How on Earth do you

store all your quilts?

When teaching or generally talking about what I do - The number one question is

"What do you do with ALL your quilts"?

because I do have a lot of them and I do keep making more and more.....

A few have gone to friends or family but mostly they live in my house or studio and sometimes one or two are on display at places that I teach at.

BUT

most of them are in my house!

If they aren't on a bed (which we have five of in our house and most beds have two quilts on them) they are on the lounge, hanging on a chair, folded on a chair, in a basket or hanging on one of the many ladders I have collected......

I'm yet to have wall hangings although I do have box framed fabric art works

Quilts aren't just for beds!

How do you store your quilts?

and on decoration/ houses and storage etc I have been pouring over Megan Morton's (Australian based Stylist) new book - I love my room its gorgeous!

I love the book! 

& my kids have been absolutely fascinated with it.

Lots of great ideas. Which will come in very handy when we eventually start our renovation/ extension.

more room for more quilts!

I'll have to get my dad onto making more ladders for me :)

If any Sydney people are interested in a ladder (like the one pictured) 

they are 900 wide X 1800 high, raw timber

and cost $130 AUD

email me :)

I'm off - last day of school today before the winter holidays and I have a million jobs to do 

Xx Siobhan 

What started it all

Its getting colder in Sydney the Autumn has well and truly set in, I'm getting out all the quilts and blankets.

This quilt caught my eye today - my youngest daughter claimed it for her bed. She has no idea of its significance or its history.

This is the quilt that started my love of fabric and quilting.

When I was 5 my Grandmother took a quilting class and had to make a sampler quilt, I ohhed and arghed over the fabric and pattern - It was love at first sight and being a child I insisted it would be mine. 

Luckily Nana agreed.

I happily watched the process - each week checking after her class that progress had been made and then like lots of nearly finished projects it was folded up and put in the cupboard.... all forgotten

fast forward to me being pregnant with my eldest child, Nana reorganising her house and the finished quilt top resurfaced! 

I remembered it and still loved it so Nana finished it and gave it to my eldest when he was born (he is now 13yrs) 

It's still in perfect condition and very used and incredibly loved.

I hope some of my quilts end up with my grandchildren one day. 

Xx Siobhan 

NYC - Train trip to CT to see Denyse Schmidt

 

 I'm HOME !

I've been home for 4 days..........

The jet lag hit me pretty hard - I taught on day 2 of being home, I'm not sure I was coherent...  My students put up with me - which I am very very thankful for :)

I saw so much on my quick trip to the US - my mind is still buzzing

One of the more interesting & exciting things was catching the train up to Bridgeport CT and seeing Denyse Schmidts studio. 

I meet up with Julie - who is extra lovely - she showed me some of Denyse's lovely quilts and around the studio.

Its truly amazing to see everything in the flesh!

The Quilts looked beautiful in real life, its amazing to be able to see things that I have looked at a million times in books.

The current Schedule for DS Studios is crazy - Denyse is booked up till 2014, with a possible trip to Australia...... Lets hope that one comes to fruition! 

- If your looking to catch up with Denyse or do one of her workshops have a look at DS Quilts for times/ dates.

below are some pictures - I was so over whelmed I didn't take many pictures at all...

I saw lots of quilts one being the Flowering Vine new pattern that has just come out. 

Thank you to Julie for spending the morning with me - talking about quilting and showing me lots of wonderful things in the studio - I felt right at home & it was Lovely to meet and chat with Denyse! truly inspirational business women and I look forward to what DS Quilts come up with next.

Not the most stunning picture of me, but its with Denyse - so I had to post it!

Next post I'll write about my visit to Jersey City to see Windham Fabrics 

Xx Siobhan

Bon Voyage

I'm rushing around like a maniac 

 finishing final bits of work and working out how to get them to the editors, sorting the Shed after teaching two classes this week & organising the numerous children's school functions/ activities that have been on this week. Oh! that reminds me I have emails to reply too.......

Next on my list is getting the house ready for my In-laws and Fathers day this coming Sunday - Then I'll think about what I'm packing for my Trip to 

New York!

I jet out on Monday morning......

I'm only in New York for 6 days but I plan on making the most of it and already have meetings organise - Very exciting :-)

Really I shouldn't be on the computer writing this post - but I couldn't help myself!

My father has been working incredibly hard on the Shed make over - I'm so lucky to have an extremely handy dad.

The Shed is pretty much done, a few bits n bobs but looking beautiful. Next will be the gardening.

I have started teaching a small group in the Shed - 3hr fortnightly Beginners Patchwork/ Quilting class. I had a bit of a list of people that had been asking and have started with them.

