Linen whole cloth quilt

Way back after my NYC trip in September I put this quilt top together.

I was inspired after a few museum trips and I wanted to try out some whole cloth quilt type ideas.

This one was given to my Dad for Christmas :)

I'm pretty happy with it !

I have a few similar ones waiting to be quilted, this one was long arm quilted by Kim Bradley in a figure 8 pattern that she made for me awhile back, I tend to use it on most of my quilts.

This is a big quilt - pictured its on a king sized bed

the cool fluro lights in the background are from BHV in Paris - I have a few more colours too, my kids think they are giant Lightsabers.

&

The framed fabric work is mine 

The rug pops up all over the place - its my Fav :)If you click on the above link I have more info about it and where to buy one.

Cushions are also my own 

anyway this is one of my usual brief posts - I'm suppose to be packing for my kids, they fly to Brisbane tomorrow to stay with family and soak up the sunshine :)

I'll be joining them after new years.

Hopefully I'll get a bit of work done between now and then :)I need to organise my 2013 teaching schedule and get ahead with a few patterns 

Xx Siobhan 

One of my Fav's

If only I had more hours in a day I could make all the things that are swimming around in my head, using up all the great fabric that is out there.

My taste in fabric is eclectic - Depending on my mood and even the weather. One minute I'll have a 1930's mini dogs reproduction print in my hand and the next I'll have the large scale graphic screen printed fabrics of CLOTH Fabric. 

I know I have talked about it several times before but it really is remarkable the choices we have when it comes to fabric choices and availability. We have so much talent world wide and its all at our finger tips.

One of the clever Australian fabric designers/ Artists I love to work with is Julie Paterson from CLOTH Fabric. I was in the new shop today and having a look around - its full to the brim of exciting possibilities.

I made this quilt a while back for the CLOTH gang. I love how the large scale prints look in this zig zag quilt.

Some of the prints in this quilt are not being reprinted and only a limited amount is left... 

Hop to it if your interested because they wont be seen again

In other news 

I was interviewed by Pat Sloan - have a look if you didn't get a chance before. 

&

This Quilt has had its 15 minutes of fame on the Inside out Magazines Facebook page.  Coincidentally the large scale pink circle fabric is also from CLOTH Fabric

Thats a wrap for today

Im in the middle of a few projects that need finishing.......

Xx Siobhan

Stars & Linen

If you have read my last few blog posts - I've been banging on about previous Heather Ross fabric ranges and how much I like them!

Rummaging through my fabric cupboard a couple of weeks ago I rediscovered the far far away 2 range from 2010 and made this quilt. 

I've since gone mad and bought up some (alot) of the Far Far away 3 range.

& if you look at Heathers recent blog post - The new range coming out looks just as sweet.

I've been mucking around with some simple star blocks as teaching samples

I forgot how effective simple older style patchwork blocks can be. 

I think I'm going through a faze of liking old style patterns and blocks...........

I'm off - I have a few deadlines that need meeting!

Xx Siobhan

Fabric choices in recent quilts

Hi!

sorry I've been quiet.....

Its School holidays here in Sydney Australia & everything in my normal working week goes out the window. 3/4 of the kids go back to school tomorrow - fingers crossed I get all my bits n pieces finished off this week and handed over.

I've had a few emails asking about fabrics I had used in recent quilts that appeared in Modern Patchwork

I very excitingly had three quilts appear in the new Interweave  publication & one was on the cover :)

The Fabrics for the Yellow wide Stripe quilt

- all the text fabric is from my spoonflower BeaSpokeQuilts shop

- The yellow flower is a Robert Kaufman Fabric

- White homespun

- The binding is a grey & white honeycomb

- the yellow check is Unknown! 

I bought it as an end of bolt special at Material Obsession a long long time ago (before they moved), If anyone can help name it Id appreciate it or even maybe let me know of a similar fabric design thats currently around?

The Fabric for the Monochromatic Text Quilt is all from my spoonflower designs

BeaSpokeQuilts Fabric Shop

& the binding is the grey & white honeycomb again

the back is pieced of all my left over bits n pieces

The Linen Square Block Quilt is Made out of

- Natural linen

- the inside square is linen

- the first frame is Liberty of London pink Paisley

- the second frame is Isso Echo, it might be tricky to find

- the third frame is Anna Maria Horner Little Folks Village Path

- the fourth is by Working CLOTH although it appears the pink is no longer made! 

