Homespun Vol 11 No 3 is out this week, featuring the third instalment in the Life Is A Celebration BOM. This month we have gorgeous blocks from Majella Rush and Leanne Beasley on offer, so today on the blog we catch up with Majella for a chat about her designs and what the theme, Life Is A Celebration, means to her.
Majella has been designing and selling patterns since she started The Chook Shed Pattern Company, with some friends, in 1996. Majella now designs under the Kookaburra Cottage banner, and is best known for her children's block of the month programs Mother Goose, Noah, Little Macca's Farm and Playing With Angels.
"I started designing and producing patterns because I saw a need in the market at the time. A group of ladies that I was teaching were always hungry for new designs, and I basically had to start designing my own to keep up with their demand," Majella says.
"I really love patchwork. I have ever since I was in high school - in those days I was a bit weird as everyone saw it as a Nanna's hobby. Well, I am a Nanna now, so I guess I have found my place at last!"
Majella says she felt honoured to be asked to contribute to the Life Is A Celebration series and explains that for her, the theme is a very meaningful one.
"Life Is A Celebration, to me, is the meaning of living. We are here to celebrate being alive - making the most of what you have and being thankful every day. Friends and family are the meaning of life - surrounding yourself with wonderful friends, enjoying the company of others, and meeting great new people, sharing the bounties of life and discovering each other's story," Majella says.
"Everyone has a talent (some have quite a few), finding people that share your loves, is like finding a new sister you never knew you had. I also believe that lending a helping hand to a stranger without wanting anything in return is the basis of society."
The theme of Majella’s block is family, which she has beautifully depicted with two girls hugging. Majella says she loved the French Hatbox fabric range and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of stitching her block.
"The fabrics selected for the theme were just wonderful. I love, love, love spots - so I was in heaven," she says.
"The only challenge I had was the size restriction. I love large, simple shapes for appliqué, and I hadn't realized till I was asked to fit in a square, how large my designs really are!"
Majella offers a variety of tips for stitchers embarking on the Life Is A Celebration journey and sewing her block.
"I use fusible appliqué and blanket stitch methods for appliqué. I find these very easy to get a lovely shape and flow to the designs that I draw. I find using a matching thread for the blanket-stitch gives a softer look in the finished work. Sometimes using a slightly darker thread can define the shapes better. So experiment with your thread choices. I also find that cutting out the shapes with a large, sharp pair of dressmaking scissors makes for a much smoother curve on your appliqué."
