Thursday 25 March 2021

Quiltmania Simply Vintage Spring 2021



It is with great delight that I bring you my Sewmiriam Little Women Quilt that features on the cover of Quiltmania Simply Vintage Magazine Spring 2021. Humbled and thrilled at the same time to see the beautiful styling and to be honoured in such a special way. My friend Yvette of Keepsake Quilts did the beautiful quilting. Thank you Yvette! 


A short post but a special one indeed! 

Happy sewing,

Love Miriam x 

Thursday 16 July 2020

I was thrilled to be asked to be a part of Quiltmania’s Solidarity Block Project in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. Making blocks for quilts for front line response workers? Count me in !
The brief was to make a 10 inch finished ( 10.5 inch unfinished) block that featured red. Please find my block and pattern below . Enjoy making your own version.
Thank you Quiltmania,Miriam
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.

Sunday 5 April 2020

Sewmiriam Cheerful Chicken - A Free Tutorial




As the Corona Virus Pandemic affects us all I just want you to know that we will see better days. Together we will do this. By staying home, washing our hands, observing social distancing guidelines, keeping surfaces clean and being mindful of others. Being thankful and supportive of all those working hard to keep things running and in particular cheering on those at the medical front line. Heroes one and all.

Wherever in the world  you may be we can all reach out in our own ways to help others. This could be by checking on a neighbour or a friend, or supporting our loved ones in small and meaningful ways. Thinking beyond our own situation.

So - here is a free tutorial to brighten your day, and hopefully those whom you gift these cheery chickens to as well. In your hands these chickens feel very soothing. They can be used as sewing weights to hold down patterns, as pin cushions, or as a happy companion on your desk or window sill. 

Grab your scrap bag and sewing supplies and away you go! Post them on Instagram using the hashtag  #sewmiriamcheerfulchicken




















Saturday 28 September 2019

Sewmiriam IKEA Stool Makeover

Welcome! Today I thought I would share a mini tutorial with you - how to make a patchwork cover for a plain IKEA stool using the IKEA SUNNEA cushion.



 I have had my IKEA stool for years and it was really in need of a makeover. Last week when I was at IKEA I bought a cheap SUNNEA cover as shown below. It is a great padded cushion for the stool even with a non slip backing.


I decided to make a patchwork top for the cushion and this is how I did it. I am hoping this tutorial will inspire you to make your own soon. 

Step 1. 

Make a 12 " square finished patchwork block. ( 12 1/2 " unfinished) .
I made an eight pointed star. Any 9 patch block would work well.


I made my star from joined strips of fabric like this 


I just had to share that photo because it looks so pretty!

Step 2. 

Cut a 12 1/2 " square of fusible wadding.


Step 3. 

Place the right side of your block onto  the fusible side of the wadding . DO NOT PRESS!
 Now stitch around the  sides using a quarter inch seam to create the octagonal shape. Remember to leave a gap for later turning your pieces right side out.  I have used the corner star points as my guide to create the octagonal shape by stitching from point to point in the four corners.


Step 4.

Turn your octagon right sides out and finger press  under the open seam area to make the seam neat.  DO NOT PRESS. 

Step 5.

Top stitch around the edges to secure your front and back together and to stitch over the opening area seam, as shown above . 

Step 6. 

Place your patchwork piece on the top of the SUNNEA 
cover and now press to your heart's content!

VOILA! You have now completed your  Sewmiriam IKEA Stool makeover.


Have fun and remember to post your covers on Instagram using the hashtags 
#sewmiriam and  
#sewmiriamIKEAstool  





Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you can find a few minutes this week for some blissful stitching.

Love Miriam x 

Tuesday 17 September 2019

Gifting


Welcome to the Sewmiriam Blog. This week I thought I would share photos of a quilt I recently made as a gift for The Centre for Effective Living in Gordon, Sydney.
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
The Centre helps individuals and whole families in a caring, safe and positive way to navigate life’s challenges. I made this quilt to be used as a wall hanging , and made it in the Centre’s color scheme. The quilt will provide visual harmony and interest to the therapy room. It will be used In a room where sensory awareness takes place for children with sensory sensitivities. Quilts also help dampen noise. Who knew how multi purpose a quilt could be!
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
I hand quilted the quilt using Aurifil 12 thread in a variety of colors.
Whatever has been happening in your world this week, I hope you have been able to find a few moments of peaceful stitching. Making a quilt is a wonderful thing, but gifting one takes the experience to a whole new level!
Happy sewing, love Miriamx

Sunday 8 September 2019


Well hellooooo! After almost a year of neglecting my blog, I thought it was time to dust off the cobwebs and start sharing again. It is not that I have been idle. I have been busy but have been making the transition to Instagram to share my work and to showcase the fabulous work done by my students. Sewmiriam Workshops have been popping up all over the place this past year. I have been to Newcastle, to Melbourne and have busy here in Sydney. I also have a quilt that is currently in France having a photo shoot for an upcoming Quiltmania Magazine edition. Exciting times indeed.
My dilemma of course is where to start again here. So I thought I would post a few of my Happy Saturday Instagram pictures for your viewing pleasure . These are a mix of works old and new.
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
The red background Sewmiriam Superstar quilt you can see above was made by my dear friend Sue . Isn’t it gorgeous!
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
Image. Double tap this image to view it full screen. Double tap and hold to show sharing options.
Don’t forget there is lots of free stuff to be found on the right hand side amongst the tags section. Click and see what you can find.
I love creating and sharing the joy of stitching with you all. Through my Workshops I have met the most amazing women. I love hearing your stories and working with you to create beautiful pieces. I will post more about these soon. Friendships are made and celebrated with each stitch. How fortunate are we to be part of the quilting community. I certainly feel humbled and thankful each and every day.
May your days be filled with peaceful stitching,Happy sewing,Love Miriamx

Thursday 6 September 2018

Quiltmania Simply Moderne

 I am just a bit excited and humbled that a Sewmiriam Quilt will be in  Issue 14 of the Simply Moderne Magazine for Quiltmania. Woohoo! Happy Dance!



I love the styling they have done on my Large Dresden Quilt.  Such a great innovative magazine to be a part of. What I am really excited about is giving a copy to my Mum.  She started me on this journey. Mum made a hand pieced hexagon quilt for me when I was about 9. The hexagons were made from fabrics taken from my dresses, my friends' dresses my school uniforms. and  a feast of 70's prints. Such a memory filled quilt.  Who knew that that quilt would lead to this. Thank you Mum!!






I hope you can find  time in this busy world to enjoy some moments of stitching bliss.  
I have had a full workshop timetable of late and  have been fortunate to work with very talented ladies from PatchworkPlus in Miranda and Cottage Quiltworks. Lots of Sewmiriam bags, and the Sewmiriam BOM in the making. Watch this space! 







Happy stitching everyone. 
Thank you for stopping by.  
Whatever life throws your way remember that you are always welcome here. 
Love Miriamx