Bella Quilt

Hi !

Just a quickie

I have a quilt on the cover of Down Under Quilts :)

Issue #156 in store now 

and pattern inside

Its a nice big pattern great for a bedroom overhaul - Its a big but achievable pattern. 

This quilt is made completely out "Bella" by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics

because the pattern has large blocks its great for using large scale designed fabrics on 

all three of Lotta Jansdotters fabric ranges would work perfectly in this pattern - as would many other Fabric ranges 

I would love to try a version  using Julie Paterson's CLOTH Fabrics - It would look lovely! 

I havent had a chance to photograph the quilt after the magazine finished with it....

I'll get round to it!

Xx Siobhan 

Guestimating Fabric

The amount of fabrics that are hitting the Shops in the next month or so is mind blowing....

Its usually best to have a plan - not necessarily on what projects you will use the fabric in (because I always buy way ahead) - more of a $$$ plan. How much are you willing to spend! also making sure when it comes time to design and make a project I'm not going to be left short.

My fabric buying Guestimating works like this

- I find that a single bed quilt tends to use 6/8 yards of fabric for a front and then about the same for the back give or take.

Binding is usually around 6/8 X 2.5inch strips = 15 inches/20 inches

I add on an extra 3 yards for a double/ king sized quilt front & back

Binding is usually around 12 X 2.5 inch strips = 30 inches

all of these are VERY rough estimates but it gives you an idea of how I shop.

I'm happy to have leftovers - they make great pillows and scrap quilts.

If I see a fabric that is great for a backing I will buy it in 3 yard lengths - easy for storage & piecing

If a fabric looks good for borders and sashing I will buy 2- 3 yards

I still love buying fat 1/4's which are great for mixing fabrics up or adding interest but I tend to stick to larger pieces. 

Anyway I have started my shopping and this is what I have so far

From top to bottom
My own numbers fabric
Vintage Modern Bonnie & Camille
Denyse Schmidt for Australian Spotlight (from my Fabric stash)
Vintage Modern Bonnie & Camille
Lizzy House castle peeps(from my Fabric stash)
Valori Wells Butterflys

All of these were bought at an Australian online retailer
Kelani Fabrics 

These gems were bought at Calico & Ivy a few days ago.
The top 6 fabrics are Anna Maria Horner's new fabric range called Field Study
A liberty of London print
& some linen

From Ballarat Patchworks online store this week I purchased the new Denyse Schmidt range Chicopee - Looking forward to using this lot.

 I also have a stack of solids coming from pink chalk fabrics

and bought not that long ago A vintage sheet & Lots of Lotta Jansdotters Echo range for backing of two king sized quilts 

Thats not including the stuff I don't have pictures of......

Although in my defence I have made 5 king sized quilts in the last few weeks and a few other things!! All to be revealed once they are published in their assorted magazines.

All the pictures are from my Instagram feed

my handle is @beaspokequilts 

Whats your most recent fabric purchase or what are you coveting in the fabric world?

Xx Siobhan

A little bit of this n that

When I gave up my day job 3 years ago to work from home I never imagined I would be as busy as I am now........ I'm not complaining - to the contrary I love it!

I've added some pictures of the few things that have been keeping me away from the Blog & Twitter

I was working on a project for my little ones kindergarten class titled "Apple" for the teacher, I really enjoy doing art with Kids - Its a very rewarding experience.
They have since been auctioned and raised a nice little amount of money for the school.
I'm going through a serious retro Scandinavian faze - hence the teak wood frame and black mount......

I made another quilt recently for the Fat Quarterly crew it will be out in a few months time ........

I Played with Lu Summers new Fabric range "Summerville"

enjoyed doing some patchwork & quilting with this lot of solids....

wondered what to do with the ever growing pile of Quilts I have.......

and I finally finished the pattern writing for the Quilt I made out of Lotta Jansdotters new fabric range "Bella" - fabric due in stores in August 2012

I've also been teaching and a few other things that are a little bit "too" top secret - But all in good time ;-)

Xx Siobhan

Wise old Owl

Remember this Quilt ? I started it back here.

Have I ever told you how much I love my long arm machine Quilter?!? I use Kim Bradley & she is fantastic!!

I love going to her place & checking out whats going on in the world of quilting - I learn so much. 

On the particular morning I went over to Kim's with this quilt top - I was rather hazy.

 It was the end of a long school holidays, I had work piled high & sleep was much needed.

I also wasn't entirely convinced that this was one of my greatest quilt tops, It seemed a bit plain and I was concerned that your average long arm quilting was going to make it naff.

I expressed my concern to Kim - she always has an answer!

On the machine behind me was a quilt being done with a new long arm pattern......Owls!

 I love Owls!

Its the sweetest pattern ever & it gave the plain simple quilt top the perfect lift that it desperately needed.

Very happy indeed

The backing is an IKEA text print - love it and very reasonably priced.

The centre fabric is from CLOTH

and the rest is a mix of Lotta Jansdotter's Echo range, Sweetwater, Denyse Schmidt & My text fabric on spoonflower.

Its really light and fresh in its colours & design. I seem to be doing a lot of pinks & yellows together.

 In other happenings - below we have some sneaks at other work I'm in the midst of

I'm really enjoying working with the new range from Lotta Jansdotter "Bella" - Due in store in August 2012. 

Miss 5 is home sick "Helping"

and I'm testing out a template I have designed with some of my spoonflower fabrics!

all Systems go in our house!

I'm also enjoying the cold but sunny Sydney weather.

Xx Siobhan