Sunday, May 9, 2010

Designer Feature - Saffron Craig

Today, we are sitting down with Australian designer - Saffron Craig to talk about her latest range 'Forest Elementals'.

FQ: How did you come up with the idea for the latest range?

Saffron: 'Forest Elementals is my latest range, it started after a meditation. As I was meditating and a huge ancient Elk came up to me and spoke! I sketched him and built the range around that fabulous moment.' 


 
FQ: Where do you draw inspiration from?

Saffron: 'I get most of my inspiration from a place of stillness, but the Australian landscape has a huge influence on my designs.'

{Bags made and designed by - Mel from Selkie Smith Design http://www.selkiesmithdesign.blogspot.com/}

FQ: Who are the characters in your design? Describe them a little to us.

Saffron: 'I have a lot of mythical creatures in my designs like fairies, but there’s also the birds and animals I encounter in nature, like my owls. And in my drawings my daughter comes up a lot.'


FQ: Which is your favourite print in the collection?

Saffron: 'Bird in Leaves in black, purple and magenta is my favourite. It’s deceptively simple but I find it has a real serenity to it'.

FQ: How did you decide the colourways?

Saffron: 'I work with colours that I am in love with at the time. Last year I had a thing for yellow, and still do, but this year I favour purple. I definitely like pure and vibrant colours. 

Based on that key colour I build up a palette starting with complementary colours, but this gets tweaked a lot and I go very much with my instincts. Choosing colours is a very intuitive process for me.'

FQ: How do you foresee your fabric being uesd?

Saffron: 'I can see the Forest Elementals range being made into quilts, bags, clothing, cushions, wall art, makeup bags, Manchester, magnet boards, anything really! I have even seen past designs made into jewelry. 

It’s my wish to inspire others so I get excited by what people actually do with them even if it’s to cover their folders or to make the book case look pretty.'

FQ: Can you describe to us your design process?

Saffron: 'I start with a moment of inspiration and spent hours sketching elements, redrawing and refining them. Then I create the main design of the range. When it is totally finished and I’m happy with the colour and scale I pull the strongest element out and create an accompanying design. 

From there the other designs evolve. I work with my drawings on the computer where I can play with the elements in so many ways. Sometimes I feel like the possibilities are endless and don’t know when to stop. Finally I tie the designs together with my colours.'

FQ: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your artistic background?

Saffron: 'I graduated with honors in fashion design from RMIT in Melbourne. After travelling extensively around Europe and the Middle East I ran my own fashion design label for a few years. 

I also used to paint and had a few local exhibitions before focusing on fabric design. I’m interested in all creative expressions, from books to art and music, so everything is an inspiration for me.'

FQ: What does the future hold for you?

Saffron: 'I would like for my fabrics to be sold everywhere and used widely. At the moment I am still relatively unknown and I’d really like to see it grow. I love the process and seeing the results and it’s such a buzz getting positive feedback from my customers.

Besides designing fabrics, I’ve just started a few design collaborations with clothing & bag labels and am working on an illustrated children’s book.' 

Drop us a line at customerservice@fatquarterly.com and tells us what you would make with Saffron's new range, a winner will be drawn on 15th May. You will receive a 50cm cut of each print from the aquamarine colourway.

We have been working with some of Saffron's prints over the last few weeks, make sure you stop by this Wednesday and see what blocks we have created.

50 comments:

  1. My daughter's room is a plum colour - some of those amazing purple prints could go into patchwork curtains or a sweet bunting to hang above her bed. Pillows, too!!

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  2. Now that I have seen that messenger bag I think I would like to try that and the scraps in a quilt

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  3. I think these prints are amazing. I think I'd make some bags with them

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  4. definitely some bright pillows!!!

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  5. These are beautiful. I am not sure what I would do. Maybe make some new pillows for my living room, a bag for myself, a quilt for a new baby. Endless possibilities.

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  6. What a cool collection! I'm so happy to know about it now. I especially love the birds on leaves fabric in black or the elk landscape in purple. Would definitely make a handbag with these fabrics!

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  7. Wow, I love purple! I would make a big purple quilt to cuddle on the couch with. I love purple!!! It is so hard to find nice purple fabrics....thanks for the awesome interview. I will be on the look out for some of this fabric!

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  8. Oh my goodness, i've just spent the last hour browsing her blog - beautiful!! LOVE her fabrics - this new one is delightbul - could that purple be more scrumptious?! And have you seen her fairie fabric line.... owls... striking colours and beautiful designs. I'm sold! I can see handbags and a really cool skirt... ah the possibilities!

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  9. Oh Em Gee... I have been ogling this new range over at fabricworm since they posted it. I would love to make a wall hanging using one of the panels... gorgeous!!

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  10. I really enjoy making bags lately and I think that fabric line would look great for them!

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  11. As is usual with new fabric lines, I make a great looking quilt that I have fun doing, and then ship it off to charity. I have a few different charities that I support.

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  12. I would love to make a black vest, with that lusious fabric as the 'surprise' lining!

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  13. I'd love to make a quilt with these! I love the colors.

