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"I
have been a quilter for nearly forty years now. For me, and I know many others,
quilting is not a hobby, it is a lifestyle and I am very passionate about
sharing my love of the craft.
I consider myself very lucky to have discovered
quilting in my mid-twenties and I have had the joy and satisfaction of creating
quilts for such a long time that it is literally "the air that I
breathe".
I
started designing my own quilts pretty much from the very beginning. Very
simple quilts at first but over the years my style has grown. I consider my
designs to be quite unique. I don't follow trends or styles. I love to take
traditional block units and turn them in to original designs and combine them
with applique. Most of my inspiration for quilt designs comes from architecture
- iron work on old building, ceramic tiles, woodwork, lead-light windows and so
on. Reproduction fabrics are my great love, the colours and prints are so warm
and beautiful and I still find it fascinating to think that the fabrics we can
use today are on their second life. The details in some of the prints is
extraordinary. Antique quilts have become a passion, I have been collecting
them now for nearly ten years, they truly are so special, from the perfectly
constructed quilt to the very haphazardly made ones, they all bring such
beauty, patina and warmth.
I am a Mum to two great, grown up children who both
get how important quilting is to their Mum. Now a Grandma to a gorgeous little
girl, I so look forward to teaching her to sew as soon as
possible.
I am
a wife to a very long-suffering quilting husband (are they like Golf Wives??) I
think he secretly loves quilts nearly as much as I do, he certainly knows the
difference between a log cabin and a flying geese and is very good with colour,
but doesn't think that the quilts with applique are "real quilts" apparently
only pieced quilts are "real quilts".
I was a Registered Nurse for over
thirty years, a job that is very nurturing and rewarding, helping others in
their time of need is a great privilege. It is terrific career to combine with
quilting, Nurses are very organised people and good managers of time. Shift
work is very conducive to getting a few blocks made before you go to
work.
I
retired from nursing to become a quilt shop owner. This was a dream come true,
to be surrounded by fabric all day and get to spend time with other quilters,
what more could I want. I taught classes in the shop which was very rewarding,
starting others on their quilting journey. I travelled a great deal, vending at
quilt shows in Australia and teaching classes. I also travelled frequently to
the United States to attend International Quilt Market to wholesale my pattern
designs and teach at different quilt shops. The life of the quilt shop owner is
great fun BUT we don't get much time to sew. I gave up the bricks and mortar
shop and started an online business called Hat Creek
Quilts. At
first this was pretty full on with a large inventory, but as life changes I am
now concentrating on just selling my own patterns and
fabrics.
Along
the way I have co-authored two books published by Martingale. I have also
authored my very own book published by Quiltmania
called "Hat Creek
Quilts -- A Perfect Ending to a New Beginning". I have had many quilts published in Australian and
International magazines.
Applique is my great love, for me stitching by hand
at night is so relaxing, the rhythm of the pulling the needle through the
fabric is like meditation. It gives me time to think or even not to think.
Designing quilts is spontaneous, the ideas just flow, I like to think a design
right through from start to finish before I even pick up a pencil to draw or
scissors to cut.
A few years ago I collaborated with Marcus Fabrics on
a type of reproduction line called "Ties That Bind" the
prints were taken from my husband's silk tie collection.
Now I
am back with Marcus Fabrics and we are making Reproduction fabrics together. I
feel very blessed to be part of this wonderful craft, it has made my life so
rich, I love connecting with other quilters and sharing knowledge and
friendship in our quilting life. Visit Hat Creek Quilts |
