Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Big Fat Lines

Can I just say you're all marvelous? Thanks for the support and encouragement. Good thing I mentioned the book first and then started looking at submission guidelines on the internet after. Aaghhh. Let's see, I have hardly any teaching experience, no publications, no credentials, no professional memberships, or any of the other things that are supposed to make me qualified. I'm just gonna ignore that for now, otherwise I'd just quit before I ever started.

Unfortunately, I'm still a sickly, pathetic, whiny girl. My fever has gotten lower, but refuses to get lost. I am feeling better tho, despite my complaining. I'm even managing to get some quilting done.

This reddish pink with purple batik is on the middle right side of the quilt. I didn't want a strong quilting color there and ended up going with a pale orangey yellow floss. I took a photo of this, just because I wanted to show you how I use a wide chalk marker to make my lines. I sort of follow it, move from one side of the line to the other and don't really worry about it too much.

I finished the block and it photographs terribly. The floss isn't very contrasty, but I like that. The bigger problem is all the chalk that's still on it - can barely see the chalk, but boy is it noticeable in the pic. You can see the quilting (and chalk marks) much better in black and white:

I'm now on one of the much narrow fabric chunks. I tried putting in a couple of endearments sideways and didn't like how they looked at all. And going from top to bottom, no, don't like that either. Ended up putting in three really short words.

I have to decide how to quilt the rest of it. I'm thinking of either using regular quilting thread (red I think) in a fan pattern or else doing each bit separately in perle cotton. Possibly even perle cotton fans. This is probably going to have to be determined by actually starting the quilting and seeing how it looks. I'm leaning towards the first option.

This book thing - yes, back to that again. It's got to be all about the letters and words. No houses (sorry, Joyce), hearts, asterisks or anything fun for now. The words is something no one else is doing so that's the focus. I gotta show the book publisher something they can't get anywhere else.

Ya'all can help me by making some quilts using the words. Lots and lots of words.

Wish I knew more about copywrite. Think it's okay to quote a song lyric, but honestly don't know. If you don't know either (and do want the possibility of publication) then stay clear of anything that might be a problem. A Shakespearean sonnet tho? A-ok. Something that you write from your very own brain? That would be the best of all.

When I'm feeling more with it I'll start doing a lower-case alphabet tutorial for ya'all. Anything else I can do? You know I'll give you all whatever support and/or advice you need. That includes you lurkers too - you're invited to the party.

10 comments:

Quilts And Pieces said...

Your quilting is as fun as usual! I still think your word quilts will be great in a book. I hope I see it someday in print!

Lois R. said...

Tonya, I've decided to do my "wrought by" block on the back of my houses quilt. Since I have also decided to farm the quilting of the houses out to a professional machine quilter, I won't have to worry about quilting thru all that seam allowance. I'll let you know how the lettering goes. I can't wait to see your lower-case directions!

By the way, love the "Terms" quilting that you're doing.

Finn said...

Quilting is looking good to me Ton, as always. Fun to see that you kind of fly by the seat of your pants, at several stages of the process...*VBG*

I had no idea that thinking about doing a book could be so complicated. A friend in my old guild did one that was "picked up" for publication by That Patchwork Place. I know it was a lot of work, and probably not a widely accepted technique. Haven't see or heard from her for awhile, so I don't how things held up over the years.
I know many things fall into the "public domain" area and can be used without specific permission. Not sure about lyrics, but suspect we'd need permission to use them.
Saw on the news last night that Mac people are still fighting with the Beatles people over the use of the word "Apple"...go figure!

Judy said...

I tried to comment this morning but blogger wasn't allowing anything to come through. I barely got your blog to even open! I'll start trying to think of ways to make letters.

I've had a quilt in my head for about a year now, it's a tribute quilt to my baby boy cat who died when he was just 10 months old from FIP. Vile disease. Maxwell's quilt would be the perfect place to put words around the border. His name and then maybe something about him. I'll start sketching and maybe it will be done in time for you to use if you want to..or if it fits.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tonya,
I'm a lurker of sorts. I found your website by accident a week or so ago and keep finding myself coming back to look at your quilts. I have no clue about the feasibility or desirability of doing a book, but I thought I might be able to help with the copyright question.

You could take a look at http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/index.html. And in case that doesn't work, it's the Stanford Univ. Library Copyright and Fair Use info. (I'm not a blogger or a blog reader, so I don't know if you can put a url in a comment.) So, I hate to out myself as a lawyer right off the bat, but - do not rely on this in place of specific legal advice. When it actually comes time to make decisions about including specific quilts in the book, you'll need to seek the advice of an attorney. (Or more likely your editor will.) I do not and have not practiced in the field of intellectual property and I have only the most basic of legal knowledge on the topic.

I know that doesn't help the quilters that want to include phrases in their quilts and still be sure the picture can be included. Of course, I'm pretty sure that if you put a quote in your quilt and attribute it to the person who said/wrote/sang it, it's a quote not a copyright infringement. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Tonya,
I'm a lurker of sorts. I found your website by accident a week or so ago and keep finding myself coming back to look at your quilts. I have no clue about the feasibility or desirability of doing a book, but I thought I might be able to help with the copyright question.

You could take a look at http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/index.html. And in case that doesn't work, it's the Stanford Univ. Library Copyright and Fair Use info. (I'm not a blogger or a blog reader, so I don't know if you can put a url in a comment.) So, I hate to out myself as a lawyer right off the bat, but - do not rely on this in place of specific legal advice. When it actually comes time to make decisions about including specific quilts in the book, you'll need to seek the advice of an attorney. (Or more likely your editor will.) I do not and have not practiced in the field of intellectual property and I have only the most basic of legal knowledge on the topic.

I know that doesn't help the quilters that want to include phrases in their quilts and still be sure the picture can be included. Of course, I'm pretty sure that if you put a quote in your quilt and attribute it to the person who said/wrote/sang it, it's a quote not a copyright infringement. :)

Cher said...

I hope you are drinking lots of clear fluids...that chases off fevers the best Tonya..I happen to agree with you on the focus being narrow and letters would fit that bill. I think Cara gave good info as well, for those of us who have quoted someone (said/wrote/sang).
Anyway- the quilting is really looking good...and I appreciate so very much the photos you include showing the chalk marks!

Lily Mulholland said...

So what are you going to do about those pesky chalk marks?

Love seeing this quilt block by block.

Can't wait to see those red fans quilted. Wow you are not afraid of colour at all are you? LOL

Do hope you are feeling a lot better soon :)

Tonya Ricucci said...

Not to worry, the chalk marks come off really easily. They'll probably have rubbed off by the time I finish, but if not, they'll disappear in the wash.

YankeeQuilter said...

My DH has started memorizing the stupid things I say before I have coffee in the morning...that is what he now wants on the quilt! The quote of today? I had to have more tests at the hospital and had a very nasty nurse (more on that another time.) By the time it was over it was 0930! I hobbled up to the Starbucks almost in tears and when the sweet German lady asked me what I wanted I squeeked - something "sweet, fattening, and expensive." That will be my next quilt!