I always have stitching on the go no matter what, and I always have a little something with me, just in case I have a few minutes to wait somewhere! I use my embroidery to make into patchwork quilts, bags, cushions, sewing notions etc. I love hand piecing and paper piecing I often embroider and then cover the paper shapes to make into different things. I am a rather “hooked” on crochet! I also love to doodle and draw, mainly flowers because most of my designs have flowers in them.

I have been sewing and crocheting since I was a little girl. My Nanna taught me to crochet and an Aunty taught me to use the sewing machine. Mum helped me too with whatever I was trying to do and Dad was handy with his hands. My love of the garden also stems from Mum with a packet of seeds and waiting for the flowers to grow. I have always made things. Embroidery started with the traced linens and moved on from there. I was completely smitten after a trip to Quilt Market many years ago and saw the “naive” style of embroidery my interest has never waned and I want to do it all! I really enjoy combining different simple stitches and threads in my designs and lots of inspiration is drawn from my garden and vintage embroidery.

I have a teaching background so moving to teaching embroidery and patchwork etc wasn’t too difficult for me. I started teaching embroidery in about 1990 so have been around for quite a while now. I am lucky to have students who have been coming to me for many years. It always amazes me that they have room for another project in their homes.

Crafting is my profession. I teach in several different shops and I am currently working on a new patterns to sell to shops. I have been lucky enough to work with Murdoch books and to contribute several projects for one of their books. I have been published in Homespun Magazine on several occasions and some other Australian publications.

I love that my crafting can take me to a happy place, away from all the problems that may be going on around me. It has saved me several times when things have been really difficult. I really enjoy planning my projects from the original sketch to choosing threads and fabric and the visit to my favourite place – the fabric and thread shop to buy the supplies. It is the journey after all!

My five descriptive words would be unique, pretty, humble, distinctive, pleasing.