Solid as a block

Here we go 

A little more information about my quilt and pattern in the Latest 

Australian Better Homes and Gardens

August 2015 magazine

I made this quilt way back in November/ December 2014 just before Christmas and at the same time as two other big quilts for publication....... The usual story of everything being due within days of each other, as well as the end of the school year and start of the summer holidays.

I swore the year before that I wouldn't do that to myself again...... flash back to Nov/ Dec 2013 and I had 12 quilts due for my book manuscript.

Apparently I forget stressful life events very easily and quickly!

 I'm pretty excited about this quilt - not only did I enjoy creating it BUT it was for a magazine I grew up reading. 

A close second in my childhood nostalgia excitement would be Burke's Backyard or A Country Practice and if my quilt was in an episode of either shows - Which wont ever happen as the two shows are no longer. 

I apologise to non Australians who have no idea what I am going on about.

Anyway..... I digress 

The quilt

I made the quilt front using Prima Solids from Spotlight. 

The Quilt as seen in Australian Better Homes and Gardens August 2015

and the back (pictured before quilting) is a cotton/ Linen blend.

To help my pattern writing and keep in mind I was creating three quilts at the same time, and all in solids from different manufacturers. 

I made a half square triangle of each colour and pieced it into the backing so that I would remember exactly what colours I had used when I went to double check the pattern writing.

Light green 

Khaki green

mid blue

cornflower blue

teal

airforce blue

mustard

dark purple

light purple

baby pink

coral

hot pink

white background

teal stripe binding

natural sand coloured linen backing

for the full fabric requirements and pattern please purchase August 2015 BHG Magazine

The version I have pictured is slightly different to the pattern in the Magazine as we ran out of room for instructions and replaced my blocks with curved piecing in them with solid coloured blocks.

Its an opportunity for you to change things or mix it up a little if you feel like adding in your own ideas.

I promised on Instagram my banana cake recipe - thats going to have to wait till the weekend, sorry but between teaching the last two days and a backlog of pattern work I'm behind schedule! 

and don't forget I have pre order copies of my book available on my website

If you do make this quilt or any of my quilts and you are on social media - please tag me!

or #siobhanrogers

Im off to clean and cook

Xx Siobhan Rogers

Better Homes and Gardens

Just a quick one to let you know that the Australian August 2015 Better Homes and Gardens Magazine should be in shops today 

and it has a quilt and pattern 

I designed in it

Xx Siobhan 

siobhanrogers.com.au

Lots of maintenance, design deadlines and bits happening in the shed.

I'm trying to get all my blog links working and everything on my website more efficient. Thank goodness I have the help of an expert...

and

To celebrate the end of financial year

I have 30% off all stock on my website (excluding my book and workshops)

This offer is valid until the 30th June 2015

I also have signed books available for pre sale on my website

The New Down Under Quilts has a pattern excerpt from my book - It should be in stores in the next day or so. 

How heavenly does the cover of Australian Country Style look! I don't have anything in it - It just happen to be on my reading pile!

Im off to feed family etc

but a warning that my next post I will be talking advertising!

I am finally catching up with the year 2010 and placing suitable advertising on my blog.

Thanks

Siobhan Rogers Xx

Put a flower on it

Have you noticed that flowers are everywhere.

Everywhere I look is a magnificent arrangement of flowers or using flowers, picture of flowers.........

Its almost like the put a bird on it craze from a few years ago.

I was inspired after looking through Pinterest to create a cake with flowers.

I then saw a beautiful post by Lisa from We Are Scout and that cemented my idea and what I wanted to do.

I was chatting to my long time friend who bakes lots and uses flowers lots and I was asking her where she sourced her fresh edible flowers......

Which ended up being from Darling Mills Farm  (Sydney Based)

The flower hunt prompted Mr 11 and I to do a  early morning trip on Saturday to the markets - which was freezing but lovely. 

I had to get in early - not only because they sell out of flowers so quickly but also because I had a book signing to go to! 
I was signing my book By The Block at the Sydney Quilt and Craft Fair

Which very excitingly won an award

Anyway back to the biscuits

Chocolate biscuits with royal icing and pretty little flowers, they taste beautiful and heavenly with a cup of tea.

Chocolate Biscuits

Ingredients250g butter, softened 

330g caster sugar 

2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract 

450g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder 

1/2 cup Cocoa

Pre heat oven to 160c fan forced

Beat butter and sugar in an electric mixer until pale and fluffy, then add in vanilla extract and eggs one at a time.

