Margaret first exhibited at ‘from out of the blue studio gallery’ as part of The Beach – A Summertime Collection 2023-24.
At that time she gave us a short background statement:
As a child, I loved going to the beach, collecting shells and then displaying them (carefully labelled) in beds of cotton wool in old lingerie boxes. These days I still collect shells but prefer the fragmented and imperfect ones, which have a beauty of their own. A keen stitcher from childhood, my interest in art quilting developed from my love of fabric and colour. My inspiration often comes from nature or the built environment, preferring the imperfect, the weathered, and the fragmented. I particularly enjoy the challenge of working to themes or working from stash only, and in the last few years I have also been experimenting with mixed media and found materials.
In preparation for her upcoming Solo Exhibition – ‘Time and Place’ 9th April – 18th May 2026, Margaret has responded to our in house written interview. Here is her response:
What initially attracted you to the methods you use for your art practice?
The chance to make art with fabrics, to use up discarded or leftover or precious bits and pieces which might otherwise be lost.
What or who were your early influences and how has your life/upbringing influenced your work?
As a child I hand stitched dolls’ clothes, then progressed to making my own clothes, then clothes for my siblings. I developed a love or fabric. Later, I saw a newspaper article about quilting and decided that when I was old(!) I would take up quilting. In the early 1990s several colleagues died from cancer and I decided not to wait until I retired. That was the start of it all.
What was your route to becoming an artist.
I started as a quilter but was increasingly interested in the rise of improv and art quilts. I started branching out from bed quilts, taking workshops at symposia. taking mixed media courses with Fibre Arts NZ and Fibre Arts Take Two,trying new techniques to see what I liked. Exhibiting my works encouraged me to keep making.
Tell us a bit about your process from conception to creation please.
I have an idea or see something which inspires me. I then gather fabrics and supplies which I think I might use, I play around with them, arranging and rearranging until I am happy. At this stage I often take a photo for reference. Then I deconstruct the piece and stitch it back up, refining my original design as I go. I add finishing details such as embroidery. I rarely make a sketch before I start, working directly from my mind’s eye.
You have a wide range of patterns and arrangements and objects in your portfolio of works can you describe some of your chosen techniques and how you choose to use them?
I don’t particularly like getting my hands dirty so I prefer to buy my fabric s “ready made” unless it’s something like rusting or weathering or waxing, which are exciting because the outcome is not certain. I like to combine rust and tea dyeing because it gives a wonderful colour. I use these techniques to show textures and age.
What currently inspires you?
Currently, my local landscapes – bush, river, beach. I like the visible effects of age and change.
Is there a piece of your work that holds particularly fond memories for you and why?
Two pieces – Kaitawa Point Scrolls, because I had just learnt about using wax (from the fabulous FATT course with Debbie Lyddon) through making scrolls my own way using the medium. This piece was juried into two exhibitions, The Wellington Regional Art Awards and The Muriel Hopper Art Awards.
Also, my little clothesline stands, which I had seen in a different form, and scoured my DH’s workshop to find the materials for my own version. Recycling! He then made them to my specifications and I am really pleased with them.
How has your work developed since you began and how do you see it evolving in the future?
My work has loosened, I have embraced imperfections like fraying, loose threads, stains, holes. In the future, there are techniques from the FATT course which I would like to explore further and incorporate into my art.
What advice would you give a young person considering following their dream of being a full time artist?
Look at Art! – every day, and not just the type of art you are making. Inspiration is everywhere. Take courses, join groups, gather a ‘coven’. You don’t have to finish everything – sometimes the practice is an end in itself. Keep learning.
What is something you cannot take your eyes off when you see it – that fascinates and mesmerises you?
The small details, the close-ups, the shapes, the unexpected colours, what you notice when you take the time to look. Some people in my walking group have said they like walking beside me because they have now lernt to notice things they previously would have passed over.
What is you favourite way to unwind or de-stress?
I read, walk, and stitch community quilts and neo natal quilts using destashed fabrics donated to the guild I belong to.
