Little Lady Liberty blog hop

Liberty of London has been producing its exquisite, fine quality lawn fabric for as long as I've been alive. I have been a fan for almost as long!

Liberty's trademark pretty florals are timeless. And for a girl who calls her blog Bloom, you can imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to review Alice Garrett's sumptuous book of projects made from Liberty florals.

Little Lady Liberty, a collection of over 20 sewing projects designed primarily for little girls, will have you swooning. 

This is Alice Garrett's first book, and she is well authorised to do her subject justice. Based in the UK, she owns Alice Caroline Fabrics, and sells an extensive range of Liberty of London fabrics and gifts. She designs and sells her own patterns and shares her passion for sewing on her blog. She is also blessed with a daughter!

If you are a fan of Liberty fabrics, Little Lady Liberty is a visual treat! Page after page, brimming with images of pretty prints.

The book is a delightful mixture of projects, encompassing garments, home decor, toys, bags and purses. The projects are simple, achievable and adorable. What little girl (or even a big one!) wouldn't love this swirly, whirly skirt?

This book is perfect for anyone new to sewing, but inspiring for any level of sewist. Alice's instructions are detailed and very well written. She has a PhD in cancer genetics, so she is well trained in writing methods accurately! Her diagrams are excellent and explain construction concisely. And throughout her book, she includes some great tips on fabric choice and colour.

While many of the projects are designed with little girls in mind, there are enough versatile projects to justify this book's place on any sewist's bookshelf. This gorgeous floor cushion could definitely find a home at my place, and I have teenage daughters!

The release of this lovely book seemed good enough reason for me to indulge in purchasing a little Liberty! I bought a 5" charm pack and, to put Alice's instructions through their paces, I made up her pencil case. 

My effort is less sweet than Alice's rainbow version. With limited fabrics, I opted for a more random fabric placement. However, Liberty prints blend so beautifully together - you really can't go wrong!

After making up Alice's pencil case, there were enough surplus fabrics to make another smaller purse. These little squares of prettiness are addictive! And just to change things up a bit, there is a sweet surprise on the reverse side ... but I will tell you about that in my next post ;)

Warmest congratulations to Alice on her lovely book. There will be a month long feast of luscious Liberty to celebrate its release. Join the party by visiting all the blog hop contributors. You can find the full list here. You can visit Alice at her blog or through her website. 

You can purchase the book, Little Lady Liberty, here. Or as an e-book here. Other sewing titles published by the same author are available here.

I'd love to hear any Liberty-inspired stories from you. When I lived in Sydney in the '80's, I loved visiting the Liberty of London shop, I think in Elizabeth St? It was heavenly! 

Little Lady Liberty blog hop

I wonder how many of you remember the late '80's, when 'the look' was all Liberty shirts with collars turned up and pearl earrings? My love for Liberty of London tana lawn started way back then!

For fellow fans of Liberty fabric, I have a treat for you. A month-long treat!  Alice Garrett of Alice Caroline blog and purveyor of all things Liberty, has written her first book:

To celebrate the release of Little Lady Liberty, a blog hop has been organised for the month of March. I'm up on Friday! For a full list of blog hop contributors, please click here.

'Studying' the inner city

I had forgotten just how long the summer break is for University students! After three months of being at home, our eldest blossie has been champing at the bit to get back to Sydney. 

She is studying at the University of Sydney, which means I get to re-visit familiar places from my time there 25 years ago.

I also get to hang out with the girl in Newtown and Glebe - 'hang out' is probably wishful thinking; 'stand out' is more accurate. These days, I loiter around the windows of florist shops - actually I did that 25 years ago too! But oh, how amazing inner city florists are now.

We were waiting one evening at a bus stop in Newtown, conveniently located outside an amazing florist called The Flower Room. The photos are confusing because of reflections from King St, but can you see the fabulous aloes growing suspended from sea urchin shells? So imaginative, and very spectacular.

I will definitely be returning in opening hours for a closer look.

The coffee shops were good in my day, with many an hour wiled away at Cafe Latte in Newtown, or Badde Manors in Glebe. Today, they are mind-blowing (and waist-thickening)! The girl took me to La Banette, a French pattisserie on Glebe Point Road. Oh my! Where to start?

We started with mille-feuille and coffee eclairs, and finished by walking out with a sample box for 'ron!

The benefits of having a daughter in Sydney ;) I haven't even made it to the fabric shops yet!

Scrap-busting

And so we are well into February, the kids are back at school and my time is a little more my own again. I am keen to get back into some sewing. I was looking for something easy and quick to get me back in the groove.

My scrap basket was overflowing, with lots of surplus jelly roll strips from previous projects (like this one and this one).

 

I decided to make 'Candy Coated' by Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mum Quilts. The pattern is in her book 'Sunday Morning Quilts' (co-written with Cheryl Arkison).

