This article appeared in Patchwork & Quilting 1999.

When anyone creates a design they need to have competence in the areas of composition, form, colour and technique. Without all these areas working in harmony (or intended disharmony) with each other a good design cannot be achieved. If you are not experienced it is easy to find yourself over challenged by working with so many areas at once and consequently disheartened.

What I have tried to offer is a simple way of working with one or two areas at a time so that the process of creating would be enjoyable and not overwhelming. I have tried to create a collection of fabrics, threads and templates that could be individually selected and would ensure a good design in both colour and composition.

The projects also offer the opportunity to add creative embroidery. I spent a couple of years just thinking about it, and another couple testing different fabrics, threads and techniques and generally fine tuning the whole process from obtaining a brochure to completing a project.

I use the simple technique of applique quilting. Applique allows a design to be built quickly and easily, and the quilted base gives a firm surface on which to add embroidery. As I offer a selection of templates to choose from an original design can be created. The templates have been designed in outline shape and proportion to complement each other. They will work together however they are used. Furthermore the silk used for the applique has a full spectrum of colours allowing a choice for each motif. I started using a cotton quilt base for the majority of projects. The colours I chose had to be a strong contrast to the silk in order to give definition to the shapes. They shouldn't clash with the many colours in the silk yet I needed to offer a selection to choose from. I found six dusky base colours. I have called them Burnt Gold, Turquoise, Dried Violets, Ink Blue, Rosy Red and Sage.

The larger wall-hanging has a three colour background. The divisions help a balanced arrangement to be created. Skills in applique quilting, embroidery can be enjoyed and the work can be further embellished with beads, hand made papers, copper foil or Indian shisha mirrors. I wrote a tutorial booklet that shows how to use the simple techniques of applique quilting and encourages the use of embroidery. The applique quilting looks lovely on its own, the colours in the silk are shown to their best advantage but I personally just can’t stop there! I have to add a bit of this and a bit of that.

Things have been moving on - I have now added the Monet range of colours.

These are lighter, more delicate collections but still using a symphony of colour. They are taken from his series paintings of Venice; the colourful interpretations of light reflecting off the water at sunset are so beautiful. I have also added applique in velvet to the range. One of my customers ordered two metres of space dyed velvet to use with a fauvist interpretation that she was working on. I had to try some myself, and was very pleased with the result.

The velvet has a thoroughly sumptuous quality when hand dyed and made a pleasing alternative to applique with silk. I like to mix textures and I cant wait to complete a hanging with a mix of silk and velvet applique, embroidery, copper foil and beads! (I since have, see the Africa Hanging above)

I am always available to help by phone or email. I welcome photos of finished Textile Art Projects for the website.

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