The challenge for this month was “What do you call yourself and why?” and I sort of cheated by using the label ‘Contemporary Quilter’. I say cheated because it’s only an approximation to what I feel I am – it probably better describes what I’d like to be!!! So in putting this month’s piece together I decided to show ‘what I am’ by using my favourite colour combination and my favourite machine stitches.  I don’t know how clearly it shoes in the photo but the cream area is pebble quilted, I find this a very relaxing way to fill an area.

I had intended to piece this in several sections but so liked the sketch when just the first two lines were drawn that it hasn’t changed! This also reflects what I am – I’ve definitely got a ‘less is more’ mentality! I love the embellished and layered work that people make but can’t do it myself, though it isn’t for lack of trying!

I’d intended to call this quilt ‘Elemental’ but have recently discovered that this is theme for the QGBI challenge at FOQ this year, which I’m not entering!

I have just received a request from Susan Briscoe to include my “Sisters Choice” quilt in a new book she is writing.  One of many such images,  it will be used to “showreaders what they can do with a traditional block. ”.  I know that there are many reasons why the quilt may end up not being used, but it is nice to be asked. Whoopee!

I’m keeping up with the bql bag challenge, but haven’t particularly enjoyed the last couple of months, so no pics. (It’s not the bags themselves – I’m using up fabric that I wouldn’t put into a quilt so can’t get excited about the outcome!) But …… in the March issue of QuiltWOW were instructions from Di Goodison for bags made from re-cycled plastic bags. I saw Di demonstrating these at a QGBI Conference a couple of years ago and loved her style. This is my take on the QuiltWOW pattern, the bag is made from an M & S carrier and the ‘flower’ is made from the reverse side of the same bag. I particularly like the way leaving the side seams open at the top changes the shape of this bag – I’ll be making some more!

From responses on and off blog – it seems that we love them! And I’d have agreed with everything Mags said in her comment, until this last quilt. Perhaps what got to me was the fact that the deadline was artificially imposed by ‘external forces’ – but my back is much improved, thanks for the well wishes.

As part of the day job I’m rolling out a technology that will allow children to submit work on-line. It’s in its’ early days in schools but a serious research study has proved that post-16 students show a consistent pattern of submitting work between 11pm and 2am on the day of the deadline. Research? Phrases like ‘money for old rope’ come to mind. Isn’t this how we grew up? Isn’t this the pattern for most of us?

And just because I like pictures, I did a search for textures on my favourite image site www.sxc.hu and came up with this from Nicolas Raymond of Montreal.

I’ve been working to a deadline and all seemed to be going well, except that at the last minute I had a rare re-occurance of a back problem which leaves me unable to sit comfortably for much more than twenty minutes at a time.  Suddenly the time to finish became scarce. Did I like my quilt when it was ‘finished’  – no I didn’t. The final quilting had an unexpected impact on the whole which left me dis-satisfied, and I’d left myself no time at all to address the problem.

Comparing this to the pleasure I’ve had from the TIF pieces I’ve made this year has made me realise that, contrary to my previous definition of myself (Or maybe that was just a younger self ????), I don’t work well to deadlines. And in spite of everything I’ve previously said about working to a finished design, either in my head or on the PC, I do let the quilt talk to me – because this one is shouting WRONG, and other than not submit it all, there’s nothing I can do about it.

Lesson noted. Lesson learned from? I’ll have to wait until another exhibition deadline comes around before I can comment on that!

This immediately lifted my spirits! I’m very fortunate not to have been hit by the uncontrollable cataclysmic changes (accidents?) that can affect people. The changes in my life have been down to the normal life cycles of a family, relationships and of and at work.

Not all of these have been pleasant at the time. Some have been a matter of circumstance and some have been of my own choosing (mostly the latter in recent years). Some changes are quite distinct whereas others are a matter of evolution. Either way change brings out my “cup half-full” mentality and I can look for positives.

The best changes of all are those you can control and that also bring with them opportunities for learning and subsequent personal growth. I’d hate to envisage a time when I’m unable to bring about changes in my life, however small – I fear that I would become quite diminuished.

Enough! Where has this brought me to in terms of the challenge?

I see change and growth as circular, though not necesssarily evenly so, hence the sketch below.

And the colours are part of that ‘just popped into my head’ moment. I’ve never combined these colours before but I presume I’ve seen something that has influenced m choice – but I can’t think what, right now!!!