About a week ago on Instagram, I alluded to a collaboration with Bags of Love, and I thought it was high time I wrote about it properly. If you've never come across it before, Bags of Love is a personalised gifts company which prints your photos/designs onto pretty much anything...their product range is quite literally overwhelming and best of all, they print and manufacture everything at their base in West London.
Anyway, Bags of Love offered to print my choice of design onto 3 metres of any combination of fabric, which I could choose from their extensive range of over 60 fabrics. Seriously, get a swatch pack their fabric printing options range from silk and waterproof to scuba and towelling!
Now, I must admit that when faced with such a creative opportunity, I totally froze...like completely drew a blank! Luckily, my good friend and talented photographer, Ed Melia, came to the rescue. He takes the most amazing photos and I knew that a particular bunch of flowers he photographed would be perfect for this collaboration. Typically, you design your own prints online, with a helpful video on how to use tiling effects, but Bags of Love were kind enough to design mine for me to make sure we did the photos justice. The results are pretty special, don't you think?
(Original photo by Ed Melia Photography)
I had this stunning photo tiled in a half drop pattern on 2 metres of Panama Flo - a soft, mat, woven poly. It will need lining as it's ever so slightly opaque, but it's destined to be a dress...once I decide on a pattern. Something simple to let the print shine...any suggestions?
(Original photo by Ed Melia Photography)
This dramatic picture was cleverly designed into an irregular cluster repeat, with a cool oil painting effect, onto 1 metre of utterly divine Silk Sensation. It has an incredible drape and is very lights and floaty, so a blouse or tank of some sort is on the cards. Again, if you have any pattern suggestions I'd be very grateful.
Starting at £14.50 a metre (the price of both Panama Flo and Silk Sensation) and with no minimum order, I think Bags of Love is a really great way to personalise your makes for special occasions. Especially if you're a keen photographer and you have an eye for design!
What do you think? Would you be tempted to use a service like Bags of Love? Personalised Christmas gifts anyone?!?
I have been using Spoonflower for some time now, for prints for specific clients and more generalized projects. The quality of resolution of photo prints on synthetics is stunning; I am just scratching the surface of what can be done with the resulting fabrics
ReplyDeleteYeah, the possibilities are endless! So much fun to be had :o)
DeleteThanks for sharing this post. I love receiving (and making) personalized gift items. I think this makes a perfect DIY for your home gift idea for my sewing friends for Christmas!
ReplyDeleteGlad to have been of service :o)
DeleteI had a look at the Bags of Love website and I can't believe their range of fabrics and products!
ReplyDeleteI ordered their Ready Printed Swatch Pack which has samples of around 70 different fabrics! I thought it was a great reference tool, not just to see how well designs print on different fabrics, but as a great guide to what different fabrics are. My local fabric shop is a bit useless when it comes to identifying what a fabric is, so when I read a sewing blog post or book which mentions a 'silk crepe satin' for example, I can now refer to my sample pack and know what it is, what it feels like and how it drapes, etc! (The samples are great BTW, and the pack arrived very quickly.)
My husband even started coming up with ideas on how we could use personalised fabrics to make really special gifts! So thank you Marie for bringing this fabulous company to my attention! :-D
You're so welcome! I'm really pleased you found it as inspiring as I did...happy creating/printing/making!!!
DeleteI really like the idea of designing my own fabric but have been put of by the so-so reviews of Spoonflower and the expensive postage from the US. I would really love to give it a go though so thanks for the useful review. Xx
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Hope you enjoy the process :o)
DeleteGood luck! Hope you enjoy the process :o)
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