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  14. love Saffron Craig's designs - her new line is striking! Can't wait to see the blocks you guys come up with.
    x

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  15. I have quite a bit of Saffron's fabric--as much as I've been able to afford right now--and it is really beautiful.

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  16. Baby Elijah and I have just survived a very difficult pregnancy/birth. I'm so happy that he's finally here and we can both get to know each other and start to heal! The nursery has been somewhat neglected however, so I think I'd like to make him some bed linen, bunting and accessories. Something special that really reflects our momentous journey :)

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  17. I would make beautiful bags with them. I just love her prints and think that bags made out of quilted pieces together would look amazing!

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  18. I have just started designing my own lingerie travel organisers, and I recently ordered some of Saffron Craig's fabrics to incorporate into my designs...fairies and owls, so gorgeous and whimsical!! I mainly use upcycled fabrics but upon discovering Saffron Craig's amazing designs I couldn't resist!!

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  19. I have a beautiful dress and skirt pattern sitting here waiting for the perfect fabric to come along and be made into them I think these would be perfect!

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  20. I would make myself a bag and use any leftover strips in a string quilt. Thanks for the chance - and for introducing me to a great fabric designer!

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  21. I would make some pillows, love the fabric

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  22. Beautiful fabric. I would make a bag like that in the photo (my first), and if there are leftovers would use them in a patchwork quilt or pillow.

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  23. I love Saffron's fabrics! I would make some cute skirts for my daughter who is turning 7 in June. I would use the extra fabric to make a coordinating bag, and a doll dress. after that, I would make a quilt for her bed. What a wonderful birthday my little Felicity would have with all of that!

    XO Missy

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  24. I am in love with Saffron Craig's fabrics and I've just finished a quilt from her new line www.kateconklindesigns.com

    I'm already thinking about the next quilt I'd like to make with her fabrics. Thanks Saffron for another stunning range.

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  25. I have 4 young grand daughters, and there is a print that would suit each of them. I would make a throw rug for each of the girls (there would be no arguments about the ownership then)

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  26. I would make a quilt for Ache - there I've said it and if I win I'm committed. She's my neice and the horrible girls at school have been bullying her and I HATE bullies so she is top of my list of people to make a quilt for and these colours would be fab for a sophisticated 10 year old sassy chick. From Aunty Lynne X

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  27. I love those colours! Wow! I would be pleased as punch to win some of this yummy fabric!

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  28. lovely fabrics - there's a beautiful crispness to her designs and colours.

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  29. I do believe those would make some pretty fabulous handbags :)

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  30. I am definitely wanting to make a bag with this fabric. Something that I could take with me everywhere!

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  31. I think these prints are fabulous. I think I'd make some bags with them, a girl can always use a new bag!

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  32. Love Saffron's fabrics, and adore the quilt Kate Conklin made with the purple colourway. If I was lucky enough to win the aqua bundle, I'd make a quilt similar to the one Kate made, it shows off the large Elk Landscape design beautifully.
    Thanks for the giveaway! :-)

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  33. I love Saffron Craig's fabrics and am excited about the giveaway. I would make a quilt of squares within squares, with fussy cut centers.

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  34. Those fabrics are great to make great quilts with fussy cuts and also to make some summer bags. Love it.

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  35. Saffron Craig is one of my favs. Love her designs. What would I make? Probably a handbag - what a great way to showcase her designs.

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  36. I'm really coming around to the idea of making cushions lately (I've been all about making big quilts, but smaller projects can be so quick and satisfying!) and these designs really deserve to be showed off all prettily lined up on a sofa. Any leftovers would become make-up purses for my nieces.

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  37. oh, I would make a bag and maybe some pillows
    the fabrics are looking so very cool

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  38. Oh what fun! A quilt, a skirt, bags...

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  39. Beautiful fabrics and colours!! They would make such a beatiful quilt.

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  40. I would love to design a modern quilt for my soon off to college teenage daughter with these vibrantly colored fabrics!

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  41. I would like to make a modern quilt with the aquamarine colourway for our new bedroom. Lovely designs!!

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  42. Hmmm, so many choices but how to do justice to the beautiful colours and prints? I'd have to go for a contemporary, one-of-a-kind quilt for my niece's first birthday. Oh, and a cute twirly skirt if there were any scraps leftover. :)

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  43. you guys are so tricky, showcasing the purple colorway but giving away the aqua one. it is time for me to learn curved piecing, i think i would do a modern quilt or wallhanging with drunkards path.

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  44. I'd make a quilt for my daughter to take to college. She will start her senior year in high school this fall.

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  45. I loved the window pane block with the fussy cuts and look forward to the tutorial that may follow for that block. My daughter is moving into a house at college next fall, I want to make them some quilts to decorate with, as a zoology major the animal prints would be perfect!

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  46. I have a bag in mind that would be perfect!

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  47. Beautiful dramatic patterns like these would look great on some very large floor cushions in a student's room .Thanks for the opportunity :)

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  48. The fabric is wonderful. I love the way you worked up different possiblities. My favorite is the modern art block with the deer looking out at you.

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  49. I love those prints I would make some pillows and a wall hanging.

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