QuiltNSW Blog: Meet The New Quilt Artist: Rachaeldaisy Dodd

Sunday, 10 January 2021

Meet The New Quilt Artist: Rachaeldaisy Dodd

Name of Artwork: Sheer Joy

A lifelong interest in colour and design led Rachaeldaisy to delve into various crafts as a child, then a career as a creative florist for 20 years. She discovered patchwork and quilting in the early 2000s and halfway through her first quilt, she was hooked!

"A Kangaroo on a Pogo Stick" is how Rachaeldaisy describes her quilting style. "I jump around using different colours, styles and techniques. One minute I’ll be making a quick colourful scrappy liberated quilt and the next quilt will be a slow project of hand sewn YoYos."

She links it back to her experience as a florist, "In the flower shop, I would make a delicate posy of pretty spring flowers and then turn around and create a big modern tropical arrangement. In that same way I enjoy the wide variety of styles and techniques quilting has to offer."

Whilst honouring the tradition of quilting she strives to find fresh ways to interpret conventional designs. Her use of 3D elements such as YoYo Suffolk Puffs, Prairie Points, Ric Rac, appliqued and pieced denim come together to create beautiful, unique works.

Rachaeldaisy’s fresh interpretation of the art of quilting has seen her quilts awarded many prizes including several Best In Show awards, Most Innovative, and Viewers Choice prizes. Her quilts have been exhibited in quilt shows and galleries and featured in publications both nationally and internationally. Her book Whizz Bang - Adventures with Folded Fabric Quilts has inspired quilters around the world.

When Rachaeldaisy isn’t travelling to teach workshops she is at home in the Blue Mountains, with her supportive husband, Mr Daisy, and a garden full of native birds.