Crafty Lady #06 - Dell Stewart

Here I introduce another kind and talented sole Dell Stewart, who is giving up time to sew a patch for 'The Crafty Ladies & Gents Quilt'.

Dell Stewart is an absolute inspiration to me. She does many things including working with sculpture, drawing, animation and installation. If you know her, you will recognise her instantly by her pretty almost-to-the-floor strawberry blonde locks. I see her a person without limits with great big and very grand ideas. She is extremely talented and isn't afraid to be free and show her diverse skills.

Dell has recently been involved in a joint exhibition Triangle with Andrea Eckersley at Craft Victoria (oops there I go again dropping the CV bomb) which finishes this Saturday 12 June. Another project Dell is working on along side Adam Cruickshank for Craft Victoria is a limited edition tote designed as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations to commemorate all things handmade, also as a reflection of Dell & Adams history of collaboration in art & life. CV are running a really fun competition for us citizens to customize the bag however and which ever way you please. I am so upset I found all this out today as I write this blog because its due by closing time tonight and there is no way I will be able to get it done and delivered in my lunch break. So shattered.

Dell has an amazing biography including a Bachelor of Fine Arts from James Cook University and a Graduate Diploma in Animation and Interactive Media at RMIT. She also has an extensive body of work which you can now enjoy looking through here on her website, here on her blog, here in her shop and some great photos here on her flickr.

Keep posted to see what Dell comes up with for the her PP patch!

Above are a collection of Dell's lovely badges which you can buy online here.

Progress shots of Dell & Adam's Craft Victoria 40th anniversary commemoration tote.

Crafty Lady #05 - Kat Macleod

Today I am introducing the very talented and very lovely Kat Macleod, another Crafty Lady involved in 'The Crafty Lady & Gents Quilt'.

Kat is an illustrator and one of three directors of Melbourne graphic design company Ortolan (where I work too!). Yes, Kat is one of three of my lovely go-to-girls (ie boss'). She is very familiar with a needle and thread, if you know her work well you will have seen she features textiles and beautifully detailed sewing into many of her illustrations.

Kat has worked for a large range of individuals and companies which you may recognise her work from. Just to name a few; Michi Girl, Vogue (Entertaining & Chinese), So Frenchy So Chic, Clare Bowditch, Third Drawer Down, Bloom, The Age (melbourne) magazine... and the list goes on.

I am so so very excited to see what Kat comes up with, I know its going to be a knock out!

Tamara's Patch In Progress

Look what arrived in my inbox this very morning! Three photos of Tamara Marwood's patch in progress! Looking pretty cute from what I can see. Look at those teeny tiny stitches. I absolutely love hexagon patchworks, something very nostalgic and beautiful about them. Also, the dancing girl is going in some where too. Oh I cant wait to see the final patch!

Tamara blogged about us too! Check out what she said here. Thanks Tamara! Your hard work is greatly appreciated. x

Luci's Patch!

I was surprised at work today by the lovely Luci Everett and her man-in-toe Michael P. They came to drop off Luci's patch and just look how gorgeous it is!!

Thank you Luci. 2 down. 23 to go. x

Crafty Lady #04 - Cat Rabbit

I am very excited and honored to introduce to you the very talented Cat from Cat Rabbit. You may be surprised (or not) to know I discovered Cat at the very first Craft Victoria Craft Hatch Market in Jan 2009. Since then I have been a very keen follower and big fan of her work.

Cat is a doll maker and originally a Tassie girl but has been spending a bit of her time here in Melbourne featuring at artist markets and making beautiful window displays here and there. I saw her again at the May Craft Hatch market this year and adopted one of her gorgeous little owls. He sits proudly on my book pile next to my bed looking oh so sweet.

Cat has been nothing but lovely & overly supportive of Project Patchwork and I am over the mood that she is one of the 27 crafty ladies sewing a patch for The Crafty Ladies & Gents Quilt.

You can visit her website here & her flickr page here.

My little Cat Rabbit owly proudly purched on my books.
Oh and can you see the super cute Cat Rabbit print behind him? Thanks Cat! x

Embroided Hearts

For those of you out there sewing together a Heart Quilt patch, here is a little assistance of how to embroider the hearts.

1. Knot the end of your thread about 3cm in from the end and sew from the back through to the front about 5mm in from the edge of the heart.

2. Pull string through gently until you feel the knot stopping you. Then thread the needle through from the edge of the heart to 5mm in from the edge (as you can see in photo above). Make sure needle overlaps the string and pull needle through until you make an L shape, as seen below.
3. Continue the same technique as you make your way around the heart.

4. Once you get to the valley section of the heart you may need to re-enforce the stitch so it stays in place. Use the normal technique, then thread the needle back through the same hole but going in on the other side of the string so it holds and then back through to the front again.

5. Continue the stitch technique as normal.

6. When you get to the last stitch, thread the string back though to the back and tie it off with the 3cm you left at the beginning.
I hope that makes sense and helps a little! Call me if you need, my number is on the instruction sheet. Happy stitching! x

Luci Everett's Patch in Progress

Luci Everett's Crafty Ladies & Gents Patch - in progress.

Everything in Project Patchwork land is going swimmingly at the moment. I have just sent out the kits for the third and final quilt, The Heart Quilt. I have almost received all the finished patches of The Triangle Quilt. And most excitingly I have just received another progress image from one of the Crafty Ladies Luci Everett! Check it out above. Thanks Luci!!