Design portfolio

I suggested at this time 12 months ago that I had all sorts of grand plans for 2016. Little did I know what the year had in store; that my 'grand plans' would go out the window, replaced by other events.

I am always up for a challenge, but this one really stretched me!

I have just finished a couple of small gifts for my girls.

Whoever dreamed up the idea of fabric charm packs was a marketing genius ... and the nemesis of every fabric addict! Here is something practical, something quick to make, and that can make use of a single random charm pack. 

This project was borne of my childhood memories of woolsheds and stencilling wool bales at shearing time. It ended up as a three-piece knitting set called 'Baled Up'.

I sewed up this little quilt not long ago for one of my nieces. I have used my 'go-to' baby quilt, the smaller quilt in my 'Abracadabra' pattern, simply because it can be made up so quickly.

My latest quilt design is in the March issue (No. 130). It is a soft and pretty number, called 'A Kind of Hush'.

Of all the projects I have designed, this remains one of my favourites. It incorporates some things that I love to work with: linen, embroidery, botanical fabrics, and a vintage buckle.

I think I'll just go crawl into a corner and quilt for a few years! It seems the only sensible alternative, surely :) To this end, I have finished the flannel version of my 'Spin to Play' quilt.

I finished this bright and happy little quilt over the school holidays. For some fun, the central panel has some appliquéd detail, and a rotating red felt spinner!

In the end, I was pretty happy with my long-booted, stripe-y legged girl, packed and ready to travel the world.

I've made a fold-up wallet for storing seed packets. It can be hung in the garden shed for easy access, or stored folded.

When I was asked to submit a project with a gardening theme, my mind flew straight to the recently purchased Loulouthi range by Anna Maria Horner. It is perhaps my favourite of Anna's lines, and since Loulouthi translates to 'flower' from Greek, it seemed perfect for my purpose.

The fabrics in this line are wonderfully vibrant, and the full blown florals spoke to me of the 'flower power', infamously psychedelic times of the late 60's and early 70's. I called this quilt 'Spinning Wheel Ride' for the 1969 song by Blood, Sweat and Tears.

As a little celebration and a gift to you, kind readers, I have put together a new tutorial for some cute felt accessories for every kind of maker. 

It was an obvious choice to make her a snuggle quilt to remind her of how much she will be missed.

This is my tried and true method for a lined, drawstring bag, with an optional personalised nameplate.

I've updated my tutorial to provide instructions to custom fit the dimensions of any journal. I've also come up with a couple of nifty options for elastic closures. Enjoy!

I have put a quick tutorial together on how I made this quilt, and what cutting measurements I used.

One of my daughter's best friends celebrated her 18th birthday yesterday. Daughter decided last week that she'd like to make her friend a quilt ... as you do! 

This light scarf is made from Anna Maria Horner's 'Little Folks' voile. To achieve a similar look, you will need very sheer, soft fabric. I have used a print on one side of the scarf, and a plain white voile on the other side.

This is quite possibly the quickest quilt you will ever make! Mini 10" quilt 'sandwiches' are sewn together with a 1/2" seam. The seams are clipped to give some great 'cuddle-up' texture.

The second of my tutorials, 'Sweet Menagerie' is now up on Moda Bake Shop. Thank you to each and everyone who sent such encouraging messages about my last quilt. I was so excited!

This is my debut project for Moda Bake Shop, my 'Simply-a-Bloom' quilt. You can find the tutorial for this quilt here.

I have made my journal cover to fit an A5 art diary which is 6.25 inches wide, and 8.25 inches long. If your journal differs from these measurements, the method of construction will remain the same, but you will need to alter the measurements to fit.