Sally Campbell, Handmade Textiles

IKAT FOR THE NEW YEAR

December 30 2012 | 0 Comments

Hopefully you have all made it into the new year without too many bumps, grinds, scratches and are not trying to focus on this blog on all fours through blurred hungover eyes. Loved having my Christmas show at Shapiros, and many many thanks to all the supporters and textile lovers. Part of the show was the new Ikat designs i did in Hyderabad, India. Soft, handwoven cotton, they are in different sizes perfect for throws, tablecloths, bedcovers, metreage. All in Japanese influenced geometric designs. Here they are hanging in the gallery looking like proud smudged watercolours.

Indigo large circles

Indigo small circles

Indigo dalmatian

Dotty About Blue

Zig Zag

YOU ARE INVITED TO MY XMAS SHOW

November 30 2012 | 0 Comments

My Xmas exhibition starts 13 December. Put it in your diary.........Come for drinks on opening night of the 12th. See you there or be square !

ON LINE SALE NOW - FESTIVE TABLECLOTHS FOR XMAS. See them on my website

http://www.sallycampbell.com.au/collections/featured

Three fabulous designs in fine quality organdy cotton - Gold or Silver with French Seams, or Hot Pink with Orange Border. Available in 2 sizes

IT'S HOT AND HAPPENING !

November 29 2012 | 0 Comments

Super Cool Quilts for Children with no frills.

Two new handwoven cotton quilts - Sea Blues and Candy Stripes. These are quilts to satisfy those mothers who don't want girly girly and little boy fantasies for their children. As glamorous as any grown up quilt and reversible for when you are bored with one side and want a new look happening. Go for it girls. Available in King SIngle and Baby sizes.

New handwoven cotton throws - Sooooo chic and sooooo soft, in Ivory with Navy stripes, and Ivory with Red stripes,sporting a cheerful bobble fringe. Throw over a bed or table and will handle all stains, just hurl in the machine on cold water wash.

Hot pink with lime green stripe in handwoven cotton - instantly perks up a single bed or tablecloth set for lunch with the girls.

Give Me Fever.......sarong heaven, cobweb soft in handwoven cotton. Sunstroke pink with electric orange stripe,sporting fab fringe. What more could a girl want to cover her luscious body before she hurls it into the surf.

Also comes in royal purple with terracotta stripe.....nothing subtle about me.

NOVEMBER ONLY - APPLIQUE SALE 50% OFF

October 30 2012 | 0 Comments

This month I am selling most of my applique at half price. Finest quality cotton and hand-stitching. There's pillowcases, cushion covers, tablecloths, throws and quilts. Whites, creams, black/white and some red. Limited supplies, so the race is on . . . .

View these products in my online shop - see SALE page on my website

http://www.sallycampbell.com.au/collections/featured

Just Come Through the Door . . .

October 27 2012 | 0 Comments

A whole range of fab new textiles have just arrived. Vintage and new, new, new. Scrumptious hot pinks, limes, lilacs, oranges and aquas. Cushions and quilts, to match or clash, whatever a girl desires really. I also go palest of the pale believe it not, for the timid minimalists. And as usual there is endless amounts of indigo as it is my total passion, whether it is a happening colour or not it is here to stay with and on me. I think I must have been an offshoot from the Blue Men Nomads with their skin permanently stained indigo. Everything is on sale when I have my Xmas showing at Shapiro gallery in Woollahra December 13 - 22.

I'm always thinking pink as it is a great fave for beach houses,blondes and small girls. I have throws and cushions in pink/whites, pink/ greys, pink/limes, shocking pinks to almost not there pinks and all in softest cottons and hand stitched.

Cushions in oranges and limes, all sizes plus squishy bolsters. Plus orange geometric and florals in throws 3 different sizes.

Natural dyes eat your heart out. These ancient earthy browns, reds, and blacks in tiny delicate tie and dye...all vintage cotton fabrics and many sizes. In cushions and throws.

Indigo rearing its heavenly head here....Japanese boro fabrics, many moons old in florals, checks, denims, ikats. All mixed in with Indian shibori and mud resist block prints. Try lying horizontal on this cocktail.

A simple pure indigo, fine cotton tunic with large slits up the side in geometric shibori design.Throw it over jeans or leggings and you have it made.

Hope you like my new towels. Couldn't resist doing them in indigo mud resist block prints. They make a great 4 some. In linen/cotton, lightweight and absorbent, perfect for kitchen, bathroom, gym and beach.....not to mention sarong or stole for the super stylish.