Term 4 of school I will run more and open it up to others. Look out for a post or email me if your interested in attending with a day/ time that suits you.

For those who don't know - I'm in Sydney Australia & situated on the Inner west/ North side.

I have added a few pics of a quilt that needs finishing, I'll have more info and the finished quilt when I get back - to show you.

and slowly but surely I'm sorting and organising my fabric into shelves and storage - Its all starting to come together

I'm sure I will blog/ twitter/ Instagram a million times during the week I'm in NYC

Take care

Xx Siobhan 

little packages tied up with string

One thing on my list to do today is drop this little package off to a local family - baby number 4 arrived a few weeks ago and this little liberty quilt will be lovely for the upcoming spring weather.

This picture has almost all my favourite things in it

Owls, Butterflys, Liberty, String, Stamps & handmade tags!

Its the little things that keep me happy.

This week is a busy one, I suppose they all are aren't they?!

I have to finish a stack of work - Get the kids/ house ready for me going away/ me getting ready for going away & think of a good fathers day present.....

Thats a tricky one?! 

Hope everyone has a great Week!

& if your looking for any of my stuff - I have added links on the left hand side of the blog under Find me - to my fabrics, instagram & pinterest!

Xx Siobhan 

Enough room to swing a cat

For a long long time I have dreamed of having my own creative space & now its become a reality! 

Its still a work in progress - a few final finishes and external painting to do....

but Its about time for me to start filling it up with all my stuff & start doing some work.

I've spent the last few weeks procrastinating watching it all be built instead of knuckling down and getting things finished.

I anticipate another week of mucking around with my fabrics and rearranging things before any real work starts happening.....

Although thats not a luxury I have, I have a few deadlines to finish before I head away for a week in New York City early September.

Yep - thats right - I'm heading to NYC!

I have a few work meetings & hoping to see lots of fabric/ quilty stuff too.

I'd love any advice you might have :)

A quick bit of info about the studio fit out 

The walls are painted in- Taubmans Crisp White

The Wallpaper- Abigail Edwards Owls of the british isles 

Light fittings- From Freedom Furniture

The bench was made by my Dad and painted the same colour as the walls, the bench top is Corian bought on ebay.

The black wall was painted with Murobond Pirate chalk paint & the lounge is from Freedom Furniture

of course this is about the cleanest its ever going to look!

I'm sure there will be lots of photos taken once I fill it up and start using it.

I also have lots of "stuff" to fill you in on over the week.

Like a few new ranges of fabric I have gotten my hands on & some exciting happenings at CLOTH Fabric

Hope you all had a great weekend 

Xx Siobhan

Thinking back......

Memories are funny things

They pop up at the oddest time.

This little basinet was bought 11 years ago for my number 2 baby, Its been given back to us recently after doing the rounds of a number of friends & family with new Bubs. I like the idea that lots of new little lives have had a snooze in it. 

I'm preparing it for storage - That is unless any of my friends have news they would like to share!

It flashed me back to the time my little Bea (hence Bea Spoke Quilts in case any of you ever wondered) was born. 

When I was pregnant with Bea I use to go to my Nana & Grandpa's house every wednesday and bring lunch with me.

 My eldest was nearly two and we would have a lazy day playing, gardening, eating and I would sneak off to Nana's sewing room and make things for the baby that was coming.

I made a sweet little sheet set and matching quilt, embroidering it with the year and a little message of love. I didn't know if we where having a boy or girl so I went with red purple & green colours. I was very impressed with myself. 

  Bea was born a month early and for three weeks we where unsure what would happen - Thankfully she thrived and came home.

I wish I had more pictures of the quilt. It was pre digital and never occurred to me to take a picture. It was stolen from my pram one day at the shops I was so upset, it still upsets me that someone would steal a handmade quilt from a stroller. The only picture I have is this one with little Bea on it.I still have the sheet set, its packed away in storage.

The patchwork & quilting industry has changed in the last 10 years. 

The availability and types of fabric for one. The books & magazines, blogs bricks and mortar shops...... 

We have so many choices now when it comes to making and decorating.

When I'm teaching lots of people are decking out a room for their children.

I love being able to help students make quilts. The idea that they are creating things for family and friends and I have facilitated the process is a very nice feeling!

Equally nice is when I get emails from people who have created Quilts using my Patterns from Magazines. 

This one is From Jerry - her niece was moving to the big smoke in New York and Jerry has made a beautiful quilt for her out of my pattern in Modern Patchwork

I love the skyline fabric she has used.I hope your Niece loved it Jerry! and thanks for sharing it with me.

I'd love to know what your all making and who its for

Xx Siobhan