Sydney Spring time with Linen & Liberty

Big week here

Its getting to that crazy time of year, school is wrapping up and lots of parties & gatherings.

 The weather has been perfect for my flowers. I've had a bumper crop of roses and now the hydrangeas and gardenias are out. 

The star jasmine is in full bloom and the Jacarandas in Sydney look amazing. Stone fruits, mangos and watermelon are making their way into fruit shops - Its a Beautiful time of year. 

I finally received my wooden star buttons and they are now on the liberty triangles and finally look like trees!

Original post and tutorial back here

I still have a comp going over HERE to win a Liberty of London scrap packet of 2.5 inch squares & I might even throw in some of my scraps too.

Im having so much fun with all the spring time lovely-ness. 

 I still want to add the date and maybe some more wooden buttons - I'll see how I go

I've baked several more batches of my flourless chocolate cakes - life saver recipe. Incredibly easy just melt, mix and bake.

I'm off to the local school spring fair - pretty sure I'll be taking pics on Instagram @beaspokequilts

Have a lovely Weekend

Xx Siobhan

Spring time colours & Liberty Advice

I can feel spring in the air!

I'm a big fan of the in-between seasons.

I usually find that when the weather starts to change so does my fabric buying habit - take for example the linen that was delivered today (pictured below)

Yellow - Pink - Sand

all Linen/Cotton blends

all happy spring time colours

On the subject of Fabric buying

I had an email asking about Liberty of London Fabrics. Liberty of London Tana Lawn is a lovely soft fabric that can be on the $$$ side. I have made a few quilts in the last year or so with Liberty of London fabric - one being a queen bed sized that was in Down Under Quilts Magazine #151.

I had been collecting my fabrics for a really long time - buying 1/2 yards at a time. Some from shops in Paris, London, online from Purl soho and in person from Sydney Shop Calico & Ivy. It is beautiful and does make a lovely quilt. If your using the Tana Lawn Fabrics it can be a little slippery to sew with, I recommend using a spray starch to help make it stable and easy to handle. 

If anyone has a "Go To" shop to buy Liberty of London I'm sure everyone would love to see, leave a link and everyone can have a look.

I hope the weather keeps up in Sydney over the coming week - and the weather in New York City is lovely for my trip next week!

Xx Siobhan

Holiday Blog - Playing Tourist in my own city - Sydney

We are currently on winter school holidays here in Sydney. The temperature is a lovely but chilly 16c.

Often between work - kids & school I don't get out and about in my own city & I forget that we have some great stuff to see. 

I have a long list of things I'd like to see over the next two weeks whilst the kids are on break. 

I've finished up most of my magazine work, leaving only paper work to do and treating these holidays as a staycation - Tourists in our own city.

Today I packed up the kids and headed over to Cockatoo island located in Sydney Harbour.

We met up with friends - five adults and twelve kids!

Everyone had a great day.

Cockatoo Island is part of the current Sydney Biennale. I've added a few pictures of some of the art installations.

If you have a chance to check it out I highly recommend it & you never know who you will bump into! I was surprised at how many people we saw including having a quick chat with Saffron Craig - Sydney is such a small town...

Not sure what day trip is next...... Any suggestions?

Xx Siobhan

Lone Star Finale

Finally we have the Lone Star Quilt from start to finish!

If you would like to see the original blog posts & instructions on how to make the Lone Star have a peak here

This quilt was long arm quilted by Kim Bradley in a figure eight pattern, I talk a bit about that pattern choice here.

The blue spot fabric I used was very sheer, I didn't want to be able to see through to the other side & I also didn't want my messy seams to show. 

After talking it over with Kate (who works with Kim) I requested if at all possible pretty please could they use a double layer of wool wadding to help over come the see through issue......

I'm glad I wasn't there when it was being done, I'm sure my name was being hexed!

Miracle of Miracle (not really a miracle as Kim & Kate are very clever) the quilt is perfect and has a double layer of wool wadding, making it the heaviest quilt I have ever held!

& not see through, as you can see from the back

Its also really lovely and plump with the double layer of wadding

This quilt is a big Double bed size or even a queen size 

I'm happy with the spots! I was meticulous enough with my cutting to have them all running in the same direction but I wasn't that bothered about the joining up, I like that they are off set a little - it gives the quilt a bit of movement. 