African Indian Patchworks from Karnataka

September 19 2012 | 2 Comments

I have just returned from an amazing experience, discovering the exotic and intricate patchworks of the Siddi women's quilting co-operative. We nearly didn't arrive at our destination as the only airline to the nearest town (3 hours drive away) went broke. We were stuck in a 1950's propeller plane on the tarmac for 4 hours. No air conditioning, pouring monsoon rains and pitch darkness with the pilot mumbling in Hinglish "there seems to be a fuel problem". Close to midnight the hat was passed around and the little red fuel truck thundered onto the tarmac and filled us up and off we went. The next day we set out with a car and driver to the patchworkers ' tiny village at the edge of a teak forest in Karnataka. Passing endless Tibetan buddhist monasteries and misty monsoonal farm lands, we finally arrived at the little convent where we were to stay. Surrounded by lush barley and corn meadows. Papayas falling off the trees and wonderful vegetable gardens, the convent is run by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Sister Valentine D' Souza was our brilliant hostess who performs all sorts of miracles working with the Siddis and other marginalized groups in Karnataka. Speaking perfect English (and many other languages) she made us feel instantly at home and showed us to our room with pink rose cotton sheets and blue mozzy nets. We spent many hours wandering round the village, visiting many different quilters in their homes, watching them create these exquisite quilts (also known as Kawandi).

The Siddis are descendants of enslaved Africans bought to Goa by the Portuguese between the 16th and 19th centuries. They gradually moved south into the remote regions of Northern Karnataka and live in small villages scattered in the forests. Traditionally their patchworks were used for family members and sleeping mattresses in warm weather or covers during the monsoon season. Baby quilts for their wooden cribs and huge ones for three or more persons. The art form is never taught, it is instinctive and was used by the slaves as a secret communication between each other. For example if a quilt was turned over in the evening it meant they were going to escape that night. Now many quilters are older women who can no longer work in the fields, younger women also make the quilts. Some work together, others alone. They work whenever they have a free moment from their incredibly long days of cooking,farming,and minding their children. Each quilt is unique and every quilt a work of art. I adored them all and purchased a few to exhibit and sell at my show in December at Shapiro Gallery.

The luscious barley crop with handmade stick fences

The mud houses painted stunning colours

Voodoo Heaven

A large patchwork takes four months to make

Sister Valentine D' Souza second from right with her 3 nuns

Melbourne Fair - A Triumph......

August 14 2012 | 0 Comments

I have just spent a week in Melbourne hawking my wares with a squillion other people. It was the first time I have attended a fair in Melbourne and the experience was thrilling. In temperatures of 4 degrees women hurled my quilts everywhere and couldn't order enough of them. When the Melbourne Showground doors opened, and endless women poured into the cattle yards (we were in the Easter Show sheds ) dressed head to toe in skin tight black and knee high black boots, I thought it was the new army coming for us. Thank goodness enough of them like an injection of colour every now and then into their lives. Not having a clue what colours are in and out of fashion I always find out when people plead "haven't you got any more orange and lilac" or "show me all your pink and aquas"

I managed to squeeze in 2 wonderous exhibitions...Napoleon and Fred Williams. Both total treats. After a hard day at the fair I would always manage a new amazing restaurant and bar to unwind in. Spent many hours in Ciccolinas (always a must on my first night), Chin Chin where everyone queues up for hours on end to experience superb food, meanwhile getting extremely drunk on cocktails in their bar while waiting for a table. Found a fab bar to hang out in called the Everleigh in Fitzroy. They made a G and T look stunning, served in crystal decanters with individual retro glasswear and the cocktail books dated back to the 20's.

Some of my quilts on display before they were thrown and hurled into chaos. I now have extra strong folding muscles. Unlike in India I don't have a whole team of folding slaves. I am my own slave.

I am just packing my bags for more Indian adventures. This time I am off to Hyderabad for a new ikat range and heading down south of Karnataka to work with some African Indian quilters. It is so remote I will take over 2 days to get there. 2 airplanes and huge car journey will hopefully get me to my destination. I am staying in a convent with the mother superior who kindly offered me a bed as hotels are unheard of in these parts. All quite thrilling and can't wait. Will report more in a month.

Delicious new range of vintage throws

July 14 2012 | 0 Comments

Soft,soft,soft is the mantra for my new vintage hand stitched cotton reversible throws. In three sizes 220cm x 100cm $250. 220cm x 150cm $325. 220cm x 180cm $425. These sizes are approximate due to the size of the vintage fabric. Some have little patches. The colours are pinks, aquas, mint and earthy greens, lilacs, terracottas, oranges, lemons, greys, blues and reds. The designs range from eccentric geometrics to softest florals and sunburnt bright madness. Ideal for any surface not to mention the body. Hope you find them irresistible......