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 […]
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 […]
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: Laura Heine
Laura Heine’s mix of artistic skills comes into play in her glorious art quilts. She has expert collaging skills when it comes to cutting and pasting, her painting talents shine as she arranges fabric motifs to blend colours, and her quilting abilities are award-winning. This multi-talented artist has created a candy-coloured world where everything from […]
Selvedge with designer, Lucy Levenson
“Scenes that I see in my head are full of very colourful elements.” If we say to you that Lucy Levenson’s fabric artworks are intoxicatingly lovely, there’s a good reason why – apart from the fact that they make your heart sing. They are produced in the cellar of an old English pub, just north […]
Designer Edge: Sarah Burford
“Nostalgia is very important to some people, and the references to Silver Screen sirens tap into that world of old-fashioned magic.” The Golden Years of Hollywood have a chance to glitter again, not in celluloid but in fabric. And the award goes to … Sarah Burford, who has created a red-carpet line-up of starlet-style dolls. […]
Selvedge with designer Carol Arnott
CAROL ARNOTT Carol Arnott’s work is all about capturing the essence of idyllic, seaside neighbourhoods (and the odd craggy fisherman!) in fabric and thread. As a testament to her talents, you can almost feel the sea breeze and taste the salty air while viewing her textile harbourscapes and felt hoops. From quaint cottages on one […]
Selvedge with designer Lauren Porter
After a long-haul flight, Lauren Porter’s winged creatures seek antique tools for their stopover spots. A nightingale perches on a pair of scissors, a swallow swings on an embroidery hoop, a coal tit rests on a metal key and a wren admires the view from a hammer. The birds seems very content with staying there […]