Tamara Maynes' DIY Quilt Light

Tamara Maynes' DIY Quilt Lights customised using MT tape

Tamara Maynes is a NSW-based designer, crafter and maker of many things - she has worked in product design and development, and has also spent many years creating soft props and custom craftwork for various stylists and interiors magazines.  These days she's taken up a permanent post as craft contributor for Inside Out Magazine, producing DIY projects for each issue.  When she's not crafting up a storm in her own studio, Tamara can also be found teaching a variety of crafty classes at The School in Sydney.

One of Tamara's recent creations is this charming but super simple DIY Quilt Light!  Originally designed for a feature in Inside Out, the original version went on to be exhibited with Supercyclers at Milan Design Week in April.

The genius thing about the Quilt Light is that it's not sold as a finished product.  It's available to purchase only as a downloadable template.  You essentially become the co-designer of your very own Quilt Light when you download and choose your own custom details - you can make as many as you like, in any size you want, and paint it, tape it, stitch it - it’s up to you!

Thanks to a grant from NSW Arts, Tamara is heading to the London Design Festival this month to exhibit her light and hold DIY workshops as part of the festival.  Also, AMAZINGLY, fashion designer Marc Jacobs has somehow been roped in to make his own version of Tamara's Quilt Light for display in London's iconic Liberty store during the festival!  Now THAT seems like a seriously big deal for a sweet little project designed in the Southern Highlands of NSW!

You can purchase a Quilt Light template for $20 from Tamara's online store, OR you can sign up for one of Tamara's upcoming Quilt Light making workshops  in either Melbourne (at Glen Proebstel's beautiful Establishment Studios) or Sydney (at Megan Morton's School) in October, where all templates and materials are provided!  Places are very limited in these workshops - if you're keen, don't dilly-dally!

Tamara has also recently committed to DAILY posts on her sweet blog, which focuses on all kinds of modern craft and interior projects - check it out!

Tamara Maynes with her DIY lights