Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle DE GROOT.
Michelle , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi, I would like to introduce myself, my name is Michelle de Groot, I Iive in rural Victoria near Ballarat on a 70 acre hobby farm. I have a studio to work in which is 14 x 14mt in length and width.
I have been sewing since I was a child, all sorts of projects from latch hook rugs to tapestries and cross stitches, at school and at home I was taught how to sew clothing and make my own clothes from patterns and home made patterns that my mother and I had changed to suit my height, being 6 foot tall has its disadvantages when growing up 🙂
Then I progressed to creating with flowers and art and crafts in my younger years by becoming a florist and business owner. I was very busy making wedding arrangements and bouquets for many years. This was a wonderful career but with marriage and a child I decided I needed something to keep me home a little more and less physically aggressive.
While in town I saw a patchwork shop and walked in amazed at the lovely quilts on display and thought straight away, “I can do this”. And I did. I started like most people with the basics, early on sewing my quilts together by hand piecing and hand quilting. I then progressed to machined sewing as I realised I wasn’t going to live long enough to make all the wonderful things I wanted to make.
After realising I had found a new love and addiction, I then wondered how I was going to quilt them, hadn’t tried that part of it at that point! So I started taking classes and practiced a lot at home and after 4 years of constant practice I began to quilt my own quilts, saving me a fortune!
Once this was achieved, me being the forever wanting a challenge, I decided to try my hand at textile arts. And WOW did I love that! I then set about learning and learning and learning, making sure I didn’t miss anything, always striving to be better at what I was doing. Once I found myself at a point where I had found my niche I then decided, after many people asking me to teach them to do what I did, that it was time to start teaching what I had learnt over many years.
And here I am today, a textile artist, professional quilter, artist and tutor in my own right. I have won a few awards in small country shows as I always shied away form the big shows, but you will hopefully start seeing me there too more often.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not always, I have ADHD and find that I have trouble focusing on certain things and it can make it hard to keep on track with my creativity and business.
Also the economic environment also makes an impact on how the business runs day to day
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialise in free motion quilting and textile arts
I love to create with fabrics, threads and paints
I am most proud of the fact that people actually want me to teach them how I do what I do.
I don’t know what arts me apart other than my keeping it simple attitude and a motto of ‘be happy, not perfect’
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Not too be too hard on yourself, allow the imperfections to exist and embrace them
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.michellespatchwork.com
- Instagram: Michelles_patchwork
- Facebook: Michellespatchworkandart
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@michellespatchwork?si=MPx36XYpjR22coNy
