Two Finishes

What on earth is happening to Blogger?  The Dashboard has changed, as has the post page and I can't find anything.

It's taking an age to load and Google has, for some reason, changed my template.  I rather like it!

Anyway.  I had a marathon binding day yesterday.

Let's see if I can upload photos.

First off Family Trees in all its glory.

The more I look at this quilt the more I love it.

Next up - Cutie Bug!

The quilting is very basic as I wanted to get it finished.  I tied the centre, hand quilted the letters and tied the border.  Very quick.  It took me about a week which is surely an all time record for me.

My niece is going to love this.

I've given up on Ab Fab.  That didn't last long!  I really want to get Blueberry Fool tied.

S is for Stripes is also calling to me.  Did I mention that a friend has got 70 metres of curtain insulation which is exactly the same as a cotton batt, but not as thick.  She's given me a couple of metres to try out and I'm dying to use it on S is for Stripes.

The ankle still hurts, but I'm counting down the days until 21st June when hopefully the cast comes off and I can drive again!

More soon.

Bloggers' Quilt Festival - Spring 2011

I haven't entered a quilt in the Bloggers' Quilt Festival for ages -not since its inception a few years ago.

Not that many quilts have been finished that are still in the house, but my all time favourite so far and the one which made me feel like a proper quilter is this one.

Haunted Houses

I made this for Tonya's House, Home Pantry class. I have a very funny feeling that I started it in the class before, but anyway, it took ages and ages - I think about 2 years.

This is the first quilt that I finally felt happy with, that I quilted in the way I wanted to and went the way I wanted it to. I wasn't influenced by anyone (apart from Ton LOL) and I love it to bits.

The quilting is a huge spider web.  I started in the centre and worked outwards.  It's a bit wonky and some of the stitches are huge because I had to jump lots of seams.

It now hangs in a dark corner where it doesn't get any light as the sun is so strong it bleaches everything.  But I pass it about 6 times a day and every time I go past I say "Hi".

Guilty Pleasures

I'm dreadful!  I've been really naughty and now I'm beginning to feel guilty.

The weather has been glorious, sunny and warm and ideal for gardening.

However, what have I been doing?

Sewing up a storm!

I don't think the photos of this are ever going to come out brilliantly.  There's far too much colour in there.

They are getting really addictive and I keep on cutting up yet more batik strips.

And for my next trick!

As you know, The Young One is music mad and I've been meaning to make her a wall hanging for ages.  I gave her a list of musical quotations and she chose this one.

Can you guess what it's going to say?

Must  go.  The Old One has persuaded me to go outside!

More soon.

B is for Bat (or Brenda, or Birthday)

My contribution to Brenda's Birthday Bash.

More soon - very soon!

Letters of Friendship

I've been dying to show this, but I couldn't as it was sent to Tonya with my Bah Humbug letters and she's only just received them.

I've called it Letters of Friendship.

Just a little something to thank her for all that she's done!

More soon.

Worker's Playtime

I decided to give myself a break from THE PLEDGE and have a bit of fun.  After all, a girl can only take so much red and white fabric!

It is also the Liberated Quilters group virtual online retreat this week so definitely play time.

I jumped in with both feet and took part in Tonya's latest challenge.

Oh boy!  What a challenge!

Bah!  was easy.  Water off a duck's back!  Done and dusted in a matter of hours.

A bit big, but never mind - 22" x 14"!

I then started on Hum and did I have fun!

The only trouble was the mmmmmm was 17" long.  So I decided to cut it in half and start again.

f

It seemed to take ages!  In fact it took most of yesterday.

I'm not as pleased with it as I was the previous version, but we can't have everything can we.

So on to BuG.

I haven't got any bug fabric so had to bite into the fabric I got for my niece's quilt, and here is the end result.

Phew - this liberated quilting lark is a tad mentally exhausting!

Think I'll go back to mindlessly piecing strings and red and white blocks!

Got some more stuff to show you, but am waiting for a package to arrive.

More soon.

Another Year, Another Challenge

Tonya has set up another Challenge.

If you've got her Word Play Quilts book and want to start playing, now's your chance.

Click here to read the rules and here to join the Challenge blog.

