Blogger's Quilt Festival 2017

Thank you for stopping by as part of this year's Blogger's Quilt Festival. You are always welcome here at Sewmiriam. 

Thank you to Amy of Amy's Creative Side for gathering us all together to share our passion for quilting.  

Here is my entry for this years Blogger's Quilt Festival. I am delighted to showcase my design which I am calling Sunshine that will be the raffle quilt for the Fairholme Quilters Show to be held April 6-8th, 2018 . As it's Spring here in Australia, I decided to take the quilt on a road trip to the countryside last weekend to take this shot. 

The story behind this quilt is delightful. Doesn't it always warm your heart when quilters come together and share their talents and time for others! What a generous group the Fairholme Quilters are. Each year they work happily to make over 40 quilts for those in need of all ages in our local community.  Every 2 years, they put on a beautiful display of their quilting efforts and raffle a quilt made by the group. Our next show will raffle the quilt you see here in these pictures. 

Various people generously donated fabric and batting. 

I designed the quilt, posted a tutorial on my blog on how to make the blocks and made up 36 block kits.

Then the Fairholme quilters went to work! They hand appliquéd the blocks to perfection. I assembled the blocks in a pleasing arrangement and designed a hand quilting pattern. Jo-Ann basted the quilt ready for hand quilting.  Next I made up a quilting template and thread /needle kit and started the quilting by completing a few hand quilted blocks. Then away the Fairholme quilters went again! The quilt was never without a good quilting home over several winter months . Lynette stitched on the binding and Voila!  Before we knew it we had a gorgeous quilt ready to raffle!!

Even the horses liked the look of the quilt and came up for a closer look.

It is going to be hard to part with this beauty .

Thank you for visiting Sewmiriam and being a part of the Bloggers Quilt Festival 2017.

Happy sewing, love Miriam 

Seeing Stars - An 80th Birthday Quilt

This year has been filled with sewing for family members celebrating significant birthdays. I like to make quilts to honour them on these occasions,  to celebrate their lives and to let them know how much we all love them.

To do this I give careful thought to the person and aim to design a quilt that is perfect for them. This quilt was made for Lorraine, my mother-in-law for her 80th birthday. The colours are her favourites and the prints are a mix of gentle florals and  butterflies. I balanced the layout of red and blue blocks and then sashed them with a carefully chosen buttery cream coloured fabric set with light red squares. 

The quilting is beautifully done by Jo Philips of Quiltwise.

Lorraine had no idea she was getting the quilt . To my surprise no one in my family let the secret slip - even though our house had been awash with stars and fabric strips for weeks before the 80th birthday party.  I think Lorraine was thrilled to receive it!

A happy day indeed. 

Quilts are such wonderful gifts. 

When we sew for those we love the pleasure is immense. The gift of love that keeps on giving .

Happy sewing, Miriamx 

Fabulous Fairholme Workshop

Last Saturday I had the great honour of running a workshop with the wonderful Fairholme Quilters. 

It was a Sewmiriam Bagmaking workshop and the ladies sewed up a storm!  Today's blogpost is a celebration of their work done on the day. 

Above you can see the front of Nerida"s bag. The colours just glow. Nerida has combined a clever mix of florals and geometric prints.

Next up is Noelle's beautiful ethereal bag panel.

Hilary has a real way with colour and created this gorgeous bag panel .  

Jill completed the Sewmiriam Tote that she had started in a previous workshop, using  Cotton and Steel fabrics.

Love the lined zippered pocket  inside too Jill!

Pat has worked her magic with this beautiful bag panel  using just the right shades blue.

Speaking of blues- Elaine has chosen blues for her next Sewmiriam bag too. Her choice of framing fabrics for the central panel are perfect.

Robyn chose a bold central panel and has made it shine 

Sue chose a dynamic Amy Butler central panel to create this lively bag panel. Sue uses spots so well   here.

Chris has mixed Japanese and tonal prints to great effect here

Adrienne has used a spot to really bring this green floral to life. 

Denise has chosen teapots for her focus fabric and created this stunning panel. She has some more teapots to line her bag too!

Daphne has excelled herself and  created this vibrant bag featuring the cat panel. 

Marilyn has framed her fancy hat to perfection .

And last but certainly not least is Margaret's beautiful owl, surrounded here by her fabric selections.












Congratulation ladies on a wonderful day, and heartfelt thanks for my beautiful flowers.
How lucky am I to be able to share my love of creativity with you all. I can't wait to see your finished Sewmiriam Handy Ziptop bags.

Happy sewing, love Miriamx