Photography: Tristan McKenzie
Every year, Keren and her sister end up in hysterics as they attempt to recreate a Christmas cake their mum used to bake. “We make it the same way every year, but the recipe says things like ‘a pinch of this’ and ‘a dash of that’, so we’re there going, ‘What does this even mean?!’” Keren says with a laugh.
It’s one of those festive traditions that may not make much sense, but it brings joy and meaning to the season. “You miss the people who you don’t have around anymore, so it’s kind of bittersweet at the same time,” acknowledges Keren, whose mother’s absence is deeply felt.
At a glance
Who The owner and designer behind Fledge & Thread, Keren Fraser.
What she does Illustrates baby and children’s clothing and bedding, paints original decor and artworks, and creates an audio book series.
Where In her colour-drenched home studio in Western Australia.
Why she does it “My hope is that our designs build on the imagination for little ones.”
Visit fledgeandthread.com.au; @fledgeandthread
Now, with her husband Mathew and their two children, Lennox, eight, and Quinn, five, making the season magical matters more than ever. The family moved into their “eclectic but classic” Art Deco home six years ago, though to Keren it feels like yesterday. “When we first walked in, Lennox was around two years old,” she recalls. “I said to Mat, ‘If we get this house, I can hear his little footsteps running down the hallway.’ It was so strange, I could feel it in my body. Now, we have two kids who run up the hallway.”
Making her Christmas tree ornaments
It’s not just her own children Keren hopes to pass the festive spirit on to. As the founder of Fledge & Thread, she crafts Christmas ornaments that find homes far and wide. “I’ve got collectors around the world who buy a few pieces every year to pass on to future generations,” she says. “It’s so lovely, it makes me quite emotional, actually.”
Like Santa, the talented illustrator will be busy in her workshop in the lead-up to Christmas, creating 12 one-of-a-kind baubles. From a little duck, to a labrador with a red bow, each is handpainted with a charming animal in a festive scene. “As a child, I used to imagine these little creatures in the woods behind our house, so I think I draw on that,” Keren says.
This year, there will be a select number of handpainted wooden rocking horses, too. “Last year, I only launched three of them and they sold out straightaway,” she says. But perhaps the most delightful new piece of work to come from Fledge & Thread this year is an audio Christmas story series, designed to accompany the baby rompers and children’s pyjamas. “The stories have the same characters in them as the ones on the Christmas range,” Keren explains. “I thought it would be a really nice connection for kids, because they love stories around Christmastime.”
It will be a merry buzz of activity in her home studio for several more weeks, before Keren, Mathew and their children head down the coast to see Keren’s dad, sister, brother and their families. “I think that was the biggest thing for Mum, she always wanted us to stay together and close as a family,” shares Keren – and that’s one tradition that needs no explanation.
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