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Jessica Wheelahan

@birdie_beetle

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Australian Quiltmaker. Modern Maximalist. 🪡🧵🪡Aurifil Artisan

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This month the Aurifil Artisan challenge has been to take a canvas bag and make it our own.

I began by dip dyeing the bag a mottled indigo colour, one of my favourite tones.

I added a pocket made of different sized pieced hourglass blocks. The pocket is matchstick quilted using aurifil 28 weight thread.

Finally I used co-ordinating 12 weight thread to add detail stitching on the handles.

I finished this bag while staying in the countryside at a place where there were newborn highland cows! Just incredible! I loved the combination of clear blue skies and hand stitching. Very restorative.

@aurifilthread #aurifilartisan26 #artfulimprov #handstitching #scrapquilting #makersgonnamake taken in Seclusions Blue Mountains by @birdie_beetle

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4 days ago

‘Bounce’ was selected for ‘the little things’ art prize which has been an exciting thrill! Exhibition continues for a few more days. Thank you @project_gallery_woollahra @marnierossartist #textileart #bouncequilt #aurifilartisan2026 #littlethingsartprize2026 #littlethingsartprize by @birdie_beetle

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6 days ago

Sharing some of my favourite details from my afternoon invigilating @cromerartspace Cliff Edge: Textile art on the brink. I’ve included some videos which capture the work interacting with the space. It was wet and windy on Wednesday and the sea was so loud! Hope this gives folks who can’t attend in person a taste. Exhibition open until the 14th October. Sharing more in my stories now!

1. @worthmending Darning with the Swift Darner
2. Speedweve x @roberta.cummings
3. Video of @roberta.cummings work on both sides
4. Lisa Smirnova @lisa_smirnova
5. Joy Pitts @joynextthesea
6. Sammi Eady @scr4mmi
7. Ioanna Maria Giakoumaki
8-9. Jess Wheelahan @birdie_beetle
10. Self portrait with Anna Olsson
11. Anna Olsson @vassberg13
12. Clare Thornthwaite @clarethornthwaite
13. Hannah Lamb @hannahlambtextileartist
14. Annette Ratti @new_model_embroidery
15. Vicky Ellis @welshwovencolour
16-19. Dr Jane Hattrick @janehattrick by @birdie_beetle

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7 days ago

When two loves collide! Hand stitching on the grass in quiet countryside with the occasional coo bellow among constant native birdsong. Lucky to enjoy perfect sunny blue sky days and nights with a little chill to make our cabin cozy. We needed a break outside the city and all the associated stressors. Time to breathe in peace and let go as we slide into our HSC era. Thank you @wheels930 and @seclusionsgetaways @aurifilthread #highlandcowsofinstagram #artfulimprovquilts #sevenvalleystourism #aurifilartisan2026 #seclusionsbluemountains by @birdie_beetle

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7 days ago

‘Speechless’ has now been installed at Cromer Art Space in Norfolk, UK as part of ‘Cliff Edge, textile art on the brink’. I’m very grateful to those who have sent me photos of the exhibition and also to @clarethornthwaite who has been able to join the dots and identify the artist who made the original street art which we saw in London back in 2019. Swipe to see what inspired this quilt which was made in sydney last year over about six months. Thank you @annemmccloy for putting your words out into the world. @aurifilthread #aurifilartisan2026 #textileartonthebrink @cromerartspace #textinart #modernmaximalism #improvquilts by @birdie_beetle

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12 days ago

‘Where distance folds’ is a constructed canvas of materials of utility. The work functions as a conceptual map of the historical cultural exchange through the trade of textiles. I’ve hand stitched the surface layers using various Aurifil 12 weight threads. @aurifilthread #colonialpatterns #aurifilartisan2026 #constructedcanvas #textileartwork by @birdie_beetle

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15 days ago

As if the weekend wasn’t busy enough already we unfortunately missed the opening of the 2026 Nowra ‘Meroogal’ Women’s art prize. Here’s my quilt ‘dripping’ hanging in the kitchen. It’s a story of making do inspired by a cheeky recipe belonging to the house. (Swipe to see this) Chuffed to have been selected as a finalist. Congratulations to the prize winners. Exhibition on until 24th April 2027. #meroogalwomensartprize #meroogalwomensartprize2026 #drippingquilt #artfulimprov #aurifilartisan2026 by @birdie_beetle

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25 days ago

The Sydney Quilt Show is a creative highlight of the year and I’ve enjoyed being part of it since I first had a quilt hanging in 2012. This year it fell in the midst of Maddie’s graduation chaos and so my visit yesterday was short alongside teaching a class. These are some of the quilts and stories I really enjoyed and managed to snap a pic of. Makers are tagged. Special shout out to Maureen Teager whose quilt was inspired by one in my book and I was just so chuffed! Thank you Maureen. Also to Skye who finished her beautiful quilt and now has to ungift it. Gorgeous! It was great to catch up with so many friends and a shame to have missed seeing so many this year. Congrats to all and thank you to the committee. #sydneyquiltshow2026 #makersofinstagram #australianquilts #stitchersofinstagram #aurifilartisan taken in Rosehill Racecourse by @birdie_beetle

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a month ago

This was the second quilt I had hanging at the sydney quilt show this year. #sirensongquilt is hand quilted with @aurifilthread and made up of lots of foundation pieced arcs. Today I had the chance to see the show which was a triumph (thank you committee @molli_sparkles @sfielke) I was also lucky enough to have a classroom of the loveliest learners who worked on different aspects of this technique. (Thank you @patchworkfun for the co ordination) thank you everyone who joined my class and I hope you had a nice few hours. #foundationpiecingquilt #handquilting #makeitmodern #sydneyquiltshow2026 by @birdie_beetle

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a month ago

Thrilled to learn that today #bouncequilt was awarded this ribbon at the #quiltnswexhibition2026. It’s made of about 11700 pieces and is hand quilted using Aurifil 12 weight thread. Thank you to the judges and the sponsors and the wonderful volunteers. I’m teaching a class at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon- there may be a couple of spots left. @aurifilthread #aurifilartisan2026 #opartinspired #nswquiltshow (thank you @janemadlyquilting for the lovely photos!) by @birdie_beetle

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a month ago

‘Speechless’ quilt is off on an adventure to be displayed in Norfolk UK! Today I had two messages of acceptance into exhibitions I had applied for! This one is in the other side of the world and I can’t wait to see the other works included. I physically can’t get there and so am appealing to any Quilty friends in the UK to please send pics! Thank you to the curators and @cromerartspace for including my work. #speechlessquilt #lettrisme #makeitmodern #aurifilartisan26 #artfulimprovquilts by @birdie_beetle

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a month ago

Chuffed that my little textile work ‘Bounce’ has been selected for inclusion in the 2026 Little Things Art Prize! It’s a celebration of grabbing time to create in a busy world and will be hung at Project Gallery Woollahra, Sydney from October 2-14th. #littlethingsartprize2026 #textileartofinstagram #aurifilartisan #reflection&gratitude #makeitmodern by @birdie_beetle

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a month ago