Quiz a Quilter – Meeting Michelle Hickson & Monique Nugent

I am privileged to be in two bees with Michelle this year, one of which also involves Monique.  I met them both “in real life” when I was in Sydney last year; we had a lovely coffee together.  They’ve been quilting for a reasonably short time and both have a lovely sense of colour in their quilts.  And they’re both very nice ladies so I thought we might meet them both for this week’s Quiz a Quilter.

Michelle

1. Tell us a bit about you?

I’m a born-again Christian married to my darling husband of 25 years. I’m also a stay-at-home mum who home schools our three youngest children (our eldest is studying at Bible College). My twin sister Monique and I love to craft together. We like to ‘enable’ each other in our crafty obsessions. Our mum taught us to sew in our early teens. Over the years I’ve sewn lots of my own clothes, and then lots of sweet girly clothes for my daughter, when she was younger. She’s 14, and not really into handmade at the moment, but I’m hoping that will change!

2. When did you start quilting? What other crafts have you dabbled in?

I started to quilt just over a year ago. I was inspired by all the quilters I followed on IG. But I’ve always loved to make things! Over the years I’ve tried knitting, crocheting, embroidery, cross stitch, and scrapbooking. And I’ve just returned to clothes sewing – two tops and two dresses over the last month or so!

3. Tells us about your first quilt?

The first quilt I finished was my ‘Oh So Pretty!’ quilt using my Bonnie and Camille charm squares from a swap organised by @msmidge on IG. I found the pattern in an old patchwork magazine I had. It has appliqued hearts around the border, and I used my favourite of all time B&C fabric to bind it!

4. What’s your favourite part of the quilt-making process?

I really like matching the pattern with the right fabrics, and I especially enjoy hand sewing down the binding, because I know my quilt is almost ready for snuggling!

5. What project are you currently working on?

Lots. I have a number of quilts either waiting to be basted, or in the block-making process. My main project would be the ‘Women of the Bible’ quilt. It was a BOM, and I have called it my “50^th birthday quilt project”. That means I’d like to have it done by my birthday in October, but not so sure about that!

6. What’s next for you – where do you see yourself in two/five/ten years’ time (whichever you feel like answering)?

So long as I’m still making pretty things I’ll be happy:-)

7. Where can we find you?

I’m on IG as @coleandtaffy, and I’m Cole and Taffy on Pinterest. I do have a Facebook account but I never use it. One social media outlet at a time is enough to manage!

Monique

1. Tell us a bit about you?

I am an identical twin with Michelle @coleandtaffy.  I am 49 (50 in October) and have been married for 18 years to Bruce (a crazy Ironman) and am Mum to two teenagers (Maddie, 16 and Jack, 13).  We live in the leafy North Shore of Sydney.  I grew up in Wollongong and went to University in Canberra.  Bruce and I lived for two years in London and Maddie was born there.  I work 2 ½ days with a boutique fund manager in the city that I just love!  I love chocolate and red wine and spending time with family and friends.

2. When did you start quilting? What other crafts have you dabbled in?

Mum taught us to sew when we were young.  I made a lot of my own clothes in my teen years including my Yr10 and Yr12 graduation dresses and my bridesmaid dress for Michelle’s wedding.  I made my first quilt about five years ago.  My main craft for the last 13 years was scrapbooking that I became obsessed with shortly after Maddie was born and we moved back to Sydney.  But 13 years was enough and have taken a major break from scrapbooking for the last 2-3 years. I have also knitted one and off since my teens but now really love crochet.  I have also dabbled in cross-stitch making a series of Winnie the Pooh cross-stitches before Maddie was born.

3. Tells us about your first quilt?

My first quilt was a very simple brick pattern in a throw for my lounge room in browns and blues. I didn’t really know what I was doing and not sure what I was thinking with all the browns.  I did hand quilt it though and really enjoyed the process.  I also make a zig zag quilt at the same time for Jack; he helped choose the colours and fabrics.  That was the first quilt I machine quilted (straight lines!).

4. What’s your favourite part of the quilt-making process?

I love everything except the basting!!  I really want to get into free motion quilting but need to take the time to do some serious practice.

5. What project are you currently working on?

How long do you have!  The main projects I am currently working on are:

• The Technicolor Galaxy quilt run as a skill building BOM by A Pile o’ Fabric (I’m about a month behind on that one but loving the whole rainbow effect)
• La Passacaglia – I chose this quilt for my 50^th year birthday quilt with the idea of completing within a year in time for my birthday! Well that’s not going to happen but it will be completed before my 51^st I am using only the Mimosa line of fabric by Another Point of View with matching solids and low volume.
• Aviatrix Medallion quilt – this one still has a couple of borders to do but love the scrappiness of it! Pattern by Elizabeth Hartmann
• Plus random crochet projects, swaps and cross-stitch!

6. What’s next for you – where do you see yourself in two/five/ten years’ time (whichever you feel like answering)?

I don’t really have a plan.  Over the past year I signed up for lots of swaps which was lots of fun, but have decided to take a break and finish some projects and do some selfish sewing!

7. Where can we find you? (FB, Instagram etc.)

I’m on IG – @sharingthegoodstuff

Please pop along to Michelle and Monique’s Instagram pages to see some fabulous quilting pics.

Happy Quilting 🙂