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DEB NICHOL

© Barbara Macey

Ozquilt Network Newsletter #27, March 1998

Congratulations to Deb Nichol of McLaren Vale SA who won first place in the fibre section of The Ninth National Dame Mary Durack Outback Awards 1997 for her wool quilt 'Click Go the Shears Boys' which was sold at the exhibition. Deb also won the same award in 1996 with her quilt 'Golden Fleece' also winner of the Innovative Non-traditional Award at the Quilters' Guild Sydney Quilt Exhibition and second place winner in the Victorian Sheep and Wool Show that year.

As a child she did not sew; nor did her mother, but family members showed the artistic talent that Deb has also inherited. She started making quilts about ten years ago, working in isolation to begin with. But soon she joined her local group, McLaren Vale Patchworkers and under their influence, discovered a wholehearted enthusiasm for quilting.

She first started working with wool three or four years ago after taking part in Dianne Finnegan's 'Bush Quilts' workshop. Since then she has been searching op shops for suitable old wool clothing to convert into prizewinning quilts, but she works with all sorts of fabrics. Applique is a favourite technique which she has used to represent photographic images with great success. During a trip to the USA in 1990 with Lessa Siegele, Deb discovered Afro American quilts, a strong influence on much of her work. In 'Click Go the Shears Boys' she successfully combines the freedom of working in this less structured way with technically brilliant applique; she has a rare touch with wool fabrics, an ability to preserve their character while avoiding the excessive chunkiness that sometimes detracts from an otherwise appealing image. Australiana themes can be kitsch and hackneyed but 'Click Go the Shears Boys' avoids these traps, exuding a singular charm and freshness.

This talented quiltmaker leads a very busy life. Membership of a co-operative means that much of her time is spent making small articles to sell - appliqued tea towels, cards, cushions etc. She also enjoys teaching (she will be teaching at Roseworthy Quilt Encounter later this year) and is a member of the Exhibitions Committee of the South Australian Quilters Guild. These commitments mean that she can only manage to make two large quilts a year, usually for specific exhibitions, as she likes to enter competitions and enjoys the challenge of working to a theme - and working to a deadline. At present she is making an embroidered silk crazy quilt, destination uncertain. I look forward to seeing many more of her beautiful quilts and wish her success in future competitions.

© Barbara Macey 1998
 

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