Janelle’s work is always beautifully crafted. She uses eye catching photography and happy, fun colours. While she started scrapbooking late in 2004, she also has another love - patchwork. She has been involved in the patchwork industry for the past 12 years teaching classes, designing patterns, writing articles and designing projects for a wide range of publications including Australian Homespun, Australian Country Threads, Quilters Companion, Patchwork & Stitching and Country Craft & Decorating. Through her business, Simply Homespun, Janelle has designed and sold her patterns throughout both Australia and the US. She loves to combine her love of fabrics with her love for scrapbooking and you will often see stitching and fabric incorporated in her scrapbooking.
How do you combine both your patchworking and scrapping?
I am passionate about incorporating both fabric and stitching in a unique way with my scrapbooking. Therefore I stitch on almost every layout and I am always making little fabric bags to house mini books and other projects.
How did you discover scrapbooking?
I did dabble in scrapbooking many years ago but it wasn’t until late 2004 that I decided I really wanted to do this. I did heaps of research to start with. I studied the net, read books and magazines so I could see what was out there before making a start. I then started attending as many classes as I could at a store that was an hours drive away from home. My teacher was none other than Kim Archer. It truly was attending classes with Kim that helped me learn so much and gain the skills and confidence to have a go. And I have been hooked ever since.
What do your family think of your scrapbooking?
Usually my kids will pose for a few quick photos and are quite used to having the camera in their faces all the time. Recently I was without my computer and couldn’t scrapbook for a month. During this time my kids pulled out all of my scrap albums and studied and read every single page. To me, that was reason enough to do this craft. They loved reading all the memories about themselves and I loved watching them do it.
What are your favourite colour combinations?
With scrapbooking, my favourite combinations are green, pink and red. I also love aqua, red and white. I love colour! For patchwork, I love anything in pretty pinks, aqua, creams, red and greens. I am very much into matching and coordinating when it comes to patterns and colours and for patchworking, fabric patterns have to sit well together and compliment so that when made together in a quilt - it just works.
What three products do you tend to reach for when creating your scrap projects?
My style is fairly simple so I tend to use cardstock, at least two patterned papers and chipboard alphabets. And I always have journaling. I love that you can capture your memory in a tactile way.
Would you describe yourself as a slow or fast scrapper?
I am a slow scrapper. I will usually do a LOT of thinking and planning in my head before I even start. I carefully select paper and cardstock, searching for just the right combination for my photos and sometimes creating a layout can take several hours.
Tell us a little about your family life.
I live in the Hunter Valley, NSW area with my husband Michael and our two children Emily who is 8 and Jasper who is 4.
How do you feel about being part of the @ home Support Team?
I am SO excited to be part of the team.This is a dream come true for me. To be working for a wonderful friend, teacher and mentor where I feel confident to complete work to Kim’s standard with the freedom to be myself, is amazing! I am also excited to be working with such talented girls - it’s mind boggling.