Page 26 - The Digital Cloth holiday issue

Meet the Maker Muddled

The

Bowerbird

Meet Estelle Barnes, curator of Creating the charm of yesteryear
the coolest fabrics and owner of
The Muddlled Bowerbird... I found
Estelle through her instagram
page when i was looking for beau- Fast forward 23 years later after having
tiful rainbow outfits for my girls to my first daughter Olive, that my passion for
wear for the magazine shoot. Es- sewing was re-ignited. My background in
telle was beyonf helpful and made corporate Human Resources just didn’t give

sure sizing was perfect for my me the same spark and joy that following my
girls. Turn around time was only passion has. Textiles and fabric have
two weeks and when i recieved always been at the forefront for me. Even
these gorgeous dresses, i knew before starting my sewing business I would
i needed to not only have these often just purchase beautiful fabrics to make
dresses in the magazine to share up quilts etc. I very rarely have an exact idea
but i needed to share Estelle with in mind prior to purchasing fabric. It is the
you too! fabric that really speaks to me first and then
Here is her story.... dictates to me what it’s life should
become...
Sewing has never been an unfamiliar area to me, as a child I loved nothing better Sourcing fabric is still one of my favourite
than getting up in my mother’s space as she sewed some of our clothes for us as aspects of the job.
kids. My fondest memories where, when I learnt to sew at a very

basic level at my Nana’s house on her work horse of a The name The Muddled Bowerbird
machine called ‘Old Bertha’. My Nanna in her day was a fan- originates from the true nature of me... a
tastic sewer and had learnt from her mother in-law who was muddled curator of beautiful fabrics. These
an amazing seamstress.. fabrics all stored in a nest much like a bow-

erbird waiting for it’s perfect use. After a
My memories of being given a piece of old fabric to try and few years my business has grown and mor-
sew a straight line and then made to un pick it was nothing phed into a clothing label that I am proud of…
short of irritating to a young 10 year old. My nan would scold A few things remain the same, I continue to
me a sweet way and just sigh as I’m sure she had lost hope in work on small batch releases. Taking pride
her granddaughter continuing on her legacy. that each item is handmade by me.