What sort of sewing machine do I use?

I use a Handi Quilter Sweetsixteen sit-down long arm sewing machine. This is a freemotion quilting machine with a 16-inch throat. It is mounted in its own table. I really love this machine; it is very industrial, basic, and sturdy.

Is my sewing machine creating my work?

Each piece is created 100% by me. My sewing machine does not have a computer in it. I am not using AI or an embroidery program. Freestyle stitching can be done on any standard sewing machine. It is like drawing with a sewing machine.

Where are you located?

I have a shop in Deloraine, Tasmania, called Divine Objects. We are at 1 Emu Bay Road, Deloraine. We are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm over winter and 7 days a week, 10 am to 4 pm over the summer months.

Do you teach?

Yes, I do. Please send me an email or give me a phone call to discuss workshops. My contact details are cindy@divineobjects.com.au or Phone 0437057417.

Where can you purchase my work?

You can find my work on my website or visit my shop at Divine Objects, Deloraine, Tasmania. I also have exhibitions throughout the year in various locations. Find me on social media at www.facebook.com/thetextileartist

How long does it take to make a piece of work?

The quickest I can stitch a single small tree from start to finish is 30 minutes. But the question is hard to answer. Some works take many weeks, even months, to do. None of it is quick. After 14 years of working on my art, I have improved the speed I can stitch. The actual stitching is only one part of a larger process. Time is also spent thinking, planning, gathering materials, designing, sketching, dyeing fabrics, bush walking, taking photos for reference material, finding just the right coloured thread, loading and unloading thread into the machine, mounting the finished work, taking photos of the finished work, not to mention social media posts, etc.

What is the 5000 Trees Project?

I set myself a goal to stitch 5000 trees as a way to work on my personal and professional development. I was inspired by the book “The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben. I wanted to explore through the textile medium the ways trees are connected and communicate through their root systems.

The project was finished in 2025 and took me almost 7 years to complete. As part of this project, I have donated $2 for each tree stitched and sold to Landcare Tasmania for their environmental projects.