Do you make lots of quilts – what’s your yearly average?Five or six a year, on average. Some by hand and some by machine. You always work wonders with circle motifs.
Are they a favourite design element for you?Yes, they are. Not many quilters like sewing them, but I’ve done so many over the years, I’ve perfected any hiccups that may occur. I find it hard to sew square and rectangular blocks these days!
Your style varies broadly – do you like to keep the look of your quilts every-changing so working on them stays fresh and exciting?That’s the idea, isn’t it? For me, making them, and for potential makers of my patterns.
“You’re only as good as your last quilt!” What are your favourite colours and prints to work with?At the moment, I’m into modern fabrics after a long time using reproductions. Large prints, low-volume prints, geometrics – new ranges coming all the time to keep me designing and sewing.
Do you like to participate in craft retreats?Sure do, as a participant and a tutor. I organise two a year locally for up to 40 quilters each time and I travel far and wide as a tutor for other groups.
Are you a haby-store addict? And, if so, what draws you back to those shops again and again?Not so much the haby but definitely the fabrics. I’m not a gadget person, so I buy needles, threads, rulers etc but I’m constantly looking at new ranges for inspiration.
Do you work on one project at a time or do you prefer to have several ideas going at once?Several, definitely. Hand or machine piecing, hand or machine quilting, appliqué are all on the WIP pile. I’m hand sewing every night in front of the TV or I’d fall asleep!
Who are your crafting/quilt-making heroes?Mary Mashuta, Karen Stone, Gwen Marston and all the modern quilters I follow on IG or Pinterest – too many to mention.
Do you have enough time to make all the things you want to make?Not really. I spend most of my time teaching. Then there’s writing up new patterns, printing current ones for my Etsy shop, answering emails etc. I forgot to mention babysitting!!
If you had one crafting wish, what would you like it to be?More time! And a big new Bernina sewing machine to use with my new quilting rulers.
