Designer of the Month - Melanie Hurlston + Giveaway

Firstly thanks everyone for your great response to the bushfire blocks and raffle quilts. We have given away over $1,000 worth of fabric. Please send in pictures of your blocks and quilts so we can post them here.

It's time to introduce our designer of the month - Melanie Hurlston from Melly and Me. Melly and Me designs are some of the funkiest and most popular patterns we have.

Firstly I would like to say thanks so much for asking me to be featured on your blog this month.

My quilting journey began in 2004 when I found myself with too much time on my hands (oh where did those days go!!?) I had recently become a mum to my beautiful boy but once the baby stage was over I found myself needing something to do after having a strong career before motherhood.

One day my beautiful sister and best friend, Rosie of "Rosalie Quinlan Designs" encouraged me to make a quilt for "something to do". As a long time successful designer of quilting patterns she was so keen for me to catch the bug. So I borrowed her sewing machine for a few days and raided her stash. My first quilt was born and I was both proud and obsessed!!!

About one year later when my little baby girl had arrived Rosie and I went on a holiday. I had discussed with Rosie my desire to create more and more but that I couldn't find patterns readily available that took my imagination. So of course Rosie said "so lets design them!!!" I thought she was insane as I was such a new sewer but the idea had her on a mission and she kept trying to encourage me to start a design business with her that was fun, fresh and different.

One day, I decided to try my hand at designing. I told no one what I was doing as I believed my failure was definite, but I wanted to see if I could. And guess what - I did it! I designed a bag that I loved and it was soon released as one of our first ten Melly & me patterns!!Since this time "Melly & me" has adapted and changed from our original vision and we have had so much fun going with the flow and taking it wherever we felt led. The softies began while Rosie was going through treatment for Breast Cancer. We started making them as a joke, to make each other laugh in a difficult time but soon people asked for the patterns and the rest is history!

It wouldn't be a designer visit without a giveaway so Melly has given us a pattern pack of the Once upon a time stitchery set. Just post a comment here and tell us what your favourite Melly & me softie is & why.