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My love of design began over 40 years ago with our family
tailoring business. Individually made garments were my specialty.
From my mid teens it was one of my tasks to demonstrate the particular
method of sewing and construction we used for garment
styles as they varied each season. Our workshop employed
many machinists each with specific skills and levels of experience.
My father was a graduate of University of Lyon in France, with a
degree in textile and weaving design and my mother was talented in
sewing and dress design. One of my father´s abilities, having observed
the methods of garment construction, was to find simpler and more
cost effective steps to garment finishing.
He was well known for quality in workmanship whether the clothes were
ready made, purchased ‘from the rack’ or individually designed to suit
particular clients. We were well known nationally and many clients flew
from interstate when it was time to see us for their new wardrobe.
They often brought friends and family along introducing them to our
creative skills. For me it was such an interesting and exciting way to
work. I handled beautiful textiles each day and making individually
fitted garments enabled me to get to know the clients and their families.
This year my husband and I celebrated 37 years of marriage.
We have two wonderful sons, a very special daughter-in-law
and precious grandson.
Through the years I have enjoyed patchwork and appliqué
classes with some of Sydney´s great teachers, Judy Hooworth,
Brigitte Giblin, Noni Fisher and Trish Sewell. My first quilt
was made as a 50th birthday gift for a special friend.
Design and quilt-making are still my favourite pursuits.
I have made over 60 quilts to date, many of which I have
given as gifts through the years. My home studio has always
been a hub of new ideas, problem solving with friends,
classes and quilts that delight at various stages of construction.
For me a quilt comes to life in the way colour and design
elements work together and in the use of traditional designs
depicting nature.
The women quilters, embroiderers and rug makers of the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries observed and skilfully interpreted themes
from the natural world into their designs. Their legacy shows us
their love and appreciation of nature and something of their joy
in self expression.
I have great admiration and gratitude for their lasting legacy which was
created often with scant bits of fabric and little in the way of tools.
Yet we have wonderful visual insights from their craftwork that
tell us of their challenges to express beauty, as well as their
very practical concerns about keeping loved ones warm.
This is my inspiration.
I have decided to share all that I have learned and so
Saratoga Cottage Quilts was born. I hope you enjoy
making my quilts as much as I have.
Judi Lawson |
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