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 

Lost treasure

Amazing what you find when you clean up.

I've spent the last few days sorting cupboards and moving my things into the new shed - or my new house if you are talking to Miss 6yrs.

Anyway I came across two sample panels I had made over a year ago for Better Homes & Gardens magazine that never ended up being used - long story - but to do with change of colour theme etc, that sort of stuff happens a lot with lifestyle publications......

So I decided to turn them into little baby rugs and get some use out of them!

I did these a little bit like a cushion - sewing the two right sides together and then turning them through the right way. 

Doing it this way means no binding and a baggy kind of quilt. 

To keep it together I have sewn all around the edge in a 1/4 inch seam & also a bit of stitch in the ditch (which I very rarely if ever do)around the squares.

This particular one is going to a school family that have just had a baby boy & the second one will be kept in the pile ready for the next friends baby.

More treasures coming up over the week!

Xx Siobhan

I like you not!

Sorry - not true at all, very rude indeed :)

When Pride and Prejudice has been watched in our house this is the saying that sticks - not the lovely statements on humanity or love................. No not in our house. 

"I like you Not!"  

It does make us laugh - our four little Aussie kids stating very kindly their dislike of each other - what parent could want more :)

As you might see I'm back in Sydney after our two weeks up north in Brisbane, We have the Easter long weekend ahead of us to organise and recoup - before we are back to School and routine next week. I have a bit of a list to achieve! both for my own work and school. 

Whilst I was away my package of Fabric arrived that I had been waiting on

Pride & Prejudice Fabric is now available at spoonflower 

I have the range currently in White, Pink and blue. I'm really happy with how it has turned out. This lot has been printed on the cotton canvas fabric.

I have plans for my new Pride & Prejudice Fabric, I'm playing with my beloved Liberty of London stash and hoping to mix it up. 

What better combo! Liberty & Jane Austen :)

So take a peak at my Beaspoke fabric at Spoonflower and when you have it/ make something out of the fabric I'd love to see what you do! 

post it to the BeaSpokes Quilts Flickr group :)

These fabrics will also be added to my Custom Quilt range that can be made to order.

Also don't forget my Classes are starting at Calico & Ivy Balmain soon.

I have to start putting my liberty log cabin together for my teaching sample, thankfully I cut it all up before I left.

Lots to catch up on over the next week - I'll keep you all posted

Enjoy your Easter weekend where ever you are

Xx Siobhan

It's raining again

Oh no it's raining again..........

So all you get is a indoor peak at the finished Mr Darcy's Zig Zag Quilt

I'm pretty happy with it, but need a bit of space to spread this double bed size baby out and snap some decent pics!

Xx

"The Brief"

 This Quilt came together very quickly, I had a firm idea from the onset what I wanted. 
The brief was a queen size quilt for an adult - modern - square - lots of white with a little bit of quirkyness. 


Easily done!!


The client picked five fabrics and gave me artistic license to do as I pleased -within the original brief, once I had a few squares done I emailed the images to check I was on track- got the thumbs up and here you can see the results.

I love the way the squares fall on the pillows, especially the big red square

I had it quilted in an all over swirl pattern to give it some movement

Quilt back

Quilt back

 Love it when a project turns out and everyone is Happy !


Xx

Pottering

Pottering along this week, which is nice :)
Weather is perfect - kids settled into school and all routine back in place after our 6 week summer break.
I've decided whilst I'm waiting on my big quilt tops to be machine quilted that I would make a cushion in matching material to the Zig Zag quilt (all the off cuts and scraps) and hand quilt it. It's been a while since I took it slow and made something little and everyone else seems to be making pillows/ cushion! so I had to aswell. This square is 80cm

I nearly went for Red thread but I wanted to match in with the Zig Zag quilt and it doesn't have any red in it - so maybe next pillow I'll get the red out :)

I narrowed it down to these three threads.

and this is what I'm doing with it, just randomly going around the inside of some squares. I'll keep going till it looks right......as usual no real plan - just going with the flow.

and this is the matching material in the Zig Zag Quilt.

Air Head

 A little progress (a little being an understatement!) My head is off with the fairies - too much sun possibly?
On another note - although still under the heading of my hazy brain, I dropped the rotary cutter and gave myself a substantial slice on the ankle. Thats definitely a first! I have suffered many finger and hand slices - But ankle ?

I've had a break from cutting fabric, but this is it so far. Only two or three more fabrics to go - I didn't want to risk any further injury.

This is the trunk of a very large tree near the beach we swim at - Does anyone else see an Alien? again could just be me...........

Xx

Proof

Here is Proof that I am actually doing the Boy Quilt that I have talked so much about :)

admittingly I haven't gotten very far - But it's a start.

Xx