We picked up the fabrics! Read on to find out all the details...
Organising these fabrics has been so many things: exciting, exhilarating, stressful, nerve-wracking and then exciting all over again. But sometimes, the best things worth doing take time and patience, and we are so glad we went on this journey.
Sustainability is important to us, and most of the time, we are focused on using our stash and scraps because we do not need to buy any more fabric. Shifting to using one's stash is just the natural evolution for some quilters; in the beginning, it's all about collecting fabric and being captivated by the most beautiful prints you have ever seen. And then, fast forward 20 years, and you have hoards of fabric that you can no longer stuff in your cupboards! So this was the point that mum and I decided to stop buying fabric, use our stash and only buy what we need while making conscious choices.
However, we wanted to do something a bit different for this quilt. I want to have it in my home as a work of art. I love Alex's art, and I have always thought he would design amazing fabric, and after two failed attempts (pandemic getting in the way of supply), we finally succeeded!!!!!
So here is all the info on the fabrics.
Artist meaning behind fabrics:
Alex's art is the intersection of his scientific background and his spiritual connection to his culture and ancestors. His pieces explore metaphysical questions about the nature of our reality and the energy that is left on the land. The fabrics have been inspired by the unique patterns found on the rocks, water, trees, and leaves on sacred Aboriginal land and show pathways, tracks and old meeting places.
How it will come:
We got our samples printed up as a panel to see each design. Then, after our washing test, we had the sample hanging on the clothesline outside, and we realised that the panel alone would make a great baby quilt or throw! It then dawned on us that we could save waste, time, and delivery costs if we just printed panels instead of 100m of 16 designs. The panel size is what we needed for the quilt top anyway and it is the best option for limiting waste.
We had the fabrics printed in Sydney, and the printer technician explained that with every unique design the printer had to print, it would yield 2m of wasted material. This is because of how the fabric is rolled onto the printer.
So 16 different fabric designs would produce 32m of waste! However, the panel option only had 2m of waste. So the decision was rather easy. The panel option also meant we could pick the fabrics up ourselves and save a delivery truck dropping a pallet at our studio. This option just seemed much easier as a small business. We wouldn't have to pay people to cut kits, and we wouldn't have to wrap anything in plastic!
Size:
The panel size is 140 cm x 100 cm, with each design measuring at 23 cm x 33 cm (9" x 13").
Pre-wash and care:
The panels were printed through a process called dye-sublimation. It is a sustainable printing technique that uses heat to transfer the design. This process also uses zero water and leaves no toxic waste! The fabric is an organic cotton poplin that, when washed, has a nice smooth feel. The panel will arrive stiff like a batik because of the dressing used in the fabric to make it stiff so that it can ease through the printer.
When you receive your panel, please pre-wash in warm water with a mild detergent, drip dry, press and cut into 16 pieces ready to make your quilt.
The cost to purchase:
The panel costs $ 59.50 (Australian Dollars) plus shipping.
Shipping costs are as follows:
Australia: $12.00
USA and Canada: $35.00
UK: $ 40.00
NZ: $30.00
Rest of the world: $45.00
(All fabrics will be shipped express and will have tracking)
Please note that the prices are in Australian dollars; please use a currency converter to see the price for your region.
The fabrics are more expensive than regular patchwork fabric because they were not sourced from the usual channels and were expensive for us to print. They are original designs, exclusive to us, digitally printed in Australia on organic cotton poplin, with 100% of the profits going directly to the artist, Alex Birdfox, who will be lovingly cutting, folding, packaging, and shipping out the fabrics directly to the customer.
For those that are taking part in our Island Home Online Quilt As You Go Masterclass, we totally understand that these fabrics aren't for everyone, and we are happy for you to use your choice of fabric; this is just a start for Alex Birdfox and a collaboration that we have dreamt of for a long time. Hopefully, there will be more fabric from Alex at a more affordable price in the future; as his popularity grows as a fabric designer, the more fabric that you get printed, the cheaper it is.
Availability:
We sold out of our first two runs. If we have an opportunity to have more printed we will let everyone know via email newsletter and open up a waiting list.
If you have questions please comment below and we will be back Monday to answer them for you. We wish you a wonderful and creative weekend!! xox Alaura and Monica