 Hopefully that helps....

If not then let me know how I can help by commenting on this post or 

Im also on twitter

Below is a bit of a look at what I have achieved in the holidays

This is the Swoon block I've been working on, I'm waiting on more fabric to arrive from my Spoonflower shop so that I can finish it all off.

below is a bit of a look at a project I did for the Fat Quarterly Team

This one was done earlier in the year - I'm busting to show you all

and here I have some bits and pieces from a quilt I'm making for The Lovely Ladies at CLOTH Fabric 

Its a great weight fabric to work with and fantastic colour range.

Have a sticky beak at the online store - they currently have some swatch book bundles for sale which would make a great addition to a quilt.

Fingers Crossed for a productive week.......

Xx Siobhan

Quilts/ design/ home & Denim :)

My house is predominately decorated with quilts, quilts that are finished, quilts that are used, quilts that are being made, quilt block fragments that are being nutted out & designs finalised.... the list goes forever.

I'm very passionate about using fabric to add colour and life to my home.

In writing my blog and showing my quilts I'm 

trying to show that fabric design & patchwork

 quilts are an integral part of contemporary

 furnishings & house design.

The individuality of each piece also adds to its appeal.

Talking of making and designing with fabric,

I had a great visit to CLOTH last week. 

I made this denim quilt a while back as a prototype - I was looking at using Denim in quilting. I'm only just finishing it off and adding the binding. 

Its a big one - largish double bed size.

It would be lovely for a autumn/ winter look.

I'm a big fan of changing bed covers and throws to match the season - Its an easy way to change the look of a room.

below are some other quilts I made using CLOTH fabric.

Well best be off!

I'm busy working on a few design deadlines that need to be done by Easter!

Xx Siobhan

A bit more liberty

I'm finally hopping on the circle band wagon, possibly a whole 18 months after everyone else.

I can see this being my year of the circles.....

Also mid project my sewing machine has decided to not work - Its in desperate need of a service & tinker. 

It currently sews full speed even if Im not pushing the pedal and makes an awful noise. I'm thinking maybe its possessed?? 

Its definitely telling me it needs some R&R.

Xx Siobhan

A day in the life

I had a pleasant start to today

the kids were unusually happy and calm getting ready for school/ pre school today. 

Breakfast of scrambled eggs n toast - even time for me to froth milk and make them a hot drink.

Lunches full of good stuff (I went grocery shopping last night) and off to their respective places. Not one yell or whinge from me or them :)

and I think because they were all so lovely - I actually miss them today, It seems very quiet.

I've been pottering away running errands - One being to find truffle oil, who would think that was so hard???

and I finally picked up my much needed fabric to finish my Lone Star back ground - so expect a post soon on what next :)

whilst home I decided to start putting some more quilts on ETSY, so keep an eye out over the next day or so as I add them.

This quilt being the first to be listed.

I must be in a daze because I put my coffee down to find the measuring tape. Measuring tape found - coffee lost, I live in a small house. Things like that shouldn't happen!!

I do love this quilt - but more room must be made :)

and I know I will make other quilts - hopefully many others

Xx Siobhan

template making my way

Lone Star Quilt

lots of different ways to tackle this bit of the quilt - this is my way.

you need will need some baking/ tracing paper, sticky tape,your ruler and a maker.

with a ruler draw the lines to mark out your triangle space

add in a 1/4 inch seam allowance on the outside.

The template needs to be 1/4 inch bigger than the space don't forget the bottom as well! it also needs 1/4 for what ever is next -eg another boarder or even just binding

mark the middle and cut 

Voila! decide how long you want your template to be - I've made mine short in this picture(finishing at the end of the star - I will actually make it longer after thinking about it, I want more room for machine quilting)

next is your corner square - same process as above

auditioning fabrics

I've changed my mind about the fabric I had chosen 

- I'm off looking for a lighter fabric 

- maybe a chambray? or robert Kaufman shot cotton?? 

I will need around 1.5 - 2 meters of fabric, depends on the star size and how fussy you are at cutting etc.

I'm off!

Xx Siobhan