Selvedge: Get to know Emellie Ferris
One of embroidery artist Emillie Ferris’ favourite quotes is a Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” Since teaching herself to embroider with a handful of materials (a hoop, thread, needle and an old pillowcase), Emillie has been passionate about embroidery and passing on […]
Designer Edge: Georgie Emery
From her home in the United Kingdom to the countryside of southern France and the lush region of Southeast Asia, embroidery artist Georgie Emery has been inspired by butterflies from across the globe. Her embroideries are the result of careful design planning, meticulous stitching and a deep appreciation for these beautiful creatures. “They represent peace […]
In the Studio of Western Australian-based quiltmaker Elizabeth Humphreys
The mainly self-taught, Western Australian-based quiltmaker, Elizabeth Humphreys, cut her teeth on conventional quilt designs. But over a career spanning 50 years, she has graduated in more recent times to landscape and pictorial quilts depicting the physical and cultural phenomena of her local environment. Elizabeth started working on her first-ever quilt in 1968 using surplus […]
Bisa Butler’s portraiture and quilting artworks
It was a pivotal moment when Bisa Butler combined portraiture and quilting to create her first eye-catching artwork, and she’s embraced quilted portraits with gusto ever since. Inspired by African American history, family dressmaking traditions and uplifting colours and patterns, Bisa’s art quilts bring forward stories from the past with vibrancy and texture. Like many […]
Selvedge: Emily Jo Gibbs
The beauty of making portraits, much like writing profiles, is that it’s a chance to really think about and appreciate the person you are depicting. This is what Emily Jo Gibbs loved about embroidering her first portrait, which was of her son Fred. She then created a portrait of her other son, Bill, which led […]
In the Studio with Cheryl Filby
Moving some 20 years ago into the seaside village of South West Rocks on the mid-north coast of NSW, Cheryl Filby caught the quilting bug. She had previously been engaged in a challenging career as a senior laboratory technician for a pharmaceutical company, developing new drenches and dips for the sheep industry. Quiltmaking has since […]
Designer Profile: Catherine Butterworth
A life-long involvement in fabric retailing and sewing has given Catherine Butterworth the background for creating award-winning quilts in both traditional and modern styles. Words by Michael O’Neile. Photographs by Peter and Julie Butterworth Ohioan-born Catherine Butterworth first visited Australia as an exchange secondary student in 1971, returning to Sydney a few years later to […]
Designer Edge with tapestry artist Niki McDonald
Forget floral arrangements, fruit bowls and rolling hills — it’s the graffitied laneways of Melbourne, neon signs and tattoos that tapestry artist Niki McDonald turns to for design inspiration. Her bold and brave approach to a traditional craft has led to an eye-catching series of artworks and has generated fresh interest in tapestry. Sydney-based artist […]
Designer Edge: Rachel Andrew
Skilled seamstress Rachel Andrew has sewn clothing for years, but was reluctant to try quilting … that was until she found a way to make it her own. Combining her garment-making skills with quilt block patterns and a bright colour palette, her inspiring designs have caught the attention and admiration of fashionistas and sewists worldwide. […]
Inside Rachael Porter’s Studio
A passion that began with the archetypal sampler quilt has blossomed into award-winning quilts, teaching gigs and now a blossoming online business for quiltmaker and designer Rachael Porter. Words by Michael O’Neile. Photographs provided by Rachael Porter. Rachael reminisces that her quiltmaking has markedly changed since she began this textile journey. Initially her quilts were […]