About Salley Mavor

I make 3-dimensional fabric relief pictures that are photographed and used to illustrate children’s books. I sew together different materials to create fanciful scenes in relief, much like a miniature stage set, with figures imposed on an embellished fabric background. My work is decorative and detailed, full of patterns from nature and found objects, all sewn together by hand with a needle and thread.

penguin pot holders

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Our trip to Antarctica has produced penguin fever! Luckily the local fabric shop had some penguin fabric to make pot holders, which I traditionally give for Christmas. See a tutorial about making my style of pot holder here. I picked fabric scraps from my stash that reminded me of the Antarctic landscape, including a dark purple and blue Mari Mekko design I’ve had forever.

Old cotton mattress pads work well for the padding.

Striped sear sucker fabric cut on the bias finishes the outside edge.

It’s time to wrap them in the penguin wrapping paper I found at the super market. Merry Christmas!

Antarctica: birds

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Salley Mavor

We just flew into Logan after about 24 hours of traveling, beginning in Ashuaia, Argentina, to Santiago Chile, to Atlanta to Boston. After a day of flying and while we wait in the airport to catch the bus to the Cape, I thought I’d write a post and show you the splendid birds we saw in Antarctica. Some were seen from the boat and others we saw on land. Can you guess what they are? Answers at the end of this post.

Birds, top to bottom: Cape petrel, Antarctic fulmar, Cape petrel, Giant Antarctic petrel, Giant Antarctic petrel, petrel, Giant Antarctic petrel.

Antarctica: Polly at the rookery

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Polly has visited several penguin rookeries, which have their own pungent perfume! The penguins are such entertaining and curious creatures! Both the male and female take turns sitting on the egg and keep up the nest of stones.

gentoo

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Ireland: windows

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Salley Mavor

When I’m traveling in some place new, I like to take pictures within categories, which helps focus my attention. In this case, it’s windows from our trip to Ireland last September. I don’t remember the names of the places, but they’re all located somewhere between Cork and Dublin.

Antarctica: landscapes

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Salley Mavor

I’m downloading these photos at 5:00 AM, taking advantage of the time. The sun has been up for hours and the internet is wide open because almost all of the boat’s passengers are asleep and not trying to send e-mails and their pictures of this amazing place. Antarctica is a most spectacular environment, which I think my husband Rob has captured in these photos. Enjoy!

Antarctica: zodiac tour

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Salley Mavor

We’re finally able to get internet service, so here are a selections of pictures taken from a zodiac. Polly saw some amazing ice formations and some very cute penguins.

Polly meets the Penguins

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Salley Mavor

See Polly and the penguins on my Facebook page.

Ireland: walls

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Salley Mavor

Here are some more pictures from our trip to Ireland last September. It seemed like there were walls and greenery everywhere!

at the end of the world

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Salley Mavor

2 days ago, we arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in South America yesterday. For lunch, we had barbecued lamb at a arestaurant/cross country skiing/dog sledding opperation. Since it’s summer, the dogs just hung around outside of their houses.

Our boat headed out to sea last night.

Today, Polly saw her forst iceberg! The seas are unusually calm for the Drake Passage, which makes for a happy boat load of people. Besides the iceberg, we’ve already seen spouting whales and albatross flying near the boat. This is turning into a spectacular trip!