Sunday, February 15, 2009

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.

15 comments:

Bev C said...

Hello,My favourite softie is Buzby and Baby Bee. It is just so cute and adorable. Happy days.

Sylvia F said...

My favourite softie is Ellie the elephant is reminds me so much of my daughter.
Sylvia:)

Unknown said...

I love Bonzer & Beaut! Because I love Koalas in general. And there are so many possibilities for combining colors and fabrics, making Koala-boys or -girls.

Christine said...

I love Mrs Perkins. She looks good in funky, shabby or reproduction fabrics.
Christine

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Ellie because I collect elephants and love them so much - they make me smile and that's a key part of my day, smiling!

Suse said...

I must say I love the softies that these ladies create...just so cute and with 2 little girls who wouldn't want to make them all LOL!

My fave one at the moment is "Peppermint" their latest little monster..she is just too adorable for words!

Kym said...

I would have to say Petunia Pig - my 7 yr olds obsession with piggies had me hunting far & wide. She almost had piglets when she saw Petunia!!

Anonymous said...

It's much tooo difficult to have to choose just one...all the softies are sssooo adorable!!!...ok then my fav is ~Freya~ she's my 'new kid' on the block LOL!!!!

Anonymous said...

My favourite has to be the Mrs Perkins pattern that I got given for Christmas. Somehow I got conned into giving the two away that I made :( Hopefully I can keep the next one because she is so cute!

~ Kim ~ said...

Hi, my favourite is Freya. I love her because she can be truly unique in whichever way you please.

Kim said...

I think peppermint is just adorable. It reminds me that I am a lot like peppermint just put together in a different way.

Rose said...

I love magoo. I made him for my 4 y.o. grandson and he named him Morris and takes him to bed every night to protect him from bad dreams.

Kimba4 said...

I love Clancy and Clarabel as I love anything to do with frogs.I love all your softie patterns as they are so bright.

Isabella said...

My favourite is Magoo I just love him, cant wait till my local shop gets the pattern in again

Jantine said...

My favorite is Magoo. I don't know why, but I fall in love with every monkey I come around. Maybe because My first softie was a monkey? I recently bought his patterns and can't wait to start with sewing him!