Introduction

I arrived in Ireland in September 1952, the third child of what later became a family of six boys and five girls to Neil and Eilish Mellon. The Mellon Family. My  wonderful, golden childhood days were spent in County Antrim and Linsfort in Inishowen, County Donegal.

I was spoilt by the beauty of "The Glens of Antrim", in particular "Glenariff" with its many shades of green and hidden waterfalls. Bally castle, Rathlin Island, Whitepark Bay,  Cushendun, Cushendall, Torr Head, Mirlough Bay, Waterfooot, Fairhead and Whitehead: their warm soft sand roaring blue sea, smooth skimming pebbles and endless picnics - priceless beauty and memories of days past but never forgotten.

Linsfort in Inishowen conjures up visions, colours and smells of fresh sea breezes, roaring waves, dulce winkles, peat bogs, cotton fields, turf, endless card games annual "Mellon" reunions and sunsets "to die for".

My education completed in Ireland, I was allowed to go to England to study Art and French in Endsleigh College, Hull.  From Hull I moved to London but soon  to Lancashire - regretfully not back to Ireland but now in The Trough of Bowland which in itself encaptures all the beauty and colour of County Antrim and Linsfort in Inishowen all of which is reflected in pieces of my work.

For thirty five years I have worked with fabrics and its no surprise to many that ten years ago, I started patchwork and quilting.  Since then I have designed, made and gifted many pieces of work of varying shapes, size and colour, using mainly 100% cotton.  While in "The Downings" in Donegal, I purchased a variety of Donegal Tweeds from M^ac Nutts and Magees.    I have been using the tweeds with linens and silks (a beautiful combination) to design and make bespoke quilts, stoles, day and evening bags to name but a few.  I am presently encouraging others in The Trough of Bowland to enjoy this craft of patchwork and quilting.