Michelle Yeo was born in the leafy eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, where she still lives with her husband and 3 of her 4 children. From a young age Michelle was interested in sewing and crafts, but it wasn’t until 1984 that she made her first quilt after her then fiancé, now husband, told her that he hated doonas and wanted sheets, blankets, and a patchwork quilt. He now regrets he spoke those words as he never dreamed what a monster that comment would create.
Michelle has been designing quilts and teaching for 20 years and began running her own business, Michelle Yeo Quilt Designs, in 2006. In early 2017 she stopped working part time as an Occupational Therapist to concentrate full time on her quilt and fabric designing business, as well as pursuing her passion for teaching. She is an enthusiastic quilt designer & teacher & teaches throughout Australia and internationally having taught in Europe, Norway, England and the USA.
Inspired by antique quilts and the challenge of design, Michelle uses reproduction fabrics to achieve a timeless appeal. But she is a contemporary artist who takes advantage of the increased speed and accuracy that is possible using modern tools and piecing techniques such as freezer paper foundation piecing, while also loving the more traditional techniques including hand & machine piecing, appliqué & broderie perse. Michelle has a range of acrylic templates for ease and accuracy of cutting and piecing which accompany a number of her designs.
Many of Michelle’s quilt patterns have been printed in Australian and international quilt magazines and in 2014 her book, ‘Of Needle, Thimble & Thread', was published by Quiltmania. Later that year some of the quilts from her book were exhibited in a special exhibit, ‘Best of Australian Quilting’, at the International Quilt Festival in Houston where she also presented a lecture with two fellow Aussie quilters and did demonstration on Broderie Perse. In 2017 she was featured in Quiltmania magazine as the designer of their annual Mystery Block of the Month Quilt which featured her first fabric collection.
Michelle has been designing fabrics since 2015 and her lines are inspired by fabrics from her collection of antique quilts and textiles from the 18th and 19th century. Michelle is extremely excited to have the opportunity to design fabrics for Henry Glass & Co. which are inspired by her love of antique quilts and the fabrics within them.
Website: www.michelleyeoquiltdesigns.com
