Board Member Introduction ~ Kellie from Don’t Look Now!
Next up in our new board member introductions… Kellie from Don’t Look Now! Kellie teaches sewing classes in Australia, shares her wealth of quilting knowledge on her blog (check out this amazing Joseph’s Coat Quilt-Along!) and she’s in the process of preparing her quilt design business for the upcoming spring Quilt Market! With four children it’s obvious that Kellie keeps super-busy, but we’re so pleased she has time to lend a hand with the planning of our upcoming April Quilting Month. We asked Kellie to tell us a little more about herself:
SMS: How long have you been sewing? When did you fall in love with quilting?
Kellie: I have babbled in sewing for a very long time however, I have only been quilting seriously for around 7 years.
SMS: What do you enjoy about sewing? What are your favorite things to make?
Kellie: I sew to remain sane! I really only like to make quilts. I will make costumes and some accessories for my children under sufferance, however, items with ‘form’ are not my forte! I love fabric, the texture of quilts & the freedom to express myself creatively that designing & making quilts provides me.
SMS: How do you find time to fit creativity (sewing and any other creative loves) into your life?
Kellie: I don’t get a whole lot of sleep!!!! I have four children aged 10, two 7 year olds & a 5 year old that keep me very busy… So the only way that I can fit in time to quilt is to work after they go to bed. I generally sew from around 9pm until anywhere between 1:30 & 3 a.m., depending upon deadlines.
SMS: Do you have a favorite sewing tip or skill that’s made things work better for you?
Kellie: The best tip that I have for those of you who have unquilted quilt tops waiting in cupboards at home for finishing… Sandwich the quilt as you would normally do with a backing fabric that is a good 2” wider than the entire quilt top. Baste the quilt sandwich very well by hand using a thread that blends well with the quilt top. Roll over the backing fabric to the front, pining it as neatly as possible so that is resembles a binding. Tack it carefully in place, and you have a quilt that you can put out on a bed and admire rather than a UFO that is hiding away in a cupboard. I have a couple of these that we use on beds.
Lilly Pilly by Kellie
SMS: What’s a favorite thing you’ve made lately? Why?
Kellie: My favorite project of all time is Lilly Pilly. I made this quilt predominantly while we were on holidays in Fiji in 2009. It was a wonderful family holiday and the quilt holds many of those memories for me. In addition to this the quilt has 6 little birds hiding in the branches… Each of the birds represents a member of my family.
SMS: Can you tell us a little more about yourself?
Kellie: I started my own quilt design business around 16 months ago which has been a wonderful roller coaster ride! I also teach raw edge appliqué & machine quilting around Australia. I recently decided to take a stand at the US Spring Market in May of this year. I am extremely excited by this although I must say it has cause a great deal of anxiety as well!!!! I am very privileged to have had my passion become my career!
41 Responses to “Board Member Introduction ~ Kellie from Don’t Look Now!”
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Amazing work!
That Lilly Pilly quilt is amazing! It is nice to hear that other people stay up in the wee hours to sew after the kids go to bed.
Lilly Pilly is absolutely amazing. The colors are gorgeous, and the symbolism is really special. Congratulations on being a new board member and best of luck in Minneapolis!
yay! i love your stuff!!
Howdy. Wow, that Lilly Pilly quilt is so pretty.
Good on you Kellie. That Lilly Pilly quilt is gorgeous.
I love the Lilly Pilly quilt!
Your interview was great Kellie, can’t wait to see what you make next! Maybe after Meg’s garden I might try Lilly Pilly.
Awesome quilt!
Just ordered the puppet theater pattern from your website. I can’t believe how easy it was to order and ship from Australia to the US. Piece of cake! The pattern is beyond adorable. I hope I can do it justice!
Shall follow your blog…
Best, Indiana Lori
I love the Lilly Pilly quilt. I wish I could take a few classes from Kellie!
Yay Kellie! I have so enjoyed watching you bloom!!!!
This is great
Welcome Kellie and your work is beautiful. I love how you personalize the quilts…six birdies for family members…makes them all the more special.
Wow-I love that quilt!
Stunning! I’ve never felt compelled to quilt, but Lilly Pilly inspires me!
All I can say is WOW!! Love Kellie’s work! So lucky to have you as a board member! Welcome!
Lilly Pilly is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! I am so inspired to dust off my machine and make anything…it’s been about 3 weeks since I even turned it on and Kellie’s got me ready to jump in and get some seaming done!
Lilly Pilly is gorgeous!
Oh wow! Your Lily pillow is so beautiful!
Lilly Pilly is so unique and BEAUTIFUL work Kellie:P
Welcome!!!
Welcome to SMS Kellie – you know how much I love you and your work already!
Great to learn more about Kellie even though I have been following and using her designs for over a year. So glad she is coming to MN Spring Market even if I don’t get to meet her since her things will definitely catch on more in the U.S. Happy to see her on SMS.
I was lucky enough to take on of Kellie’s classes a few weekends ago and see her quilts ‘in person’ – it was an incredible weekend and Kellie is one talented girl! Congratulations!
You’re so amazingly talented!
You inspire me to want to take up quilting!
Nice to know more about you, Kellie!
Thank you all so much!
So nice to see so many of my blogging friends here … but really where else would you be ???
Kelliex
Welcome! And what a beautiful quilt!
What a beautiful quilt!
These board intros are fab. I love that I’m getting to add new quilting blogs to my reading list.
That’s a gorgeous quilt!
Absolutely stunning!
that quilt is amazing!
Welcome! I’m so excited for quilting month. And that quilt is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Just lovely.
Love, Love, Love the Lilly Pilly Quilt. I have never even attempted applique…but it is so very tempting….
I’m also really thinking about the Joseph’s Coat Quilt Along…I can’t “Quilt Along” because you’ve already started, but I may try to “Quilt After.”
I love Lilly Pilly all that wonderful applique.
The Lilly Pilly Quilt is beautiful. Wow.
I love love that lilly pilly quilt! I’m sure that took awhile!
That tree quilt, oh my fishsticks, that tree quilt! These new board members are SO talented!
Wow, that quilt is gorgeous. I love the flow and mix of the prints and colors. Outstanding!
To be able to quilt those perfect concentric circles….!!
That LillyPilly quilt is gorgeous!!!!!