Australian Homespun - February 2016_

HELEEN WEBB

Why this particular craft?I like embroidery

because it gives me the opportunity to experiment

and have fun with colour, design and texture. While

there is a place for ‘serious’ embroidery, I think

everyone should be encouraged to have a go at

drawing with thread. In my mum’s generation,

it was taught at school and used on everyday

household objects, but it’s so much less common

today. This was what encouraged me to develop

a range of modern embroidery kits aimed at

beginner stitchers of all ages. These two designs

are also based on the principle that embroidery

should be fun and pretty. I can’t wait to see

how everyone interprets them diff erently.

Have you tried plenty of others? You could say

Ihave Craft ADD. As soon as I master one craft

(or come close to figuring it out, at least), I move

on to the next. Over the past 10 years, I have made

dolls, softies, bags and pouches, embroidery kits,

printed and dyed fabric, embroidered cards and

kits. I’ve dabbled in quiltmaking, leather craft and

knitting. I can’t even remember everything I’ve

tried. As you can see from this list, it always comes

back to fabric, which is my great love.

If you weren’t doing this, what would occupy

your time? Reading the small pile of books

next to my bed, sewing a dress or improving my

photography. I find my creativity ebbs and flows,

and it works for me to do something else for a

while until I have inspiration for the next project.

Who taught you your crafting skills? My mum

taught me to sew, and I got my first sewing

machine for my 21st. The rest I have picked up

from books, blogs and YouTube tutorials. I am also

a Skillshare Teacher’s Assistant, which means I’m

enrolled in a few online courses taught by inspiring

and knowledgeable creatives (skillshare.com).

Is it hard to find time to do your crafting or is it

a profession? I have to make time for craft at the

moment, as I have a part-time day job. I teach

adult literacy and numeracy, which I love. I really

enjoy teaching, and also try to teach crafts

whenever I can. My favourite event is Handmade

in Wellington, New Zealand, which is held every

Queen’s Birthday weekend. I’ve taught there for

the past five years. Before I went back to work last

year, I was a much more active member of the NZ

crafting community. I had regular market stalls and

spent all my time sewing for them. While I loved it,

I felt that I was missing out on my family too much,

so I decided to go back to teaching.

Do you think of your craft as a passion or as

a spare-time-filler? Creativity is a passion for

me, no matter what the craft.

What’s your family structure? My husband is an

arborist, and we have two boys, who are eight and

10. We encourage them to be creative, and they can
    both stitch and sew. (Our youngest likes designing
    soft toys and sewing them on my sewing machine.)
    We also have a bossy cat and an excitable puppy.
    Where do you live and work? We live in a beautiful
    120 -year-old villa in suburban Auckland. We have a
    large lounge, so I have cordoned off an area behind
    some shelving for my craft space. I have my sewing
    machine, overlocker and all my craft supplies in there.
    That does not mean my mess is contained, though,
    as I like to move around the house with my projects.
    How would you describe your style? What makes
    it unique? I guess you could say it is vintage with
    a modern twist. Maybe these days that only
    describes my label, Ruby in the Dust. I feel my
    personal style has evolved a lot, and I find myself
    going for toned-down colours and simple patterns
    more, compared to a few years ago.

Gett ing to know ...

Flip la K

2 Great Products

from Fiskars

The Rotary Cutter

and Ruler Combo

and the New

Fiskars Adjustabl

Rotary Cutter

Quilting Templates Australian Designed & Manufactured

Purchase Direct from our website http://www.fl iplak.com

If you are in NZ you can contact Trendy Trims for resellers of Flip la K in New Zealand. Trendy Trims details are also found on our website,

or alternatively contact Flip la K on 02 4992 1631. In USA Country Living Quilts – located in Texas, you can also fi nd their details on our website.

LOOK OUT FOR US at the Craft & Quilt Fairs Australia Wide in 2016 and the Stitches and Craft Fairs in 2016.

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