Source

It is a really easy project, not requiring too much thought in terms of fabric placement or colour - the things that usually slow me down! 

I can spend 10 minutes on it here or there and it is coming together nicely. It feels good to be using up fabric scraps and to be dusting off the machine!

The bold and the beautiful

We have had some good January rain at the farm, and the ground is perfect for pulling weeds, digging up plants and dividing bulbs.

Pineapple lily (Eucomis comosa 'Sparking Burgundy')

My summer flowering precious plants are loving the heat and moisture.

Snail creeper (Vigna caracalla) 

I have been keen to dig up my Brunsvigia josephinae clump for several seasons now, but have been procrastinating. The bulbs are rare and I don't want to risk losing them. Yesterday, the conditions were perfect: the ground was soft and the bulbs dormant; I took the plunge!

I have blogged about this rare beauty before, here and here. 

Josephine's Lily (Brunsvigia josephinae)

It is ironic that something so lovely can emerge from a bulb so ugly! The bulbs are simply enormous. The biggest were 8" across!

Also in the garden today, amongst some eucalypt leaves I was raking:

How gorgeous is he? He is a type of scarab beetle, Eupoecila australasiae. He is commonly known as a Fiddler beetle because of his violin shaped markings. Beetles typically emerge in summer as the weather warms up and summer storms bring plenty of rain. Fiddler beetles are strong fliers and move between eucalypts and other trees to feed on nectar. They are common to Australia's eastern states:

Source

They are completely harmless to humans, and it was fun to find one. I'm always on the look out for insects in the garden. The kids think it's funny and weird when I yell out excitedly about some new find. They think I'm a bit mad, but they all still come running to see!

Last minute gift making

I have just finished a couple of small gifts for my girls. The littlest blossie has claimed this hexagon purse.

It was a kit from Hatched and Patched. As usual, their fabric choices were perfect! How I love piecing hexies - very relaxing.

The eldest blossie requested a charm square backpack. She rummaged through my stash of pre-cuts and emerged with a charm pack of  'Hello Luscious 'by Basic Grey for Moda.

Never one to be bound by convention, she decided she wanted one side pink, the other blue ;) And a zippered pocket on both sides if you please! Happy to oblige.

In full bloom

In my garden today, and making me happy: Rosa 'Zéphirine Drouhin' in glorious bloom.

'Zéphirine Drouhin' is a grand old dame of the rose world. She is a Bourbon rose and was bred in France, way back in 1868 by Bizot. 

That 'Zéphirine Drouhin' is still grown in gardens almost 150 years later is testament to some very desirable characteristics.

Its blooms are abundant, and a cheerful lipstick pink. It is perfect as a small climber, especially planted near pathways because its canes are virtually thornless. It has a heavenly 'old rose' perfume. 

My 'Zephirine Drouhin' receives very little water, and yet it puts on an impressive display. It repeat flowers, unlike many old roses. While mine is planted on a north-facing fence, it is well known for tolerating shady conditions.

I first saw 'Zéphirine Drouhin' at an Open Garden in Mudgee, and it took me several years to find one. But I'm very pleased I did - she's gorgeous!

Handmade Holidays starts today

Every November, I look forward to Sew Mama Sew's roundup of sewing tutorials. So much inspiration and some great ideas for Christmas gifts!

For each day of November, there is a different sewing theme, with links to excellent, free tutorials, and a chance to win some great prizes. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Special offer

One of my local quilt shops is sadly closing its doors on 22nd November. After over 10 years of supplying sewists across the Central West, Allyson Tilston is closing her beloved Marally Craft. However, in her usual optimistic style, she is seeing this as an opportunity for a new direction in her business life.

The good news for you is that Allyson has several kits of two of my quilts available at drastically reduced prices.

Spin to Play quilt

Size 53" x 57"

Detailed description here and here.

All kits include hard copy pattern.

Quilt kit (without backing) 

WAS AU$150 

NOW AU$75

plus AU$14.50 postage

Quilt kit (with backing) 

WAS AU$195 

NOW AU$97.50

plus AU$14.50 postage

Lovebird flannel quilt

Size 58” x 56½” 

Detailed description here.

All kits include hard copy pattern.

Quilt kit (without backing) 

WAS AU$160 

NOW AU$80

plus AU$14.50 postage

Quilt kit (with backing) 

WAS AU$220 

NOW AU$110

plus AU$14.50 postage

If you are interested in these quilt kits, give Allyson a call on (02) 6362 3860. I'd be quick though because they won't last long.

Allyson has reduced most of her stock, including fabrics and many other quilt kits, by 50%.

Name this plant

Calling all gardeners! Can anyone tell me what this plant is:

I went for a walk in a friend's beautiful garden on Friday, 

and she has this lime green lovely planted in some shade. 

She says it is a perhaps a type of may bush?