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

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 

Which Fabric .............

What current fabrics are you collecting?

I really wish I had bought more of the "Echo" range by Lotta Jansdotter. 

I don't get to spend much time on the net anymore - between work and kids.I feel like I miss out on whats happening in the fabric/ quilting world sometimes.

so many good designs and colours around.

I've been collecting fabric over the last month or so for a magazine project I'm designing, I need lots of colours.

Now it's getting to a stage that I need to cull and cut.

of course I had to add in a pile of my own designed fabric.........

and below I'm pretending I'm supper organised - note bobbins wound and ready to go!

I'm busily machine quilting a quilt that I have made for a design challenge for the Fat Quarterly Team. The quilt features Lu Summers new range with Moda called "Summerville".

That's me for today!

Xx Siobhan

I'm still here!

Its been a hectic fortnight here

Thought I would let you all know that all is well - just a tad busy!

I have had a few emails asking what I'm up too :) Its lovely especially when I'm busy to open up my emails and read that I'm missed or people wanting to know what I'm up to.

We have had another birthday - Which generally means lots of cooking & present preparation for me.

To prove how busy I was - I didn't even get a picture of the birthday cake! It was my first attempt at a ice cream cake and something I will definitely try again. Incredibly easy and delicious.

I'm enjoying the last of Autumn, its my favourite season for food and weather - not to mention the light for photos.

My husband picked up a box of fresh figs on the weekend and we ate them with everything!

best of all was on fresh made banana bread sliced & toasted with ricotta and figs on top......... Heaven

On the quilting front - I had a question about the rug that features in my Log cabin photo. Its a Danish design and made in Nepal.

Its has many names the original the rug was called Pinocchio named after a Danish lolly it has also been called the Freckle rug, smarties rug. Lots around if your interested in buying one.Just check that its a fair trade rug.

I have mountains of Fabric projects that I'm working on and as usual I cant show them........

below I have a sneaky look at a quilt I was working on for CLOTH Fabric in Sydney Australia. I love working with the light weight linens - so easy to sew. I like the extra width of the linen too.

I've also been doing a bit more photographic work which is really great 

hope your all ok and enjoy your week

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

Half Square Triangles Quilt

I keep meaning to show you how I finished off the Half Square Triangle quilt

I straight line quilted it at home and the binding is the matching grey fabric that is in the quilt (designed by Sweetwater for Moda)

Its all ready to be gifted to a special little baby!

Xx Siobhan

Mothers

The whole Mother thing is a bit of a overwhelming job at times.....

and for those of us without a mum it can be a tricky business.

I try my hardest most of the time, I know some things I could try harder..... but mostly I think I'm doing a good job. 

The kids know they are loved! thats the important bit ;)

Me & my 4 babies

Our weekends are consumed by sport at the moment - Its such a short span of their little lives that I don't mind. 10 more years time and I'll be ringing them to find out where they are and begging them to come over for a cup of tea and bribing them with home baked treats.

These days I need a good excuse to bake, I would happily do it every day but alas our (my)waist lines would greatly increase - I figure mothers day is a biscuit kinda day

Chocolate choc chip & Malted choc chip biscuits

250g Butter

1 cup raw caster sugar

tsp vanilla paste

1 egg

1 tsp baking powder

2 cups plain flour

&

Choc version - 2tbls cocoa & handful of dark chocolate chips

Malted version - 2tbls malted milk powder & handful of dark chocolate chips

heat oven to 160c fan forced

beat butter, sugar & vanilla till fluffy & light.

Add in the egg, beat till pale.

mix in flour, baking powder & flavour/ choc chips.

Roll into teaspoon sized balls and refrigerate for 30 or more minutes.

bake for 15 minutes

Voila! this mix makes about 45 little biscuits

Hopefully in the next day or so I can photograph this quilt for you all, busting to show you. Just been super busy with finishing off other quilts & patterns.

I love the owl pattern! more about that in the next post.

Happy Mothers day to all :)

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

Seeing Stars

I'm in the midst of drawing up 12inch star block patterns for a community quilt I'm heading up

So far all good

I'm attempting to include quilters of all levels, this is one of the simpler patterns.

Do you have a favourite patchwork star  block??

Xx Siobhan

On a binding roll & other bits

I've been binding quilts all day!

and here is number 1

This is my take on a log cabin block.

I wrote about it originally back here.

The log cabin is very easy to piece together - Its quick & effective.

It still amazes me after all these years of quilting - how much of a change the quilting actually makes. This one was long arm machine quilted by Kim Bradley

The text fabric is my Pride & Prejudice text design - available at my shop

and the postman delivered some Heather Ross fabric! now I can get started on another one of my little miss quilt tops - I plan on writing up the pattern/ dimensions. Keep an eye out for that post soon

on an extra note before I get back into work mode 

The Ladies at CLOTH Fabric are participating in the City of Sydney Garage sale trail.

Its on this saturday 5th May.

I used cloth fabric in the middle squares of the log cabin quilt.

When your looking at the fabric - you need to remember that its a very wide fabric 140cm, keep that in mind when your ordering your length.

Should be lots of fun!

I'm off

Xx Siobhan