As I child, my mother would drag me, kicking and screaming, into fabric stores to help her choose material for clothes she made me. I hated every minute of it. She wouldn’t believe where I hang my hat these days!<\/p>\n
I made my first quilt in 1991, as part of research for a quilting play for which I was hired to write songs. My obsession grew from there.\u00a0 I have always done some sort of handwork: crochet, macram\u00e9, knitting, crewel embroidery. Sewing was not high on my list of fun things to do – it reminded me too much of Mrs. Middleton’s grade 8 Home Ec class. Boring! But quilting? That was different.<\/p>\n
My mom did teach me a lot about colour, even though she wasn’t successful in the sewing department.\u00a0 When I was in high school, she took a correspondence course in home decorating.\u00a0 She would share her lessons with me and it was there I began to learn about colour and design. She was the one who gave me my best advice about creativity (including song-writing): in an all-white room, make sure you throw in a cerise pillow somewhere for accent. It holds true for many things!<\/p>\n
I think my best training as a quilter was in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia in 1999-2000.\u00a0 John was working as an engineer\/town planner, I had a tourist visa and lots of time on my hands. There, I was introduced to proper techniques (thanks to Jenny Armour, my teacher), the camaraderie of quilters, and the history of quilting internationally.\u00a0 I came back to Canada after our time in Australia bursting with ideas to try (and, by the by, with enough songs about quilting to record “One Stitch at a Time”).\u00a0 The journey got really interesting from there, and continues today.\u00a0 Like music, quilting is something I can continue to learn for the rest of my life.\u00a0 It is for this reason that it keeps my interest.<\/p>\n
Quilting Achievements<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n
Cathy’s quilts are held in private collections in England, Australia, Florida, Michigan, Ontario and British Columbia.<\/p>\n
2019 “Connections: Canvas and Cloth”<\/strong> Exhibit with Eileen McGann (painter) at Cedar Hill Arts Centre in Victoria BC from October 1 to 21, 2019.<\/p>\n 2018 “In the Curl<\/strong>” won third place in the Small Quilts category of “City of Gardens Quilt Show”,\u00a0 Victoria Quilters’ Guild.<\/p>\n 2014 “Refractions: Mud, Brush and Needle<\/strong>” Exhibit with Eileen McGann (painter) and Louise Parsons (potter) at Cedar Hill Arts Centre in Victoria BC from February 19 to March 5th, 2014.<\/p>\n 2011 “Insanity<\/b>” – World of Beauty, Houston International Quilt Festival, miniature category.<\/p>\n 2010 “Shattered Green<\/b>” included in “Accent on Angles” book by Susan Purney Mark, That Patchwork Place. 2008 “Constant Hill<\/b>” (commission) CD cover, Rob Young, Toronto, Ontario.<\/p>\n 2007 “Buddy and Strider Around Australia<\/b>” – Victoria Quilters Guild 25th Year Commemorative Journal. 2004 “Geese in the Garbage<\/b>” – 2nd prize, Victoria Quilters Guild show “Land, Sea and Sky”, Victoria BC.<\/p>\n 2003 “Buddy and Strider Around Australia<\/b>” – Quilt Canada National Juried show, Fredericton, NB.<\/p>\n 2002 “Buddy and Strider Around Australia<\/b>” – Simply Quilts TV show with Alex Anderson, episode 833.<\/p>\n 2000 “Bali Stars<\/b>” Best in Section, Fred’s Pass Rural Show, Darwin Australia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As I child, my mother would drag me, kicking and screaming, into fabric stores to help her choose material for clothes she made me. I hated every minute of it. She wouldn’t believe where I hang my hat these days! I made my first quilt in 1991, as part of research for a quilting play … <\/p>\n
\n“Kassius<\/b>” (commission) private collection, England.<\/p>\n
\n“Geese in the Garbage<\/b>” – included in “Through a Musician’s Eyes” calendar for Artscan Circle, Teakettle Press.<\/p>\n