You can contact me by email; michele.hill@bigpond.com

My quilting journey began in the early 1970’s, my first project being a shadow appliqué cushion in the ‘Holly Hobbie’ style! Folded patchwork pot-holders followed and some woven patchwork hearts. My two daughters were born in 1982 & 1984 so the ‘craft’ classes were put on hold. During these years I continued working as a registered nurse on a part-time basis - it helped to support the habit!.

The early days with my young girls at home led to some more dabbling and I booked into doll and teddy bear making classes at a local craft shop. One day a “Log Cabin in a Day the Eleanor Burns way" was advertised and I have been hooked ever since – I still treasure that very first quilt book purchase to this day. 1987 produced my first real quilt and since then the journey has been amazing.

Baltimore quilts have always entranced me but I have never been able to perfect needle-turn to the standard that I want. So I turned to machine appliqué using a blanket stitch..........over the years that blanket stitch has become very small and delicate using silk and rayon threads.

In 1997 I had the opportunity of visiting the V&A in London. It was there that I became obsessed with William Morris and his amazing designs. When I returned to Adelaide, South Australia I discovered that our very own Art Gallery has one of the biggest collections of William Morris furnishings in the world outside of the UK!  Since then most of my quilt designs have been inspired by Morris and the Arts & Crafts era. I find architecture a great source of inspiration as well.

William Morris, founder of Morris & Co., must be considered one of the greatest pattern designers of all time. Renowned for many accomplishments, he is particularly famous for his skill as a designer of wallpapers and furnishing textiles. It is a wonderful privilege to live in a city that has such a strong connection to one of the greatest and most influential textile artists of all time. Adelaide has a large, important collection of Morris & Co. designs and furnishings in the Art Gallery of South Australia. Several wealthy families were responsible for the collection of Morris works in Adelaide. The Scottish born couple Robert Barr Smith (1824 – 1915) and his wife Joanna (1835 – 1919) were said to be one of the most extravagant clients and purchasers from Morris & Co. resulting in Adelaide being one of the most significant international links. Robert Barr-Smith was reputed to be “the richest man in Australasia” along with his business partner and brother-in-law Thomas Elder (1817 – 1897). They were involved in shipping, merchant, pastoral and mining interests in South Australia. This allowed Robert Barr Smith the privilege of purchasing extravagant homes, which were decorated extensively with Morris works. For a period of 45 years (1884 – 1929) three generations of Barr Smiths decorated at least seven houses in and around Adelaide.

The highlight of my quilting journey has been the publication of my very first book:

'William Morris in Applique' published by Country Bumpkin; http://www.countrybumpkin.com.au/

QUILTING AWARDS