Do you want to recover from Christmas

Why not consider joining me at the inaugural Mt Buller Retreat - 13th - 18th February.

I am teaching three of my most popular workshops in a beautiful setting in Mt Buller which is a beautiful alpine environment, a picturesque 3 hour drive north east from Melbourne. Not only do you get to totally immerse yourself in creativity there is also time to take in the fresh alpine air, relax and make new friends.  

Workshops are Aurora, my new Textured Treasures and Beaded Buttons. 

Threads to Dye For

I have a new workshop called Threads to Dye For.

We will spend a few hours playing with and dyeing a variety of threads and I am running it in my home studio in Sydney on December 4th.

Just think of all the gorgeous stitching you could do with a selection like this. Or you could even make up bundles of hand dyed threads for your quilting friends as a gift.

Contact me if you are interested in joining in the fun.

More on Orvieto

Here is a link to the latest Adventures in Italy newsletter with some incredible photos of the recent workshops.
There are still a few days to sign up for my wonderful workshop - Textured Treasures - Italy Inspired - starting September 26th so don't delay if you are interested.
Food will obviously play a big part in our week

Along with local wines from the vineyards

More student quilts

Have been absolutely thrilled by all the congratulatory emails about my scholarship. Thanks so much. I hope I can only live up to expectations but already getting excited about going to Houston and totally immersing myself in workshops. What an opportunity of a lifetime!

Of course then I have to create some new workshops and teach them and then put together an exhibition of my work and my students. So if you would like to join me on this exciting journey - think about booking a workshop next year. My year is already starting to fill up so contact me soon.

The quilt above is Fabrications done by Catherina last year in Latrobe Valley - I love the vibrancy of the colours.

This one is Breaking the Drought done by Maria - she had great fun embellishing her fabric

Studio Workshop

Yesterday I ran my first workshop in my new studio. We did Aurora which is a fun workshop as you do a variety of techniques in a relaxed way with great results.
Here are my 4 students Maggie, Barb, Denise and Chris sewing and then later when we do the beading component of the class. I think the day went very well and I look forward to doing more in the new year. I can fit 6 students with machines or 8-10 for a non machine workshop so if you are interested in getting a few friends together for a fun day let me know.

I also thought I would show you a few more shots of my studio as part of the Quilting Arts Virtual Studio Tour although I am a day late and so not included in the official links but it is a great way to have a peek into other studios. Regular readers will have followed the studio creation but now it is looking more like it usually does... messy.

These are my custom shelves which hold the tubs I store fabric in as well as the perspex boxes we use for shows but they are just as gorgeous on the shelves.

My design wall is nearly the length of the room but nothing new on it at the moment so I thought I would show the end I am most proud of - the ribbons and a bit of inspiration. There are also some bits and pieces I am working on for my Orvieto Class next year.

This is my stash of non hand dyes but it is mainly silks and satins and sheers as well as rovings and felt. The top also doubles as a cutting table.


This is my little desk where I do painting and bits. It actually pulls out to make it much bigger but then I can't reach the back of it.

I have two of these flip out tables which fold back down flush to the wall if I don't need them up. This one has my big ironing board on it.

Some more of my beads

I had a couple of shelves put in above my thread and office and painting drawers which hold a few things but these change regularly and are a bit high.

These are the Alex drawers from Ikea which hold my threads (different drawer for each colour)

and my art supplies

Poor Peter and the Dyed & Gone to Heaven cutting table and storage has been relegated to the other room as it seemed more sensible to separate business and creation but they still do cross over of course. My books were exiled there too but it is only the next room so not too far away. There is a comfy couch in this room too.

Rocky Retreat

At the Retreat I taught 3 classes - Breaking the Drought, Aurora and Atlantis. I was so impressed by my students enthusiasm and stamina. Here is Kerry who admitted she was definitely out of her usual comfort zone in terms of mess and randomness but she has told me she has recovered and really likes her Atlantis quilt which is for her mother.
The one above is Laurie's Breaking the Drought - can't wait to see that one finished.

Here are some Auroras - bit shady under the palms.

Classes started early (8:30) but most students were already sewing by 8am and went well past the 'official' end time. Some even went back after dinner and sewed till 10 or 11pm or until the security guard threw them out. I think wine and lollies helped the night owls energy levels.

