How it all began
Insert flattering photo above! :D
I am not going to lie, I hate having to write about myself and I am sure many of you feel the same way. If you already know me either by taking a workshop or reading my book then you will already have an idea about me and what I do. If you are new here then before you commit to engaging with me then it is only polite that I tell you a bit about myself.
While teaching overseas I was introduced to the delights of patchwork and quilting by a fellow expat. While I had dabbled in a number of craft and art pursuits over the years something about cutting up pieces of fabric and sewing them back together enthralled me. On my return to the U.K. I ended on a City and Guilds course in Patchwork and Quilting and it was while doing that I started to explore the many directions that this craft could take me,. One of these was fabric painting.
On completion of the P&Q course, followed by another one in machine embroidery. I had the time to explore the delights of fabric painting in more depth. Fellow quilters asked to buy my fabrics. I started to design patterns to show how these fabrics could be used. I also started to produce kits.
I was asked to teach others how to paint fabric and this progressed to me teaching that and other art quilt related classes all over the U.K. and abroad. Early on it was made apparent to me that in order to get booking with various Guilds then you had to have a Talk or Lecture added to your offerings. This filled me with horror as I felt that you had to have years of experience and a very big pile of quilts before you could talk with any authority to a group or guild. However, through the encouragement of fellow quilters* I created two lectures. One on different ways to colour fabric. The other on ‘arty’ ways of using up scraps.
Oh, and amazingly, I was also asked to write a book. I still pinch myself about this.
So here I am in 2021 and it is time for a bit of a change. I want to carry on teaching and spreading the word about fabric painting and art quilting. I want to reach those people who want to learn from me wherever they may be. If you are one of those people then stay tuned by subscribing to my Newsletter.
*fellow quilters -my thanks go out to you. Without your encouragement I would not be where I am today.