Around the World Blog Hop

Welcome to my little corner of this amazing world of quilts, textiles, art and crafting of all sorts.
 Many years ago Sue Spargo  ( check out Sues blog, she is an amazing textile artist ) came to teach  in my store Amitie  in Melbourne, Australia and she and her sister Wendy Morris encouraged me to take a booth at international quilt market and make my quilting patterns available to a wider audience. I had been designing and selling my patterns in my store only at this stage. I am forever grateful for this encouragement, Sues friendship and her invitation to participate in this blog hop.
This is one example of the amazing embellishment Sue does

I feel grateful every day for the pleasure I get from my "job". For me there is nothing more satisfying than sitting in a huge pile of colourful fabrics choosing just that right piece for my next project.
I'm a scrap quilter and love to include as many fabrics as I can in one single design! I love all things "quilts" and admire all styles of quilting but my favourites are vintage quilts. Hand piecing, needle turn appliqué and hand quilting are my love but in this busy fast paced life, I do machine piece as well but rarely machine quilt. I love the softness and texture that hand quilting gives and I feel sure the process lowers my blood pressure!!
I'm a midwife by trade and it was an honour and a joy to be included in those most precious and private moments of others lives. When I left nursing, my hobby became my next rewarding career. Teaching and watching the joy and companionship others get while making something both useful and beautiful is so rewarding and I have met some of the most amazing people over the years.
Here are just  a few examples of my work

This year I has been an exciting one for me with the debut of my first fabric line  "Gardenvale" for Moda due to hit the shelves in April 2015 and I have my first book "Quilt Lovely" published by FW Media due for release in March 2015.
On a personal level I have been living in the Middle East for the past 2 years as my husband is working here but am looking forward to moving back home in the not to distant future I hope. This time has allowed me to explore different things and we have both really enjoyed the experience.

I would like now to introduce to you, two fabulous women that I admire and am lucky enough to call them friends

The amazing Amy Smart ( I was lucky enough to teach with Amy at the Fat Quarterly Retreat in London this year)

Amys favorite style of quilting is "scrappy" - whether they're vintage pioneer & depression-era quilts or modern. She loves to teach beginning quilting classes and finds it so rewarding watching others fall in love with the addiction that is quilting (and collecting fabric). She started writing a blog about her hobby in 2008 and has loved the real-life connections she's made with fellow-quilters from around the world. Her first book, Fabulously Fast Quilts, was published this past spring.

Check out Amy's blog Here

And lovely Lee Monroe of May Chappell

Lee’s from a family of quilters and learned everything from her mother, affectionately known as The Guru. She loves all things fabric—from zippy pouch to queen size quilt—and everything in between. With a love of color and bold graphic shapes, Lee enjoys designing patterns and teaching all types of classes, while sharing her adventures on her blog, www.maychappell.com. She is a trained graphic designer which shows in her clean aesthetic. 

Go check her out also!!

I love catching up all these  ladies at quilt market each year. It is a real highlight of my week 

Thank you for stopping by 

Jen xxx