The school we were based in had very lush landscaping and I loved these seeds. I was told what the tree was called and evidently the berries are full of nasty things and make you itch. Aren't the red ones great amongst the green?

We ate at the school boarders cafeteria and there was never any shortage of food. Most of it designed for hungry teenagers but there was always enough choice for even the fussiest of eaters.


And you can't go to Queensland without seeing a cane toad. Luckily for me - this one was well and truely dead.

So you can see we had great fun and we produced some incredible quilts. If you are interested in me running some workshops for a Retreat or Quilting group or store please have a look at my Workshop Flyer for 2010 and contact me if you are interested and want more info.

Workshops in Dyed & Gone to Heaven Studio

I am pleased to announce that I have, after numerous requests, decided to run a few workshops in my new studio in Sydney.

Classes will be small and numbers will be strictly limited for personalised attention and I have chosen my two most popular workshops to 'test the waters'.

Creative Beading will be held on Wednesday 16th September and cost of $100 will include complete kit (including everything you need), delicious lunch, morning & afternoon tea and of course tuition.

Aurora Quilt will be held on Saturday 3rd October and cost of $80 will include tuition and lunch and morning and afternoon teas. Kits will be available or you can bring your own fabrics.

As these will be small classes you will have a wonderful opportunity to learn in a relaxed fun environment. Why not ask a friend or two and come along for a great day?

Contact me ASAP to ensure a place.

West Australian Workshops

When I return from beautiful Coffs Harbour I am off to West Australia to teach some workshops and the Perth Quilt & Craft Fair. I think my classes in Geraldton and Dongara are full but I am also teaching Breaking the Drought at Ocean Keys Sewing in Perth on 20th May and then off to Kalgoorlie for a few days to do some more workshops on 23-25 May. Breaking the Drought is full but there are places in Creative Beading and Fabrications if you are interested. The website has a link to the contact details and kits will be available.

Mini Exhibition on the Gold Coast

Last year you may remember I taught Fabrications to the Gold Coast Quilters

and we had a brilliant time creating lots of Fantasy Fabrics.

Recently in conjunction with Craftfest at the Gold Coast the Gold Coast Quilters had an exhibition of their work and there was a whole section of quilts completed after the workshop.



I was thrilled to be sent photos of them.

There is also a version of Cutout Magic which snuck in as well.

Start Saving to Join me in Italy

I am absolutely thrilled to able to announce that I will be teaching in Italy next year.

I know it is a long way away until September 2010 but I have worked out it is only 80 weeks away until I host a week long course in Orvieto Italy for Bill and Kristi Steiner of Adventures in Italy.

My workshop is called Textile Treasures - Italy Inspired and will be a wonderful week of combining Surface Design Techniques with the taste and sights of one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. Can you imagine anything more perfect?

We spent time in Orvieto a few years ago and it is one of our most favourite memories of Italy.


These images will hopefully start you thinking about joining me on this experience of a lifetime. I have worked out that if you start saving now it would only be US$35 a week (of course you would need to add your travel costs to that) but doesn't that sound achievable?

Additional Bead Class at Coffs Harbour

Funny how things change. Last year we could not fill a beading class at Be Creative by the Sea in Coffs Harbour. This year it is the opposite with the afternoon class filling up so quickly and leaving many disappointed potential beading addicts.

So I am now pleased to announce that I will be having an additional half day beading classes in the morning on Wednesday 29th April. Places are limited so please contact Be Creative if you would like to join us. Kits are available and I guarantee you will be beading up a storm at the end of the class and possibly the beginning of a new obsession.

Although you don't have to sign up for any other workshops, there are still some places left with some pretty amazing tutors. The venue is incredible and the food (and cocktails) to die for too.

See you there

Breaking the Drought on Holiday

When I taught Breaking the Drought at the Bramble Patch in the UK last year, Margaret told me she would be in Australia in February and would come to see me at the AQC

I was thrilled that she brought her quilt all the way with her to show me. Isn't is wonderful. I was especially amazed at the french knot embroidery around these shapes.

These shapes have been embossed onto velvet and the stitched on. Isn't she clever.

I will be in the UK next year again so if you are interested in a workshop please let me know as I am already booked in Durham and a few other places.