i entered the world of quilts through their functional beauty,
their history and the sense of storytelling. old scrap quilts and historical pictorial quilts piqued my interest in quilts – they drew me in with their often primitive beauty….suddenly my making world had a strong focus.

 

JAN MULLEN

now the quilts and textile pieces that i create are either bed, bod or couch covering and made to be well used and loved….
or they are destined to adorn walls, warming the environment visually.

 

 

 

GALLERY

I'M BEING SERIOUS

PHOTOS & STITCH

CLOSE TO HOME

 

COMMUNITY

HELPING HANDZ

SALVAGE/SELVEDGE

MARGARET DOODY

BARNBOUGLE BEANIES

HELPING HANDZ:

as a balance to business, with the growing understanding of ways to empower makers whilst they,

in turn, help others…a small but growing community has been united under the Stargazey banner as Helping Handz.

 

barnbougle beanies (2006–2011):  With no noisy sewing machines to distract us from click-clacking, conversing and consuming, our early KNIT NIGHTS produced increasing piles of beanies to send to the “Barnbougle Beanie” project – helping to raise research funds for Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. Our humble offerings didn’t convert to beanie loads of cash but they did lead to our next community project....

 

margaret doody house (2009–2011): Conversations turned to giving….. a project close to home where our skills could make a difference. The local  MS respite house, trying to upgrade the facilities from top to bottom, needed help. Our role started small - create pieces for the house - and was quickly extended to include a major fundraising side project. Thirty-six versions of my ‘Squished & Stretched Melonz” quilt were made from donated fabric in a variety of styles and colours, which we then auctioned privately.  Money raised helping to renovate the kitchen, the laundry and to install functional items like bathroom heaters and shower chairs. We were all so proud – but we could do more....

 

salvage/selvedge (2012–14): With many past students on the cusp of creative change, time was ripe for a bigger challenge. Up their design and technical skills, talk in art based language, break down problem solving and empower them with constructive criticism. Exhibition planning presented another raft of new learning. Finally 83 quilts plus ‘textiled' furniture were exhibited and auctioned raising funds for The School of St Yared, Ethiopia, see the Salvage/Selvedge online catalogue and also the  Salvage/Selvedge website.

 

i developed my professional life as a designer/quiltmaker with a good idea that hit the market at the right time. With good people to work with – to lead and to follow. With a desire to pass on my learning.

 

STARGAZEY began in 1996 and then exploded globally with patternz, books, fabric and workshops..

 

STARGAZEY style means... making 'crooked' blocks... simple stitching without the worry ... unusual and innovative techniques...
no need for templates... multiple block sizes
and setting freedom... cutting simply from rectangles ...
and every block is unique!

 

 

  • BOOKS

  • SAMPLERZ

  • STARGAZEY

STARGAZEY

FABRICS

FABRICS

FROM BEEZ

THROUGH MEADOWZ

TO TREASUREZ

 

i am drawn to (and happily draw) repeat pattern.

 

i have an innate need for designing, evolving technique,
and problem solving.

 

bright colour? simply love it!

 

designing 22 collections for Marcus Brothers (USA)
fitted me very well.

 

for a few good years (2007-11) i teamed up with
photographer Bewley Shaylor to play nicely
with my vast collection of stuff...

 

...jeepers it was fun playing with the animals…..

 

 

RUNNING WITH A SANDWICH

  • KIDDOS OLD TO YOUNG

  • FROM DUCKS TO HIPPOS

  • FOR THE GALS