Birch forest fabric drying by Ink & Spindle

I love Ink & Spindle. Lara & Teegs from I&S design & print the most beautiful fabrics, they are so lovely, and their commitment to environmental & social sustainability is inspiring. Hooray!

If you’ve been to their wonderful studio in Kensington you’ll know how nice it is in there, especially when fabric is drying hanging from the ceiling like sails on a boat. It’s like being in an indoor tent! If you haven’t been, they’re having an open studio on August 13th – schedule it in!

New fabric by Ink & Spindle

All Ink & Spindle fabrics are printed on a combination of organic, sustainable and fairtrade basecloths. Awesome.

Production of organic & fairtrade fibers for textiles is growing so much worldwide every year, which is fantastic. Often now demand for these textiles can outstrip the supply of them. I have often faced small delays when having my Pocket Carnival fabrics (also organic) printed, and whilst I’m not glad that they’ve had a delay, I’m so glad that Ink & Spindle have blogged about their experience with this. It can be really really difficult at times to commit to running a creative business 100%  sustainably & ethically when it’s so easy to nip down to the dreaded Spotlight and pick up some bargains, but when we commit to supporting fairtrade & organic farming we need to remember that it’s also a commitment to dealing with the occasional supply issue. I totally think it’s worth it when products as wonderful as Ink & Spindle fabrics are created!

Saffron, Robin’s Egg & Charcoal Allsorts Quilt Kit!

I’m totally fearful of quilting, but I hear that the Ink & Spindle Allsorts Quilt Kits are pretty foolproof… the quilts are also amazingly beautiful, so if you’ve ever fancied you might become a quilter, take a look at their kits here!

Visit the Ink & Spindle online shop!

If you love Ink & Spindle, take a look at our new textiles directory for more awesome environmentally & ethically friendly fabric printers & shops!

World Map – Giant Organic Cushion Cover by My Bearded Pigeon

My Bearded Pigeon‘s cushions are absolutely lovely. In just a short space of time since the label began, they’ve been featured in publications such as Real Living Australia, Mollie Makes, UK and US Parenting Magazine, and Apartment Therapy. Cath, the designer and absolutely amazing lady behind My Bearded Pigeon also creates, as Chunky Chooky, absolutely adorable kids toys.

What I love most about My Bearded Pigeon (and Cath) is the staunch commitment to eco-friendly and socially sustainable living. My Bearded Pidgeon cushion covers are made of 100% certifed organic cotton. Plus, My Bearded Pigeon donates $1 from every sale to kiva.org supporting microlending in developing countries. That’s fantastic!

L. Hobart Organic Cotton Vintage Map Cushion Cover – R. Arctic Circle Cushion Cover

I was lucky enough to ask Cath a couple of questions:

Why do you use organic cotton?

Cath: I use organic cotton because it is kinder to the earth. I live in a forest surrounded by wild life ( sometimes a little to up close and personal ie, possums fighting on the tree outside the  window at 4am, snake in the lounge room) so this is a motivator. A few years ago my husband did an organic farming course and think this just confirmed everything we already suspected about traditional agriculture.

Using organic cotton is an important aspect of this business- not just a marketing ploy. It is reported that traditionally farmed cotton crops are the 2nd largest user of agricultural pesticides in the world. This means that 25% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of the world’s pesticides are dedicated to cotton. Even scarier than this is the fact that at least four of the top nine pesticides used in treating this cotton is considered by the EPA to be highly carcinogenic.

Which of your cushion locations would you most like to visit?

Cath: Its funny with the cushion places they do make me crave travel so much….I would probably like to go to Africa the most. It is on our definitely one day list…. and South America, and to Europe with my husband, the Amalfi coast…. and Paris….. I could go on…

L. Firewood Organic Cushion Cover – R. Morton Bay Fig Tree Organic Cushion Cover

Do you have any new designs coming up?

Cath: I have some new designs coming up, lots of new maps- Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Thailand and Turkey all coming up in the next week or so plus lots more currently being searched for…plus an exciting new range of cushions completely different to the maps….

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Thanks Cath!

You can see the start of the new range above – featuring original photography! I am so inspired by Cath’s environmental awareness and commitment, and the way she makes it look easy!

More My Bearded Pigeon here:

website :  blog :  shop :  twitter :  flickr

Harvest Textiles had a stall at Markit at Fed Square last weekend, and their stall was so beautiful I have to share! Harvest Textiles are a Melbourne screenprinting studio based in East Brunswick. Along with printing their own textiles & selling fabric, kits, kids clothes & more, they also run screen printing classes and have an open studio for other classes.

Where possible they use organic, recycled or locally produced fabric to print their designs on which are so lovely – they have a simple colour palette which I think makes each item bold & eye-catching.

Harvest are super supportive of local creatives – you can read more on their blog! They have workshops coming up with the likes of Beci Orpin, Dawn Tan and Abby of GoldenInk – amazing!

Dawn Tan & Harvest also recently collaborated on this sweet range – they have shopping bags with chocolate chip cookie recipes on them! What a dangerous idea for a shopping trip.

Harvest Textiles:

blog :  twitter :  website :  online store :  classes :  contact

Dawn Tan & Harvest Textiles:

online store

All photos courtesy Harvest Textiles.