‘Quilt A Koala’ by Margaret Rolfe

At the recent ACT Embroiderers Guild exhibition at Albert Hall I couldn’t resist having a look at the members table, where pre-loved books and materials are displayed. I picked up this fabulous book written by Margaret Rolfe published in 1986. It contains 20 beautiful designs featuring Australian animals and birds for use on quilts, cushions, bags and clothing.

I goggled Margaret and the following is from her website.  “Margaret Rolfe is an Australian quiltmaker and author. She has been making quilts since 1975 and writing books since 1983. Margaret is especially known for the pieced animal block designs that are a feature of many of her books. She is also a quilt historian and has researched the history of quiltmaking in Australia from early convict times until the present. Margaret was a founder of Canberra Quilters Inc., a group that she and a friend started in 1976. She also founded the Quilt Study Group of Australia, a group to further research into quilts and textiles in Australia. On 26 January, Australia Day 2001, Margaret was honoured by being made a Member of the Order of Australia. The award was ‘For service to the decorative arts, particularly as an authority on the history of quilts and quiltmaking, to the promotion of the craft through teaching and writing, and as an advisor on the acquisition of quilts from the national collection.’ Margaret received her medal from Sir William Deane, the Governor General, at an investiture at Government House, Yarralumla, on 6 April 2001. Margaret has taught and lectured about quiltmaking in Australia and the world, including the United States of America, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Japan.”

My plan is to work through the book completing each design using the puzzler Paper Quilting technique. This technique is a bit like completing a child’s jigsaw puzzle where the pieces fit onto board. As I complete each animal or bird, I will add it to this post. I have found that to successfully use Paper Quilting, the designs have to be adapted slightly, so that there are not as many pieces to the “puzzle” or pattern. They are great fun to work on and the results are very fresh and modern. The finished pieces fit into a 20cm square frame and so would look great as a set hanging on the wall.

I look forward to tracking down Margaret’s other books to explore more of her work. http://www.margaretrolfe.com

Fabric quilting books are full of inspiration for use in Paper Quilting. So second hand book shops, school fete’s and charity book fairs are a great place to find books and magazines that will inspire you. Many of the designs and patterns for fabric can be used as is, or adapted. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of sitting down and thinking time. Just remember to acknowledge the designer who has spent many hours creating the pattern.

These patterns have been re-created and shown on my blog with the permission of Margaret Rolfe.

 

Cupcake Dream

Recently I was commissioned to create a paper quilt from a lovely young man who wanted to give a picture to his wife. Isn’t that a lovely thing for him to do. After asking what she liked and was interested, in we hit on her dream – to own a cupcake store.

I have thought about doing Paper Quilt cup cakes before. I have even been asked to make a pattern of cupcakes before. BUT – something always got in the way. It just seemed too difficult. Why I ask myself now. Very silly.

This creation was such fun to make and once I got into these cupcakes I couldn’t seem to stop. So I ended up with nine cupcakes on a 3 tiered stand. Each one a bit different from the others in shape and decoration. Paper punched flowers and butterflies, Swarovski crystals, charms, pearls and bows. Even a steam roller got a look in.

Looking forward to doing another one of these.