and then I did all this stuff

Our Autumn school break is just about to end.... Insert sad face.

We drove up to family in Brisbane - where it was a little bit warmer and the ocean temp was a beautiful 25C.

Back home now and to being productive, chasing work and completing work for me, the year is going awfully quickly.

I am also in the midst of booking and planning my trip to Spring International Quilt Market in Minneapolis, where I will be doing a schoolhouse for my book with Interweave and some book signings.

Let me know if there is anything in Minneapolis that I should check out!

also possibly heading to NYC for 3 or so days after market...... not definite yet. Just looking into Logistics and possible trunk show.

My Book is currently available to buy in most book stores and quilt shops - Its only just started shipping in the last week - If they don't have it in ask them to get it!

I also have a magazine bed size quilt pattern in US Modern Patchwork magazine. Its made 100% out of Cotton and Steel fabrics - the back being a lovely soft voile. The long arm quilting was done by Kim Bradley.

I'm off to tend to kids and get ALL the school stuff ready :-/

Xx Siobhan 

The Shed

Hello !

Today I finished up a quilt and photographed it in The Shed before sending it to its new temporary home - you should get to see that particular quilt in Sept? obviously as soon as its in print I'll be telling you :)

anyway I liked my little set up in my studio so much that I got out some old quilts and re photographed them 

below is the Owl Quilt and the grey and yellow Text strip quilt

I LOVE Chalk paint & I love black

Thats it for now

Xx Siobhan 

stop to smell the roses

Gosh time flies!

I made this quilt back in June this year for a Modern Quilts special for Australian Quilters Companion.....

and finally today it landed in my letter box!

Thanks Claire (Editor) :))) 

the magazine should hit the shelves during the next week or so - its worth a look and I have some very fine company :) 

 I read a newsletter recently by Denise Schmidt and she talked about taking a second to congratulate yourself and note all your achievements in 2012, she noted that life and work can be a whirl wind and we need to take the time and be still to think of all we have done. 

Its funny because of the type of stuff I do I can often forget to stop and appreciate my work - I'm usually too busy chasing or trying to finish the next "thing" and I mostly work 6-12 months ahead of anything going to print. I love what I do and I am incredibly lucky that I get my work published.

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog, makes my quilt patterns, takes my patchwork classes and sends me emails.

It means so very much to me and keeps me going in the work that I love.

Tomorrow I'll try to get a few better pics of the Quilt in the Magazine article and get some links up!

Here's to a very interesting next twelve months :)))

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

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 

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

Quilt for a Little Miss

I'm making a quilt for a very special 5 year old Girl.

Its a bit high pressured making a quilt for other people - children especially. 

Riffling through my fabric cupboard I happened across some Heather Ross Far Far Away 2 fabric. 

Bingo! exactly right for this little girl.

I forgot I had it...... Its circa 2010, that seems a life time ago.

I never quite had the right project for it and it somehow ended up at the bottom of the cupboard - forgotten till now.

I've teamed it up with a fat Quarter bundle I won (yes I won it!) in the I heart February linky contest with Pink Chalk Studio

First thing I have ever won - honestly!

The Colours mixed in Beautifully with the Heather Ross Far Far Away 2 fabrics.

I had no real plan, I cut big rectangle blocks of the far far away fabric - attempting to showcase the illustrations.

Then Framing them in the solids

I added in a yellow solid frame for a spark of interest

mixed the colours around a bit....

Then decided to add another boarder and to make the blocks square.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get to finish the top off. 

In the mean time my own miss 5 yrs has decided that this is the best quilt in the world and doesn't want me to give it away (how predictable). So I have scoured etsy for Heather Ross fabrics & bought some to make her a new quilt with. I've gone with the horses & guitar prints - very up her alley.

I had no idea how hard it was to get hold of & then it got me thinking that its been a long time since Heather has had a new range out.......Hopefully something comes out soon.

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

International news ;)

One of my latest exciting ventures!

One of my quilts is on the cover and a few more inside

go here to order your copy

Modern Patchwork

Xx Siobhan