See you there!

2010 Round Up

Which means not a lot!

Learnt a few things.  Like how to adapt, expand and extend.

Liberated Strings

Back of Liberated Strings

Thanks to Tonya for such an fantastic liberating class (Liberated Amish Challenge).

Ummm - what else?  Can't really think.

2010 seems to have been taken up with the Liberated Quilters Yahoo group and web ring.  Fun fun fun, but time consuming.

Quilts 4 Leukaemia has also taken up a lot of time - Quilt #32 is finished and I'm about to start on Quilt #33 - woohoo!

Meeting the lovely Viv in July was great too.  Hope we'll meet again one day.

Oh - musn't forget!  I suppose the 3 highlights of the year were the publication of Liberated Quiltmaking II, then receiving a letter from Gwen herself and, of course, the best thing to happen this year.  The publication of the most talked about book in Blogland this year.  Word Play Quilts.  What a year it has been for liberating books.

What a year it has been too for forging long lasting internet friendships.

So here's to 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's Arrived

Oh joy oh joy oh joy.

Doing the happy dance!

It's arrived!

I forgot how amazing Holly's quilt is!

Did someone mention peeling veg and preparing lunch for tomorrow?  Forget it.  I'm busy!

Day 0 - Let's Celebrate

I'm going to open the party with a quilt that was totally inspired by Tonya, her love of letters and her most favorite time of year, Halloween.

Haunted Houses

I made this for  Tonya's  House, Home Pantry class.  I have a very funny feeling that I started it in the class before, but anyway, it took ages and ages - I think about 2 years.

This is the first quilt that I finally felt happy with, that I quilted in the way I wanted to and went the way I wanted it to.  I wasn't influenced by anyone (apart from Ton LOL) and I love it to bits.

I'm going to open the Liberated Quilters Web Ring "International Tonya Ricucci Day" in a minute, but before I do, I'd just like to say a few a words.

Tonya - you have inspired so many quilters, you have changed the way of quilting for a lot of people.

You have held our HANDS, HELPed us on our WAY, PUSHed us, cajoled us, persuaded us, made us JUMP.

I really HOPE your book is a HUGE success.

You really DESERVE (that's a BIG WORD!) it.

And now, Michele, after your wonderful post, I ask you to cut the ribbon.

I officially declare 7th December 2010, 

INTERNATIONAL TONYA RICUCCI DAY

(the slogan "International Tonya Ricucci Day" is the copyright of

Michele Bilyeu)

I'll be opening a bottle of cyber champagne later on.  If anyone cares to join me come back later (hic!)

1 Day to Go - "Words Words Words"

I've just typed those words  into Google and found this wonderful web site (click here).  Great inspiration!

I'm always looking for inspiration and could quite happily spend a day going through the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations.  I love Lynne's "No Rules" quilts that she made for Tonya and Julie.

So today I've decided to show some words.

My Scrappy Mind 

made for the AAQI Liberated Challenge 2010

Screeeech

 Made for Tonya for her Slither Eek Boo quilt.

Woohoo.  I searched her blog for links to that quilt and have just discovered that my little word is going to be on The Quilt Show when they broadcast Tonya's interview next year (scroll down to the photo she took of her quilts being hung).. 

Joyeux Anniversaire Fanny

L I F E

 Another mini qult made for the AAQI Liberated Challenge 2010.

I've actually forgotten what I called this. 

Joyeux Anniversaire Magaly.

and last, but not least

The back of the quilt I made for Tonya's Liberated Amish Challenge.

I'll really looking forward to getting this finally quilted.  It's the next on the list.

Tomorrow see's the publication of Tonya's wonderful book and what will be my last post on the subject, bringing you up to date with

words.

Just as a matter of interest, what is the official publication date?  Does anyone know?

Patchwork Place are saying tomorrow, The Book Depositry says today and it is now out of stock, and Amazon.com says today, but because that's Amazon in the US, they haven't woken up yet and it's not available :-) !

Tonya!  Has it sold out already!

