Featured Crafter - Cabbage Quilts

Today, we are sitting down with the exceptional quilter, Cathy from Cabbage Quilts.
 

FQ: Tell us a little bit about your creative journey? When did it start? Where you inspired by any paticular person?  

Creativity has always been a part of our family. My Father is very musical and dabbles in paints, while my Mother taught me different crafts including knitting, x-stitch, tapestries and sewing. 

It wasn't until 12 years ago however that I totally fell in love with quilting when I took a beginner patchwork class at our church. My passion for colour and creating was both fuelled and satisfied in this medium, which has only grown stronger over the years. 

I had the pleasure to work part time in a wonderful Quilt shop in Brisbane before we moved to Victoria. All these people and events have influenced my quilting, however I would have to say from the quilting world that Kaffe Fassett has had the biggest influence on me. 

His incredible use of luscious pattern and rich colours. He encourages us to look at the world around us and be inspired by the natural shapes and colours we see in our everyday world and translate them into our quilting. 

FQ: Which part of the quilt making process is your favourite and why?  

Applique is a passion of mine so I would have to say this is my absolute favourite thing to do in the whole quilt process. There is something so incredibly comforting about sitting down at night with a needle and thread in hand (and a good light over the shoulder!) . 

Taking time to take tiny stitches as you work your way around your applique pieces is so soothing and very satisfying. Kim McLean is an Australian designer who includes lots of beautiful applique in her delightful patterns. I have recently finished a quilt top based on her Hearts and Flowers pattern from Kaffes Quilt Romance book (published 2009).

FQ: Do you have a favourite fabric designer?

I would have to say Kaffe and his friends (especially Brandon Mably, Philip Jacobs, Amy Butler) are my all time favourite fabric designers. Their fabrics continue to surprise and delight me, I especially adore the lush, flamboyant forals released by Westminster each year.

Over the years however I do have fabric lines that have stood out for me such as Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy, Jennifer Paganelli's Girlfriend line, and more recently Amy Butler's Love fabrics. Anna Maria Horner's fabrics have also drawn my eye, and I'm currently in sewing heaven using her Little Folks voile.

FQ: Where do you draw your inspiration from when making quilts? 

The blogging community is especially wonderful for finding inspiration. Seeing what other people are making, reading the fabulous tutorials they write, as well as observing new fabric lines all help to inspire me when I'm deciding on a new quilt. 

Influenced by Kaffe, I also take more notice of the colours and shapes around me. I have beautiful fern trees outside my kitchen window, and these have influenced the applique I designed for the quilt I am currently working on.  There is no end to the inspiration we can find around us.

FQ: Do you have a favourite quilt or other sewn item that you have made? 

I keep coming back to a quilt of Kaffes I made a couple of years ago called Wheel of Fortune from his Caravan of Quilts book (published 2004). I paper pieced this quilt, then heavily machine quilted it. It's hanging in my family room and I still love it. 

FQ: Are there any new creative skills that you would like to try in the furture? 

Hoping to learn how to mosaic. I have some beautiful smashed china mugs and plates that are sitting in the back of my cupboard waiting for the day I give it a go. In the meantime, I have some ideas for some mosaic quilts, hopefully to be seen on my blog in the next couple of months.

 
FQ: Where do you mostly sew?

My creative space is a very tiny room with one small desk, a cupboard and bookshelf squeezed in. I love this room however it is very difficult to photograph!! 

Recently I have made a design wall by pin tacking a rectangle of quilt wadding onto a wall in our house (with husbands permission of course!!). It makes such a huge difference to be able to put blocks and fabrics on the wall, then stand back and critique them. Currently my Fern Leaf Snowball quilt is on my design wall.