Congratulations, Tonya!

I regularly buy the American magazine 'Quiltmaker' as I find it has lots of ideas for quilts in it, but imagine my surprise to find in the current edition (Mar/Apr 09) a quilt inspired by Tonya's improvised piecing techniques and called Wonky Town! It credits Tonya (quite right too!) and gives the link to her blog and tutorial. Congratulations, Tonya, on getting into an international magazine!

Here is the quilt made by Brenda Groelz - doesn't the lime green add a certain pizzazz to the quilt? If you haven't yet taken the plunge on free piecing, this article may be just the encouragement you need, as it includes tips on putting the blocks together, and a sort-of suggested arrangement. And, at the risk of being accused of taking commission from the magazine, there is also a pattern for jelly rolls and a very clever method for making use of signatures in a quilt in the same edition. If you live in the UK and haven't seen it on sale, ask your local newsagent to get you a copy from Comag - all newsagents can do this. Good luck!

A day in the life

Today I have had a lovely relaxed time. DH is away on business (in Beijing, actually) and having spent the weekend being Front of House Manager for the local drama group's production, felt in the need of some 'me' time.

I didn't get up too early (last night party and all that!) and then pottered around before I showered and went out to get the paper. A nice cup of tea with the magazine and then I felt that I needed to tidy up downstairs and run round with the cleaner. It's amazing what a bit of hoovering, clearing up and plumping of cushions will do for a room!

After lunch, I decided to devote the afternoon to quilting. (What a surprise!)

I started by layering up my orphan quilt, and starting to machine quilt it. I have decided to give it to my new grandniece. Like the quilt, she was unplanned, but turned out good.

I have decided to just quilt it in the ditch, and got on well with it. However, as is par for the course, I had soon had enough of it and decided to join together the last two rows of my latest Chaos Crumb quilt.

This is in pastels, which has been a hard road for me, as the brights usually call to me. Still, I'm quite pleased with this, although I am going to have to go out and buy border fabric, as I don't have pastel yardage at all. I need to audition some fabrics for this. Since this will be a cot quilt for DD's friend Claire, who doesn't yet know the sex of her baby, I think either green or yellow will be good border colours. I'll make some decisions at a later date.

Next I decided to continue with my quilt for Tonya's Summer School. This is a double whammy, as I am also doing an entrant for the Bramble Patch's Strawberries and Cream Exhibition, and decided to combine the two. The Bramble Patch Challenge gives you a piece of pink fabric (for free so who could refuse?) and you have to make something for their summer exhibition, which raises funds for cancer charities. Tonya's theme is 'Repetition', so I decided to repeat the word 'LOVE' in various shades of pink, including the challenge fabric.

I haven't exactly decided the arrangement, but will keep making pink LOVEs until I think I'm ready to join them together.

Now I'm off to watch Doctor Who while I do a spot of ironing, then a glass of beer and bed.

A good day. Hope yours was too.