2 Days to Go - Jumping in at the Deep End

In 2008 Tonya started the Lazy Gal Summer Class 2008.  Up until then I'd been a bit wary of joining up with others and showing my work.  I still wasn't sure of my letters and didn't think my work was good enough, compared to that of Quiltingdiva Julie, Kristin and Lynne.

However, there is no time like the present so I jumped from the upper most board and, oh boy, did I have fun!

I started liberated stars and made a quilt for my niece.

You Are a Star!

I then joined up for Tonya's Priority Hope Challenge, and managed to make a quilt for AAQI which was a lesson in itself.  How do you make those letters fit that space!

There is Hope

The next 2 photos are a table runner I made for Mum at the end of 2007. My step-father and I had private discussions about the length and width of the dining room table and what colours.  Mum must have wondered what on earth was happening when he was measuring the table, especially when I lost the measurements and he had to do it again!

I can't remember the measurements now, but it's huge!

 

That's all for now - I've got Sunday chores to do.

More tomorrow.

3 Days to Go - Gaining in Confidence

After I'd finished the Take the Leap Challenge quilt (which was given to the baby boy of friends of ours and I haven't seen it since!), I decide to jump from the next diving board up.

The Young One and I started drawing designs for wonky houses and these little houses came into being.

The second one has always been my favourite.  So much so that I couldn't use it in the quilt I was intending to make.  It has been made into a mini quilt and  now hangs with others of the same size, and this picture appears a lot in Blogland and on one or two listserve groups.

The first house did end up in a quilt that has been loved by its recipient ever since.

Remember this from, would you believe, November 2006 - 4 years ago.

Family Houses

If I remember rightly, I quilted it with Baptist Fans and then went over it again with words in stem stitch in various coloured threads, mostly 3 strands of embroidery floss.

It's not as big as a lap quilt and was meant as a wall hanging, but Mum uses it every winter to keep her knees warm.  I bet she's using it at the moment!

More tomorow when I jump from an even higher diving board!

4 Days to go

How I "met" Tonya.

Well.  I'd just started quilting and I knew I wouldn't be able to make seams and points match, let alone quilt, and I was in despair.

I surfed the internet about hand quilting and found her tutorial about quilting without a hoop.  Then I came across the quilt that changed my life.

Tonya pushed me, persuaded me, cajoled me, held my hand and finally I jumped.

This was the result.

Not brilliant, but then again not bad for a first effort, considering it was machine pieced on a Singer hand crank!

Stayed tuned for more Tonya inspired quilts as the day draws closer.

5 Days to go

and I'm getting really excited!

Why?

Oh come on!  You must know by now!

Well ....

.............  two years on

and here we are. 

430 members and growing by the day.

We're making quilts for AAQI, we're liberating fabric postcards, we're liberating quilters who weren't liberated

AND

most of all

WE'RE HAVING A BALL!

I'm opening a cyber bottle of champagne  to Gwen and to Tonya. 

Cheers (hic).

Woo Hoo!

Check out the new badge on my side bar - the one under my profile.

Just under 5 months to go.  I don't think I can wait that long.

Way to go Tonya!

Anna Williams

 Do you remember ages ago Tonya started a campaign to get AQS to reprint or republish Liberated Quilting and, voila, the campaign succeeded?

Well, she's doing it again and this time it's Anna Williams (click link if you are unfamiliar with her work).  To quote Tonya:

"AQS is considering reprinting the book Anna Williams: Her Quilts and Their Influence by Katharine Watts, originally published in 1995. Actually, I probably shouldn't call it a book, since it was a catalog for a museum exhibition and only about 40 pages long. The company wants to know how much interest there would be in a reprint. I don't know what the price would be."

Anna Williams's quilts are a riot of colour; completely scrappy and oh so free.  I'm drooling as I write this. I have lots of bare white walls in this house which are crying out to have quilts like hers hung on them.

 (photo courtesy of the International Quilt Study Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 1997.007.1104)

Now what you need to do next is to hop over to Tonya's blog, read this post and leave a comment.  BUT only leave a comment if you would be interested in seeing the book reprinted, or extended and updated, and would buy it.

Oh, and don't forget to spread the word if you can (and point your readers in Tonya's direction).  AQS are keeping an eye out on how many people talk about this.  The more the merrier!

More soon.