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!