About Our Tutors
Helen Draper is a quilt designer, maker and teacher based in the Southern Highlands of NSW. An obsessive sewer since the age of seven, she started designing and making quilts in the early 1990’s. Since then, her love of quilt design has grown.
In 2006, Helen began Patchwork Bliss to encourage and help others to discover the joy of quilting and creativity. Like many fabric addicts, her quilt designs always start with the fabric. Simply put, fabric inspires her and, as a colourist, she uses fabric and colour to create surprise and excitement.
Most of Helen's quilts are based on traditional blocks but it’s the use of the fabric that brings them into today’s world.
Helen's preference is traditional hand quilting; however Helen finds the current trend for using a big stitch with colourful threads very pleasing – and so much faster!
Being able to share patchwork and quilting with her patterns, quilt journal and classes gives Helen enormous pleasure. What’s not to love about sharing a passion, making new friends and being surrounded by fabric?
Chris Jurd is an Australian artist who lives in the Sydney area. She has been quilting for almost thirty years and teaches in her home as well as at many shops and workshops. Chris is also very active in The Quilters' Guild of NSW.
A prolific artist, every year Chris creates numerous patterns to sell. She loves original prints in vibrant colours, using them with flair in her pieced and highly geometric quilts marked by bold design. Chris also uses English paper-piecing, described in her book 'Big, Bold & Beautiful - Colorful Quilts for all Quilters'.
Chris' signature is the frequent use of black to emphasize some elements of her design and giving dimension to her quilts. This is an original and modern twist on the stained-glass technique.
With more than 20 years teaching experience, Chris is also an experienced quilt judge and a regular contributor to Quilters Companion magazine.
Discover Chris' projects on her Instagram account (@patchworkfun).