About

I was born in the South Coast of N.S.W, Australia - close to the sea. I can't remember a time when I haven't wanted to draw. I was enrolled in my first art class at the age of six and always thought that my career would be in art.

A qualified teacher specialising in Teaching Art to children, I've been a screen printer, set designer, designer and maker of costumes. I've worked on the set of "Babe" the movie and had my own graphic design business.

My First "Patchwork: quilts were screen printed ones. I printed my own designs and made them into quilts for my four children.

I came to designing patterns in a roundabout way. I moved to Canberra in 1994, and at the time, I had a small business doing graphics and displays for other businesses. Part of the displays I did centered around making lifesize Soft Sculpture dolls (libraries, restaurants etc.) Which I continued to do but in a smaller version (below). I joined the local Doll Club where I got work doing graphics and designing stitcheries for another Canberra business.

I started my own business Red Brolly in 2001 with the printing of my first book under my own label - Sunshine In Your Pocket - a book of designs to stitch for children. Since then I have produced a book and pattern collection every year.

A special mention here to the people that make the business of Red Brolly so much easier - my sister-in-law Susan Hayes and Ronnie Crowley - both stitchers extordinaire! and sewer Pat Hamilton.