OUR STORY

Jenna gave up her day job as a graphic designer to become a full time mum. Adament to have a break from the stresses of deadlines and client approval, the news that she was expecting her first child in 2009 was exactly what she needed to help her move on... little did she know that the transition would ignite a new flame that would lead to more stresses, deadlines and client approval! Her passion to design and create couldn't be subdued but rather redirected... it was in 2011 that Small White Bird was born!  With a passion for design, fashion, fabric and colour, Jenna began to create her own range of limited and unique pieces to brighten up the wardrobes of little ones. Small White Bird has continued to evolve and now offers beautiful designs for ladies with the dream of one day catering for the whole family.
As a stay at home mum with limited access to her sewing studio, meeting the demand for custom orders as well as producing a seasonal range has been challenging as all of Small White Birds creations are made using patterns designed, drafted and handmade with love by Jenna, many of which are only few of a kind. This has encouraged Jenna to think outside of her little boutique brand and expand her business by making her popluar designs available for sale as Apple + Fig sewing patterns enabling the home seamster or small business owner to create their own special piece of Small White Bird! 
"What I love most about what I do is the extreme satisfaction that comes with bringing a design to life... the challenge to take something I have dreamt in my mind and to create something beautiful yet functional from it... with the constant urge to push my ability beyond it's limits.

Something you may not know is I'm self taught! Although I haven't completed a degree in pattern or dress making, with the help of some amazing fellow handmaidens and great resources, I have spent countless hours reading, watching, calculating and learning how to draft patterns and construct garments."
"With every new design I push myself to add new elements in order to learn new techniques and I always aim to offer the highest quality product.

I don't claim to be a professional and some of my methods may be a little unorthodox... my goal is simply to share with you my designs that I love so you too can create a special garment whether it be for yourself, a loved one or to add to your businesses repertoire.

Rest assured, A+F patterns are tested by a team of wonderful seamsters each with different sewing abilities. If you have any questions about our patterns, I'd love to hear from you" – Jenna

WHAT IS IN A NAME

WHY APPLE + FIG?
My business is a reflection of me. It is the result of hard work, passion and dreams! The name needed to be personal... something that reflects my beliefs and has meaning. I thank my Creator for giving me the passion to do what I do and so I wanted the name to reflect Him in some way – I was drawn to these versus and knew it was the perfect Illustration for a clothing label:
"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." – Genesis 3:6-7
Adam and Eve – the story really illustrates the genesis of Fashion! Eve ate the forbidden apple which opened their eyes to their nakedness and then covered their bodies with fig leaves to hide their shame... from the apple, to the fig leaves... the era of clothing & fashion was born!
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