Mixed media collage artist, Michaela Laurie, has combined her fascination with paper and a love of sewing to create these innovative and unique Paper Quilt designs.

Michaela describes Paper Quilting as a ‘simple concept’, which began with just one technique of ‘sewing squares of paper together’. However, she has successfully developed her skills to produce a range of colourful, beautifully detailed creations that have gained acclaim both nationally and overseas.

Originally from Sydney, Michaela now lives with her husband and two children in country NSW. Currently working full-time as a craft artist, she is passionate about sharing her skills and teaching others how to create their own Paper Quilts at home.

If you’re looking for some fresh inspiration for your own card-making for birthdays or the upcoming Christmas season, the art of ‘Paper Quilting’ – which is in fact paper patchwork – is a fun way to create original gift cards and is suitable for all levels of experience.

We were so impressed with Michaela’s designs that we decided to ask her some questions about how she came up with the ideas for her Paper Quilts, her plans for the future as well as her workshops and patterns for beginner Paper Quilters.

What inspires you to create your designs?

 I am always looking for inspiration – life, magazines, internet and I love books. Then I look for a simple/basic shape. The intricacy, colour and pattern works within that basic shape. My favourite designs are fashion pieces and accessories, birds and trees.

How do you choose colours?

 Colour has always been very important in my work. Sometimes I choose one paper design which may be made up of several colours and I pick up on those colours. Sometimes I purposely try to be very random, especially when creating a scrap or crazy quilt. I try very hard not to look as my hand delves into my paper scrap box and I have to use what I pull out. This is a very freeing method and can bring unexpected but beautiful results.

I find the colour wheel invaluable. When a quilt looks a little dreary, adding just a few touches of the colour appearing opposite on the colour wheel will bring the quilt back to life.

When in a colour slump I reach for a home decorating magazine. I look through to find a room I love and use all the colours which appear in that room.

What techniques do you use and how do you source your materials?

I began Paper Quilting with just one technique. Sewing squares of paper together. Over the years I have developed other ways of using the papers. There is Just Squares, Triangles, Appliqué, Crazy, Scrap, Strip, Shred and a very different technique called Padded Top Stitch. I am working on another at the moment. Hopefully there will always be another technique.

I am always on the look-out for new materials. Paper is of course the material which inspires me most and it is pretty hard to leave any art, craft or paper specialty store without something new for my collection. I keep my papers in colour groups. I store them in filing boxes in hang files so they are very easy to look through.

What tips do you have for people that are new to Paper Quilting?

 As with anything new, start with a small project like a gift tag or greeting card. The concept is extremely simple – cutting, gluing and simple sewing. Don’t think about your paper choices too hard. For some reason it doesn’t seem to matter what papers you put together, once they are stitched together, they look fantastic.

You can see Michaela’s YouTube tutorial for creating your own Paper Quilting Gift Tag, using the Just Squares technique, on her website at http://www.paperquiltcreations.com/youtube/channel.html

What first inspired you to take up Paper Quilting?  

 I started experimenting with sewing paper together early in 2004. I used to create very abstract paper collage and mixed media pieces but when we moved to country NSW from Sydney, I found I lost my inspiration. It was very distressing and I wondered what on earth to do with myself.

It sounds a bit corny but I had been watching Dr Phil and Oprah over lunch and I must have been inspired by one of the topics that day. I sat down outside in the quiet countryside I asked the grey stormy sky “What am I going to do?” For some reason I was given the thought – go and get your sewing machine. I dug it out from the very back of the cupboard and took it up to my shed and began sewing.

There have been years of trial and error as I had no one to learn from. But the craft has slowly progressed and matured to where it is today. I am still learning every day and try to always have my eyes and ears open where ever I go.

                                                                                               How did you develop your interest in teaching?

People who visited the Bus Depot Markets in Canberra, where I sold my finished Paper Quilts, started to ask me where they could learn how to make Paper Quilts. So, I wrote a book and was given a great opportunity to teach at a wonderful store, A White Dragon Papercraft in Canberra.

Life is funny sometimes how it goes full circle. I trained to be an art teacher at university but never taught when I finished. I now teach and run workshops on a regular basis at White Dragon, at other craft and quilting stores and at craft and quilting groups.

This year Bernina asked me to run workshops for them at the Craft and Sewing Shows which has been great. I meet so many wonderful people and it is always a joy to see them make a Paper Quilt they are very proud of in the first lesson.

This year I have been concentrating on creating patterns for the designs I sell so that people can make Paper Quilts in their own homes without me actually being there. I will continue this but also plan to create more work to sell and would love to have an exhibition of larger pieces. I am travelling to the Craft & Hobby Association Conference & Trade Show (CHA) in the USA again early next year to try to consolidate the time there last year where Paper Quilting was nominated in the top 20 Innovations.

Do you have any seasonal designs that you are planning for Christmas?

I have a very easy Christmas card pattern for four greeting cards that you can make at home. I’m also working on a Christmas tree picture which uses old Christmas cards for the entire design.  You knew you kept those cards from last year for a reason!

Michaela will be exhibiting at the Melbourne Craft & Sewing Show at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, October 27-30, 2011. She will also be running one-hour Paper Quilting workshops at the Bernina stand twice daily at the show. For more details visit http://www.craftandsew.com.au/Melbourne2011/app/pages/view/ready_steady_sew1/

A fantastic range of patterns, tools and materials for Paper Quilting, as well as further information on classes and workshops can be found on Michaela’s website at http://www.paperquiltcreations.com/index.html.