Bev McClune
Since discovering quilting over ten years ago Bev McClune has become a professional machine quilter, a tutor of domestic machine quilting and a partner in a patchwork and quilting business – Country Fabrics and Quilters of Toowoomba, Queensland.
Bev won first prize at the 2006 NSW Quilters Guild Exhibition in Sydney, for her entry into the Domestic Machine Quilt category. The Sydney Quilt Show is the biggest quilt show in Australia, confirming Bev is one of the best in Australia at her craft. Bev’s passion and talent in domestic machine quilting makes her one of the most popular tutors in this field.
Kay Meale
As a former art teacher and artist, colour and design have always been a big part of her life but quilting has the added dimension of texture, making it her favourite. She says “her first quilt was like working on a very large canvas” – she swapped paints for fabric. Kay has been quilting for over seven years but never tires of the creative opportunities it presents.
Kay’s design experience and love of colour led her to making original quilts and writing patterns. She doesn’t have a preference for style, technique or colour – she enjoys them all. She does incorporate a “scrappy” look into many of her original designs, as this gives the opportunity to explore colour and visual texture; providing a certain amount of freedom to change your mind and develop the design.
Pauline Rogers
Pauline Rogers first exposure to patchwork and quilting occurred when she attended a class to help make up numbers. She has come along way from the insecure beginner, with a few needles and a pair of scissors, to a professional tutor whose quilting expertise covers the full range of techniques from appliqué to machine piecing and quilting.
Pauline travelled throughout Australia and New Zealand for over 20 years, teaching the art of patchwork and quilting. She has been a featured tutor at the “Australasian Quilting Symposiums” and the “Stitches and Craft Shows”, and an integral part in the creation of numerous community quilts, several of which are in the Australian National Quilt Register
Ruth Bloomfield
Ruth Bloomfield has loved fabric ever since early childhood. She recalls playing with beautiful hair ribbons and cutting up bits of fabric to create décor for her dollhouse. As soon as her feet could reach the pedals of the sewing machine, she learned how to stitch.
Ruth’s first patchwork creation was a hexagon quilt. This was years ago, and it took her two and a half years to finish the project. Quite awhile went by before she again attempted patchwork. Although traditional quilt making really didn’t appeal, her desire to create with fabric was so intense, she continued on with the art of patchwork and quilting. In 1992, she created her first original picture quilt of the rainforest with a confetti forest floor. Ruth realised that she had found her niche.