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make the quilt, I am stitching memories
into cloth and I get excited knowing
that every time that quilt is used, the
recipient will think of me and the special
bond we have with each other.”
Particular characteristics of
Catherine’s style are an attention to
detail and commitment to accuracy.
She acknowledges that the precision
and professionalism evident in her
quiltmaking is the outgrowth of
her earlier involvement in tailoring
and dressmaking in general. These
characteristics carry through into her
teaching as well, as she organises her
classes and strives to impart a high
level of knowledge and expertise to her
students to achieve quality outcomes.
Catherine considers it “invigorating”
to engage in different quiltmaking
styles, covering both traditional and
modern, though she realises that her
particular style has been evolving
as distinct and recognisable. When
embarking on a new traditional
project, it is the fabric print that is
the initial attraction, stimulating her
to design a framework that will best
showcase it in a quilt. Conversely,
when making modern quilts, her initial
emphasis will be on design, with fabric
choices to follow.
Feedback on her achievements
in this regard has flowed from her
participation in quilt exhibitions in
Australia and overseas, where she
has been increasingly successful
in garnering awards for her quilts.
Catherine first exhibited at the
Sydney Quilt Show in 2010, gaining
“a real buzz” from seeing her quilts
on display and receiving two Judges’
Commendations for her work. Fast
forward to 2019, and at the same
venue, she won Best of Show for her
quilt Starcrazy, along with another
three awards. Along the way there
have been many other awards for
her works exhibited in Australia
and the USA.Flowering Star, 2017
226cm x 226cm (89in x 89in)
Flowering Star started with a fussy cut floral star and grew into the traditional Broken
Star quilt layout. The traditional repetitive small diamonds have been replaced with
larger diamonds and outline borders for a slight twist on the traditional whilst still
drawing the eye from the centre of the quilt outwards. This quilt was machine pieced
and machine quilted on a stationary machine.
(Photo by Peter Butterworth)