Be wary if you do use a patterned fabric as your base for the lone star, you will need to think about direction of prints and how you will cut/ sew it

If your still after the diamond template to make this Lone Star have a look here

Any Questions? don't hesitate to ask :)

If you have made a lone star quilt put it into the lone star Flickr group

or if you have your own Lone Star Tutorial - Link it in the comments

Xx Siobhan

Sydney summer sunset & a scrappy quilt

What a glorious day in Sydney,on these types of days its nice to go for a walk after dinner with the kids and take in the beautiful harbour.

& of course bring a quilt or two to photograph ;)

The Scrappy Quilt is bound & finished!

must admit It was a very slap together affair with this quilt. 

When I made it I felt like making something and wanted it done quickly - I also happen to have lots of fabric scraps that I wanted to use up.

So this quilt is perfect for using up scraps and also for a quick project 

Its now in my favourite pile!

I really really like it.

I had this one long arm machine quilted by Kim Bradley

My "go to" long arm quilting pattern is this figure eight pattern.

I like to have a pattern that doesn't take away from the quilt top. A while back I looked around at shop quilts and noticed they usually had a similar all over repeat pattern. I had also taken a liking to Denyse Schmidt who has quilts quilted in a very similar style.

beautiful Sydney Harbour from the northside

This quilt is a large single bed size (or really a double bed)I like my quilts to hang over on the bed not just sit on top.

hope your all having a great day

Xx Siobhan

New Ventures

I've had a fun few days - busy but fun.

Today I was at the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair again, I came back to have a good look at the Quilts on display and also to do Louise Snook's screen printing workshop. So much fun, 1.5hrs and it went by so quickly. 

for the class we drew & cut a paper stencil, I went with a simple rose kind of shape - I'm not the best drawer - so it needed to be abstract :)

and then mixing the colours and printing

me in action

Voila - Finished

Great workshop and well worth doing. Very unimpressed Louise is based in Western Australia! If only she was based in Sydney :)

I think I've found a new thing.

Xx Siobhan

Round and Round

Instead of sewing my little liberty squares this morning as planned - I headed out into the great outdoors.

I'm very lucky to live in a beautiful part of Sydney that is very close to both the Harbour and lots of Bush, we also have some fantastic buildings and spots that I now pledge to show you. 

Instead of my usual lazy pictures of Quilts and progress in my backyard - I'm going to show you round the streets of my town! 

Honestly with the business of life and family I don't get out much, this spot is only a five minute drive from our place - we really should come here more often, Its so peaceful and beautiful and free :)

and much nicer pics to be taken as well!

I currently have 6 of these squares done, only 14 more to go......I have all my cutting done - so not too much more to go.

Beautiful Sydney Harbour on a lovely Autumn day, I'm on the north side. This is where we go to watch the fire works on new years eve, Its not so peaceful on new years eve but still  an amazing view.

Four of the Liberty squares, eventually it will be 4 squares across by 5 squares down - a nice double bed size.
I have 20 different liberty materials and the aim is to try not to have anything similar too close.I want it to be very eclectic.
Lets see how I go. 

I think this is my Favourite combo of Liberty Fabric so far.

The thing with Liberty is - it is a very diverse range, Liberty seems to go with everything. I'm yet to see Liberty look bad, except maybe a 80's dress that I owned - thats more to do with the design than the fabric admittedly.

I'm looking forward to finishing this one and I will keep you posted.

A very clever friend in Ireland designed and printed this bag and I begged for one to be sent to me in Sydney - Its enjoying its life in Sydney as you can see, Thanks Gav.

and ME! 

You may or may not have noticed that most of my titles elude to a song - I like the idea of Life having a sound track - I have a song for most occasions. Most of my song choices pre date the year 2000. Every now and then a newish song sneaks in but I tend to stick to the old goodies. 

Here in Australia we are celebrating Mothers Day on Sunday. Best wishes to all the Mums out there and hope your kids give you lots of kisses cuddles and hand made cards. 

Take care and enjoy 

Xx Siobhan