A Quilter’s Wallpaper

Wallpapers evoke memories, sights, sounds, smells – a snapshot of life long ago…

‘Life as wallpaper’ was the title for a speech I made recently at my local Toastmasters club. ‘..Sights, sounds, smells come flooding back to me as I visualise the wallpapers of houses I have lived in over the years. The wallpapers of my life represent a tapestry rich in memories of people and places and events.

My version of ‘Hexagon Hip Hop’ by Pam Lintott and Nicky Lintott from the book ‘Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts’. Fabric range ‘From Outside In’ by Malka Dubrawsky

It’s the early ‘60’s – frivolous French poodles adorn my walls – classic 50’s stylised drawings of poodles sipping lattes, cute poodle pups in perambulators, pampered poodles under hairdryers, having manicures. This was the wallpaper of my bedroom, my inner sanctum from tween age through to teenage hood.

I described two more life as wallpaper scenarios and then the ‘hook’ of my speech… the wallpapers that hang on my walls now!

‘It is 2015. My hand made contemporary quilts have become the wallpaper in our new home. Quilts adorn feature walls around the house – bright, modern and beautifully quilted by talented quilters in the Hunter Valley. It is such a joy to see them hanging as they set a cheerful welcoming mood.

‘Fruit tingle stars’ Contemporary star blocks work in progress hanging on the design wall.

Celebrating 35 years as a quiltmaker this year, I am as hooked on making quilts now as I was when I first discovered this timeless art form in the quilting resurgence of the ’80’s. Creating bed covers and wall quilts gives me great pleasure – the fabric, the designs, the inspiration from the global community of quilters keep me inspired and making every year.

The ‘wallpaper’ in my studio changes frequently as I put up quilts in progress on a wall of white flannel to help me with design and colour placement. Seeing my quilts in progress feeds my creative energy daily.