Catherine Kelly

Catherine Kelly has 25 years of teaching experience with roles teaching home economics, design and textiles to high school students, through to adult education classes in millinery and soft furnishings. She also runs her own bespoke millinery business Embellish Atelier specialising in the design and manufacture of couture hats and headwear, and soft furnishings.

A mentor to HSC students, Catherine has been involved in the organisation of fundraising events including St Ignatius Art, Craft and Jewellery Show in 2005-06. Her experience extends to designing hats for many musical theatre productions, from Les Miserables, Pirates of Penzance, and Tom Sawyer, to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Annie and Shout.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Millinery, Ultimo TAFE
• Certificate II in Millinery, Ultimo TAFE
• Certificate III in Applied Colour and Design, International School of Colour and Design
• Associate Diploma, Foundation Course in Colour and Design
• Diploma of Teaching, Kelvin Grove College of Advanced Education Qld

Achievements

Catherine's greatest achievement is being able to juggle the demands of a family and three children, with the desire to follow her passion for creativity and teaching.

Teaching style

Catherine loves inspiring creativity in all its forms, and passing on traditional skills of millinery and sewing soft furnishings, especially the value of fine workmanship. She enjoys sharing her knowledge on the principles of good design because it informs and enriches many aspects of our lives.

Catherine's classes are practical and busy. She finds it particularly satisfying when students' projects are complete and hats being worn to the races and homes re-decorated based on the skills students have learned during these courses.

Something unique

Growing up on a property in Outback Queensland, Catherine learned from her parents' attitude of being able to make anything from limited resources and to pull things apart and understand how they are constructed. She's developed a love for the intrinsic beauty of the Outback, and adores travelling to new places and spaces and immersing herself in other cultures.

To find out more about Catherine, check out Embellish Atellier.