.

As always we have a variety of bundles for this collection.

You can choose by colourway; Clover, Sunflower, Poppy or Sky.

Or the complete collection (look out for an extra freebie on our Newsletter).

Or a Moda Layer Cake for a little piece of it all.

Also a Mini Gingham bundle which is gorgeous & useful!

p.s. Did we mention we like this collection?
p.p.s. You may be aware that our favourite collection of ALL time is Wonderland by Momo (we are often going on about it, or anything Momo for that matter!).
Well, we have a new favourite collection of all time – Hideaway!

Checkout Sew You for gifts and inspiration below......

Fresh Fabric Giveaway £90's worth up for grabs!

Seamstar's October Competition is this Fresh Fabric Giveaway with your chance to win gorgeous fabrics by Saffron Craig. £90's worth up for grabs!

We have 3 bundles to win, each containing quarter meter pieces from different Saffron collections including Owl Fabric, Fields Range and Fantastic Fairies. Of course each bundle also contains a quarter meter piece from the new Bird Tree collection.

Each bundle contains 6 fabrics - so 1½ meters in total of fabric loveliness - each worth over £30!

Free to enter:

1. First chance to win - Leave a comment on our blog below answering this question –
What would you make from the Bird Tree Collection?

2. Second chance to win – If you follow our blog leave a second comment letting us know you are a follower. Please note you need to post two separate entries. If you post it all in one entry you only be entering one chance to win!

THREE lucky winners will be picked at random after Tuesday 9th November.

If you can't wait for the draw you can purchase fabrics from all of Saffrons collections in our shop now.

Good Luck!

T&Cs
The winner will be announced on this blog so please sign up to the blog (not compulsory but if you win this is where you find out – we won't track you down to claim your prize – we just don't have the time!).
Winners will be sent the prize free of charge after the draw has taken place.
Non-UK people can enter but free postage is only up to UK post value and you will have to make up the difference.
All prizes must be claimed within 30 calendar days.

An Interview with Saffron Craig on her new Bird Tree Collection

Recently arrived at Seamstar is the brand new collection from Saffron Craig.

Bird Tree is a truly wonderful collection, both in design and uses. Lovely purples alongside limes, greens and yellows. We can see this collection as a quirky skirt for an adult, a funky dress for a little one or unconventional curtains and cushions. It is also quite timeless in terms of seasons and we think it will work all year around.


For those not familiar with Saffron's past designs they include;

Surreal Elk landscapes....
Great Owl fabrics – this one has just been reissued and resized. The red and white lends itself to Christmas gifts.....
Wonderful Koala Softies. Again just released in a new colourway and gorgeous!

We caught up with Saffron to ask her about Bird Tree, design, sewing and life!

Where did your inspiration come from for your latest collection?

Saffron: The inspiration for the Bird Tree fabric range came to me one day when a flock of tiny yellow birds landed on a leafless tree. From where I was standing the birds appeared to be the leaves of the trees. To me it was one of those precious moments that nature shows me. I am lucky enough to have been able to recreate it onto a fabric and build a range around this truly inspiring moment.

This is the original colour way which we are expecting in a few weeks....

It shows the wonderful blue sky and a graphic drawing of the tree. It is surrounded by floating blossoms carried by the a warm summers breeze.

What is the best thing you have seen so far made from the Bird Tree fabrics?
Saffron: I have seen a lot of things made using the Bird Tree range, from skirts to quilts and cushions, even curtains. But one of my favourite is a little stool my husband painted and I upholstered for my daughter.

This range seems to have resonated with a lot of people because the colours are so different from what is available. Also the design is quite ageless and seems to fit with a lot of age groups.

What are you currently working on (both currently sewing and design work)?
Saffron: I have just finished three fabric ranges due to be released 2011. Today I have been sewing up some summer frocks from the Bird tree range, it's heating up down here in Australia! I also had to pull apart a quilt I started and will sew that up again. It needs more white as it is intended as a wedding gift. I also should receive the Bird Tree in blue this week so I will have to photograph that, upload it to the website and write about it.

You have to make a last minute present for a friend, what would you make (and preferably out of what fabric too)?
Saffron: I would probably make one of these dolls that are rather like a sculpture for a friend my own age. I've made them in the past and they're so much fun create.

Last week I made a girl's skirt to take to one of my daughter's friends birthday party, I thought it would be far more fun to make a skirt than go to the local toy store and buy something. I had it sewn in an hour.

Freya loved it and wore it for a week to preschool. I'm also known to make a quilt in a day if a baby is born. I love the energy of a new born baby and I know how precious they are, mothers just love wrapping them up in a snugly quilt.

Who is Saffron Craig and what is your design background?
Saffron: I am really a creative and happy person. I love nature and creating fabrics. I was born in Turo in the UK to hippie parents, who now live down the road. I grew up in Australia and graduated from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with an honours degree in design. My background is mainly in fashion design. I had my own fashion label for years before focusing on designing fabrics.
I am married and have a beautiful daughter, who inspires me everyday. Oh, and I love to travel. I have a little game I play with myself that every day I have to go to somewhere I have never been before. It can be as simple as standing under a new tree and waiting for another moment of inspiration.

Great answers! A really big thank you to Saffron for taking time out to give us an interview!

The stunning Bird Tree Bundle is available at Seamstar now.

Blog readers (if you are reading this then that's you!) get 3 meters of ribbon worth over £2 for Free when buying the Bird Tree Bundle. Just mention 'blog ribbons' when checking out to claim yours.

Fresh and Funky Quilt Bee

What I love about sewing is the gorgeousness of hand made fabric things.
What I'm not so fond of is any project with boring repetitive bits!
So this Fresh and Funky Quilt Bee is perfect:

It's set up by Forest Poppy and Me and Ma so it'll be fresh and modern and I can end up with something lovely like this:

(by the way look out for our interview with Kate Conklin (designer of the quilt above) coming soon).

Plus, as its a bee, I won't have to make the same quilting square over and over (no repetitive bits - yay!) but rather everyone gets to sew different blocks each month. Also, even quilting novices like me can make a quilt as there are all levels of experienced sewers in the bee. There are a few places left so if you're interested in joining the bee you can look at these lovely blogs for all the ins and outs - Forest Poppy and Me and Ma