The exhibition, designed in a circular layout to take visitors on a chronological journey through Julie's last two decades of work, is a visual representation of her book ClothBound.

"The exhibition visually represents the eight chapters of my book, plus one extra collection as I completed it after the book was written," Julie said. "The book has a circular theme, but I really recognised it when I started hanging my show and could see the collections alongside each other."

Julie's work began with a bold, geometric print in a bright colour palette in 1995, but by her next collection in 1996 had become more sedate.

"I was wrestling with the essence of what the business was about, so 'Raw Cloth' was about paring things back and keeping it simplistic."

By 2000 Julie had found her inspiration in the Australian landscape and her collections conveyed earthy, neutral tones with the introduction of flora and fauna in the patterning used.

"I worked with Indigenous groups and loved the way the women in particular would sit and just draw from their experience."

It was about this time that Julie moved her workshop from Sydney to the Blue Mountains and really immersed herself in the nature that would be reflected in her works.

"I'm English originally and I just found there was quite a strong interest in what was happening overseas and not what was happening here in our own backyard. I wanted to show the strength of things happening here."

Julie experimented with different ways to show the Australian landscape and flora in ways she felt were most authentic, using lino prints to inspire a bold representation.

"I loved the work of Margaret Preston, who was able to portray the Australian bush in an almost masculine way.

"I don't think florals need to be overly feminine, especially when it's the kind of flora we have in Australia, I wanted to portray it with strength."

Julie's most recent collection is a strong fusion of the brights of her early work and the recognisable patterns and textures that have developed throughout her 20 years of experience.

"I want my work to come back to everyone's experience of living in Australia and the natural, raw feeling of the landscape. I like to translate my everyday experience, to document it in my design process so that everyone can have that experience.

Julie is a fan of collaborative work, most recently teaming up with The Dharma Door, a fair trade company based in Byron Bay, to produce a range of natural fibre storage bags made with Julie's textile prints - available at Sturt Gallery.

Head of Sturt Mark Viner said Julie Paterson had a strong connection with Sturt Gallery.

"The ClothFabric exhibition is a real coup for us as we have had a strong association with Julie Paterson and the ClothFabric products we have featured in our shop for many years," he said.

The show will be opened at 11am by author and editorial director Karen McCartney, and will continue until May 31. For more information visit www.clothfabric.com or www.sturt.nsw.edu.au