Interview with Tamsin Harvey
Posted by Deirdre Quirk on Mar 22nd 2017
We're so excited to share today's interview with Tamsin Harvey, author of Constantinople Quilts and Iznik Garden Quilts and owner of the Berrima Patchwork quilt shop in Australia.
What’s your favorite project that you’ve made?
I have to say that the quilt Istanbul from my book Constantinople Quilts is my favorite quilt. This quilt was hand appliquéd by a cousin who I work with on several of my quilts – Angela—and then I machine quilted it. This quilt was inspired by the Iznik tiles; however, it was a completely new design. It is currently hanging in my quilt shop in Australia, and I get to see it every day!
Where do you find your quilting or sewing inspiration?
I have always had a love of history and travel, and these are a major influence on my designs as a quilter. My books Constantinople Quilts and Iznik Garden Quilts were both inspired by the Iznik tiles designed in the Ottoman period and are found throughout Turkey. It was during my travels to Turkey that I first saw these quilts. Currently I am working on two different quilts: one inspired by neoclassical designs and the other inspired by designs from the Arts and Crafts movement in England.
What is something we might not know about you?
After finishing high school, I completed my apprenticeship to become a Qualified Chef. I worked for several large hotel chains including the InterContinental, Sheraton, Marriott, and Fairmont Hotels located in Australia and Canada.
Where do you shop for fabric?
I own a quilt shop!
What are your go-to colors?
Most of my quilts contain red and blue, and I have the noticed that at the moment several of my most recent quilts have had white as the background color.
Thank you, Tamsin!
