Love at first sight

For many years I admired lovely quilts others had made and wondered whether I could be that creative.

In 1996 our family enjoyed time in the USA. While my husband, Ed, was at work and our children, Harry and Bonnie, were at school, I learned how to make an American quilt.

I found Suzanne's Quilt Shop in Palm Beach, Florida, and never looked back. The beginners' class gave me the vital fundamental skills, and continuing classes gave me more. I was hooked from the start and took class after class, gaining more skills as I went along, and subsequently worked myself into a complete quilt making frenzy. It was such fun!

I can still see myself sewing madly, using my very basic Singer machine, on the balcony of our unit overlooking the golf course - drawing many a quizzical look from golfers below. All that fabric, all that colour; I was in heaven. I knew I'd found the creative outlet I'd been looking for - and it offered me joyous, lifelong learning and discovery.

Sharing the passion

Back in Australia in 1997, the learning continued and the teaching began. I found myself sharing the excellent fundamental skills I'd learned in the US with like-minded women in my community. And so, Quilting Matters emerged naturally.

I'm constantly expanding my own skills and gathering fresh and inspiring material to share with others. I'm particularly enthusiastic about equipping students with basic techniques, as they are the key to successful quilt making. Teaching others and enabling them to create beautiful quilts gives me enormous satisfaction.

I use the class sample quilts to simply 'sew' the seed and show others what is possible. I encourage students to discover their own creativity, to develop their own style and to make individual pieces as their confidence grows.

Each class is exciting for me... as I hope it is for you too. I look forward to seeing you in the studio soon.

Trish Wykman