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How would you describe your particular craft style? ‘Askew’. Diva cockatoos, vacuumed cats, Santa falling off a roof; I tend to find opportunity for the ridiculous in most situations. Every now and again, I behave myself and do a ‘straight’ design - but I do love having a giggle, even if stitching and appliqué haven’t historically been a comedic art form.

Did your distinctive style happen over time or was it immediate when you started stitching? ‘Funny fat-faced people’, as my sister calls it, has always been with me, but I think it’s been a personal journey to embrace that difference and work with it, rather than trying to fit in with something more serious and traditional. I didn’t think being ‘silly’ would work with stitcheries, then I released Subversive Santa and had a fantastic response. People seem to like stitching and snorting their coffee out their nose at the same time.

What sorts of crafts do you avoid like the plague? PATCHWORK. Neat triangles??? Noooooooo! (I admire it, and adore some modern works; I just don’t want to do it myself.) Also, I avoid knitting and crochet, and toilet-roll dolls. (WHY was that a thing? Who thought ‘I know, a plastic doll with nylon knitted skirt will look good in a toilet!’??)

Are you good at all the crafts you’ve tried? I have the capacity to be good, but have decided, with my limited time, I have to be quite strict with myself as to what I’m going to put my crafting time into. As I get older, I’m finding narrowing my crafting choices gives me more focus on ‘really getting good’ at my strengths.

Is your stitching a great diversion from tasks you’d prefer to avoid (eg: housework)?

In one of those school Mum’s Day ‘surveys’, my youngest answered it this way:

Q: What does your mum like to do?

A: Sew

Q: If your mum had extra time, what would she spend it doing:

A: Lots more sewing.

Q: My mum always forgets…?

A: To cook tea.

Which of your designs has been most popular with the public or gift recipient? I apologise now to every Australian baby who was born in 2015- I think every one of them was given the Australian Afternoon stitchery quilt.

Have you got a stitching dream or goal? I would love to ‘do a book’. I’ve even got the title and concept ready. Call me.

What makes you laugh out loud? My friends. Ones I’ve known forever (Esther) and virtual ones I’ve met on my Facebook site (Donna is especially hilarious). My family. My husband declaring ‘We’ve got to put our socks together!’ A great scripted movie line. Galaxy Quest, or Princess Bride (Anyone want a peanut?). My church. My pastor pretty much makes me laugh every Sunday. Too many things! Life is easiest with laughter!

Natashia Curtin, Smee Designs –