The virus is still with us and I simply can’t imagine going to a major quilt show, like the Sydney Quilt Show (my Guild’s one) and mingling with large crowds again. Most shows have been postponed indefinitely and I miss catching with my friends and seeing all the wonderful quilts on exhibition. But the idea […]
Summer solstice
When we live in cities, we sometimes don’t notice the rhythms of the earth and our seasons. Today is the summer solstice here in Australia – the day when the sun’s track across the sky reaches its highest point – and commonly called the longest day of the year. It is also the start of […]
Every day is different
Sometimes, it seems as if the endless stream of days blurs into a single continuum, especially this year. The sun rises, the sun sets. Another lot of routines are carried out and another day is ticked off the calendar. Suddenly, we look up and realise another week, another month, has passed by without us really […]
Ruth de Vos: three questions
Welcome to the fifth in my Three Questions series, where I ask makers about their creative practices. I became aware of Ruth’s quilts over 10 years ago, when I was editor of a now-defunct quilt magazine and I have followed her work since. Ruth stitches together lots of little pieces of fabric to make bold […]
How to explode quilt block diagrams
When I’ve been writing patterns for my quilts in the past, I’ve often thought it would be useful to include diagrams that show how the pieces of a block join. I have low-level skills with graphics programs and I don’t have expensive software. I use EQ8 for my diagrams but never knew a way to explode […]
On hand piecing
The threaded needle gathers a row of running stitches that hold together two pieces of fabric. I stop and look more closely. The sharp needle point has pierced the fibres of the cotton cloth over and over as it makes its way along the sewing line. A simple, yet effective tool. I ease the thread […]
No more huge quilts for me
I’ve been wrestling with an unfinished quilt top this month. It’s enormous (by that I mean queen sized) and I’ve finally wrangled all the pieces through my sewing machine. It is a Trip Around the World (the pic below shows it in an early stage on my design wall) and there’s no way I’m quilting it. My […]
In the Studio with Megan Manwaring
Did you miss my article about QuiltNSW President, Megan Manwaring? Now you can read it online for free!
Quilt stories: Christine Lethlean and Rachaeldaisy
I was fortunate to interview two quilters for issue 85 of Quilters Companion magazine. Two – double the fun! Christine Lethlean has a fabulous studio in rural Victoria, where she is creatively resourceful. I am always thrilled to peek into another quilter’s creative space – it’s that inner sticky-beak in me! My second article is about Rachaeldaisy, […]
In the studio with Deirdre Bond-Abel
In the current issue of Quilters Companion, I have the privilege of sharing Deidre Bond-Abel’s story of how her long-held dreams are coming to life. Just look at the view through that window! Deirdre’s business, Hat Creek Quilts, is based in Tasmania where she works while surrounded by inspirational countryside. Once again, I was fortunate to have a […]