email: info@michelehill.com.au   

   Profile

I specialise in machine appliqué and concentrate on reproducing the style of the Victorian Era (1800’s) and William Morris’ work. Recently I have been influenced by architecture in my quilt designs.

AWARDS

Judges Encouragement Award: "Dreams of Japan" 1996 Quilters Guild of S.A exhibition
Judges Commendation: "Egyptian Reflections III" 1998 Quilters Guild of S.A. "Towards the New Millennium" exhibition
Highly Commended: "Medieval Contemplation" 2000 Quilters Guild of S.A."Carnivale Quilt Challenge"
2nd Prize overall: "Woven Verdure" 2001 Quilters Guild of S.A. exhibition at EXPO
1st Prize Innovative Art Quilt: "Colours of the Future Past" 2002 Quilters Guild of S.A. exhibition
Judges Commendation: "Elegant Adelaide" 2005 Quilters Guild of S.A. exhibition
BEST OF SHOW: "My Walk in Melbourne" 2005 Quilters Guild of S.A. exhibition sponsored by Bernina Australia

PUBLICATIONS

1996-1997: Wrote several articles for ‘Down Under Quilts’ (Profiles etc)
1997: "Suffolk Country Estate" Express Publications (Naïve & Country Quilts No 2)
1998: "Antique Stars" Express Publications (Creative Naïve and Country Quilting)
1999: "The Country Kitchen" Express Publications (Naïve & Country Quilts No 4)
1999: "Victorian English Countryside" Express Publications (Appliqué Quilts No 1)
2000: "Country Baskets" Express Publications (Aust P&Q, Vol 7 No 3)
2000: "Victorian Floral Reflections" Bright & Beautiful Quilts Book (Craftworld)
2002: "Country Baskets" Express Publications (Country Quilter)
2002 "Woven Verdure" Down Under Quilts (Pride Publishing)
2005 projects with Express, Universal and Pride Publishing in progress (Folk Style Floral Sampler, William Morris Floral Sampler, Medieval Morris, William Morris Revisited and Coffee with William Morris)

COMMUNITY QUILTING

Member of the Quilters Guild of S.A. since 1988

1990: I formed HUB QUILTERS, a Community based quilting group. HUB QUILTERS still meet twice monthly and exhibit at local craft fairs and exhibitions. (Included coordinating a historical quilt for the Mayor’s chambers
1991 - 1995: I coordinated three quilt projects for staff and students at the Happy Valley Primary School
1993 - 2000: Served on several committees of the Quilter’s Guild of S.A.
1995: I was actively involved in the "Women at Work" quilt project on behalf of the Happy Valley Council (now Onkaparinga), for the centenary of Women’s suffrage
1998: I coordinated a quilted piano cover for Year 7 students to complete in recognition of Happy Valley Primary School’s Centenary celebrations
2005: Coordinator of Quilters Guild of SA exhibition Nov 2005 in partnership with Expertise Events and the Craft and Quilt Fair
2005: member of Quilters Guild of SA executive committee

COMMISSIONS

During 1990 - 1997 I sold work to shops in North Adelaide (Biggie Best), King William Road Hyde Park (Simply Country), and Victor Harbor (The Craft Patch). I have also been commissioned to make several quilts

In 1996 Beryl Stutchbury (Fibre Artist) commissioned me to produce quilt patterns and Australiana Kits that utilised Beryl’s "Shimas Design" fabrics

I also produced original applique quilt kits for "Riverlea Quilts" during 1996/97

TEACHING

I commenced teaching a variety of classes in 1990/91.
Since then I have taught for all the local Adelaide and South Australian quilting shops (Riverlea Cottage Quilts Unley, Quilts & Threads Dernancourt, The Quilt Basket Victor Harbour, The Patchwork Apple Lenswood, Patches & Pieces Gawler, Patchwork by Sea Brighton, AllMake Sewing Goodwood, Barossa Quilt & Craft Cottage Angaston)

I have taught on occasions at the Quilter’s Guild of South Australia’s annual camp (Quilt Encounter), since 1996 and for several country groups in South Australia including Loxton, Minlaton, Renmark, Mt Gambier, and Broken Hill (NSW)

PERSONAL

I live in Happy Valley, a suburb about 30 minutes southeast of Adelaide South Australia with my wonderful husband Larry and two daughters, Emily (born 1982) and Sophie (born 1984). I work part-time as a registered nurse in pathology and find quilt making a therapeutic hobby.

During 1986 I enrolled in classes at the local craft shop mainly to escape the ties of staying home with very young children. The popular calico and lace workshops of the 1980’s were on offer including making tissue box covers, picture frames etc! One term a new class called "Make a Quilt in a Day" was on offer and I signed up and have never looked back since!!.

The first quilt I made was a Log Cabin quilt from the "Quilt in a Day" series by America’s Eleanor Burns. The fabrics were all muted and matched perfectly.......only problem was that there was no light or dark contrast so no pattern evolved! That quilt has huge sentimental value with my mother who still has it on her bed! I continued to take classes during the late 1980’s which included making strip quilted jackets for my daughters, seminole patchwork units to put on windcheaters, towels and skirts and then several cathedral window cushions.

My style now is far removed from those simple beginnings. During the early 1990’s I was lucky enough to get into classes with Adelaide’s Lessa Siegele (OAM). I was never one to conform and the first challenge I presented her with was constructing a quilt with incredible mathematical angles, but with Lessa’s patience and expertise it was completed. Lessa always encouraged students and definitely had a huge influence on my journey. During 1995/96 I gave up nursing to work in a patchwork shop, Riverlea Quilts and it was here that the proprietor Lyn Uppill gave me the confidence to start designing on my own. Gillian Hamilton (the editor of AP&Q at that time), saw some of my quilts in the shop and encouraged me to write a project for Express Publications. 1997 was a turning point for me...............I won airfares to London in a raffle and had to return to nursing to save up for the trip! (My wage book in the patchwork shop always had IOU in it........so hard to draw a wage when new fabrics kept arriving!!)

It was on the overseas trip that I made my first visit to the Victoria and Albert museum in London and fell in love with the designs of William Morris. He has influenced my work since then.