Beat until well combine.

Slowly add in flour, baking powder and cocoa until mixture forms a ball

*if you find the mix is too wet add in a teaspoon of flour at a time until the dough forms a ball in the mixer.

If the mix is too dry add in a teaspoon of milk one at a time until you get the right consistency.

Shape the dough into a long roll shape, wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge to rest for 30 or so minutes.

Once the dough has rested - using a sharp thin blade slice dough into 1cm thick rounds. Lay the rounds onto a baking tray and bake for 25 minutes.

you should get around 30 biscuits from this recipe, depending on the size roll you made. My biscuits were around 2.5inches(6 cm)in circumferance.

Let the biscuits cool on a wire rack.

Once cool make the royal icing

Royal Icing

1 egg white beaten with a fork

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

1.5 cups pure icing sugar

use a fork to beat the egg whites with the lemon and then hand beat in the icing sugar, keep mixing until no lumps appear.

To decorate

Dip your biscuits in face down covering the top of the biscuit, let the excess icing drip off and then place right side up on a wire rack. Place desired flowers, petals and leaves on the wet icing. 

With some of the petals I used a pair of tweezers as I found my fingers were getting a little sticky and the petals kept getting stuck to me instead of the biscuits.

Voila - Very pretty looking biscuits that are very tasty.

Radio blah blah

When I was in the US mid May this year I had the opportunity to talk to Pat Sloan - you can listen to it now on the American Patchwork and Quilting podcast

Im in the last 10 minutes of the podcast

Hope I don't sound like a twat! 

My book

and 

I'll be at the Sydney Quilt and Craft fair signing books at the Can Do Books area

Wed June 17th 11:30 - 12:30

Fri June 19th 10:30 - 11:30

Sat June 20th 1:00 - 2:00

I have also listed other shows and book signings I will be at on my website

http://www.siobhanrogers.com.au/

and just for the fun of it I have added in a picture of pikelets.

If you follow me on instagram you will know how much of an average mum I can be at times (insert laughter) I was tired last night... 

Home on my own with four kids, 8pm and it was raining outside. I was cleaning up after dinner and realised we had no bread and very little milk for the next day which would mean breakfast and school lunches would be a challenge. I did however have eggs and flour.... thank goodness, and at least a cup of milk. 

Voila my mums 1971 pikelet recipe saves the day yet again.

Now I really should go to the shops before we have a repeat no food for lunches/ breakfast experience tonight

Xx Siobhan Rogers

Never thought I'd utter the words

"I cant this week I'm doing some book signings......"

which if your my good friend of many years your response is hysterical laughter and a few jibes. 

This week I will be at the Sydney Quilt and craft show at Glebe Island

I will be at the Can Do Books stall, signing copies of my book By The Block

Wednesday June 17th 11:30 - 12:30

Friday June 19th 10:30 - 11:30

Saturday June 20th  1:00 - 2:00

I am also just in the process of working out the logistics of going to the Tasmanian, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane shows. 

Let me know if your a shop or guild and would like a visit.

Here are a few flash back photos from my trip to the US recently - where I did have a book signing and also had the fun experience of seeing my book on the shelves of Barnes and Noble in New York.

As usual I had my quilts with me and photographed a few of them around NYC.

Taking the air

Work, kids and family logistic can make it very very hard to actually talk to people. I might see them fleetingly or text daily but to actually sit for hours and talk...... That rarely happens.

I was fortunate enough on the long weekend (Queens Birthday in Australia) to catch up with friends that I haven't quiet been able to have a conversation with for sometime or so it felt.... and the country air and beautiful scenery didn't hurt either

I feel refreshed and ready to get some work done. Friends are good for the soul.

of course I packed the boot with quilts! Im never one to miss an opportunity.

Pictured below are two courthouse step quilts - both a little different in pattern widths and colours but similar construction. 

One of the patterns is in US Spring Modern Patchwork magazine (top quilt) and the other pattern is available  at Spotlight stores in Australia (bottom quilt).

and below my Wild Horses quilt and Kisses and Hugs quilt from my book By The Block - available in lots of places, ask your book shop or library to get it in if they don't already have it.

If your after more pictures from my weekend away check out my Instagram pictures or Facebook

Siobhan Xx