The Twelve by Twelve website has now been updated with the Lorikeet Colourplay quilts. What a riot of colour!

Thank you for all the kind comments about Dreamlines #6:Lorikeet Dreaming. It was a challenge to incorporate the design elements in such a small work entirely by piecing and I was satisfied with the result. Nevertheless, a pile of lorikeet-coloured scraps called out to me and so here is my “official” contribution to the latest Twelve by Twelve Colourplay challenge:

I can’t wait to see what the other Twelves have created with this palette but first I have to get some sleep.

According to some calendars, today is the first day of the Australian spring. All I know is that the days are starting to get longer which means the birds start the business of eating earlier. This morning awoke to the sound of lorikeet chatter. It’s hardly birdsong but it still makes me smile. 1 September (US time) is reveal day for the Lorikeet Colourplay challenge. I’ll show the “official” piece later today. In the meantime, here is the unofficial piece - Dreamlines #4: Lorikeet Dreaming, a continuation of my Dreamlines series:

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to the Serendipity Studio Newsletter. I gave the random number generator a whirl today and the winner of my Twelve by Twelve Postcards giveaway is Erica Spinks. I’ll be able to deliver the postcards to her personally tomorrow when we meet up for an excursion to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

While I am in the city, I will also deliver Desire Lines #6:Spark to its new home:

With a little nudge from some of my fellow Twelves, I finally got around to setting Skype set up on my netbook (which has a built in webcam and microphone). Like so many things, it wasn’t difficult and I’m wondering why I didn’t do it sooner. In the past 24 hours I have been able to talk with half the Twelves. What fun! (although I promise that I’ll only activate the video when me and my studio are halfway presentable. At present my hair looks like this candlestick!)

Talking of the Twelve by Twelve project, we reached another milestone yesterday when Terry and Gerrie reviewed the colour proofs of our forthcoming book - here’s a peek! And remember all subscribers to my Serendipity Studio Newsletter as at 29 August go into a draw for a set of Twelve by Twelve postcards. If you’re interested, sign up on the subscription page and follow the prompts.

I’ve finished quilting the commission work Desire Lines #6:Spark. As you can see from this detail shot, I have varied the density of quilting to add more texture and interest to the brown background.

I’m in a good position to finish the piece and deliver it on Monday so today’s task is to tidy up my studio.

I confess that I am rather wary, even cynical, about coaching having endured way too many training sessions and management seminars in my legal professional career. By the same token, I recognise the value in identifying your own personal goals and developing tools, skills and systems to achieve your own version of success. Creative Pathfinder appears to offer a framework to do this and may even bring inspiration, insight and momentum.

Creative Pathfinder: Your Guide to Success as a Creative Professional is a 25 week program offered by Mark McGuinness designed to equip you with creative and professional skills. Every week you receive a new lesson via e-mail, containing:

• An article explaining the what, why and how of the topic
• A practical worksheet for you to download and complete
• Links to additional resources (articles, books, e-books etc — most of which are free)

Apparently things you’ll learn include:

• why following your heart makes sound business sense
• the four most powerful types of creative thinking
• how to handle a creative block – when you’re supposed to be the creative pro
• why opportunities just land in some people’s lap (and how you can be one of them)
• the most effective ways to make a living from your creativity
• why having a resume could handicap your career
• how to turn your website into a magnet for new business and career opportunities
• the weird and profitable properties of intellectual property
• how to sell without selling out
• what to do with all the money you earn
• why other people seem so weird – and what to do about it
• how to succeed in the face of overwhelming odds

Mark’s free 32-page (1.7MB) e-book by Mark McGuinness: Time Management for Creative People: manage the mundane - create the extraordinary is a useful resource on time management. If Creative Pathfinder is of a similar calibre, then it might prove worthwhile to sign up. It’s free and you can always opt out if it doesn’t suit your needs or temperament.

My quilt Timelines#1: Remember the Date is a finalist in the 2010 AP&Q AQC Challenge “Remember” and features in Australian Patchwork & Quilting Volume 19 No 6 on sale now! All 30 of the challenge finalists will be on exhibition at the Craft & Quilt Fairs in New Zealand in September and in Adelaide (4-7 November).

The AQC Team have just announced that the theme for the 2011 AP&Q AQC Challenge is “Seven Deadly Sins”. Entry forms are available from the AQC website.

Like the rest of the country, I find there are some loose ends to tie up after the events of the weekend. These are from my lorikeet quilt for the next Twelve by Twelve challenge. All will be revealed on 1 September. I wonder if the results of the Australian election will be known by then.

I’m a great believer in using a quilt finish that best complements your quilt. A facing finish is ideal for wall and art quilts where a binding would detract from the design.

The current issue (No 143) of Down Under Quilts magazine contains step-by-step tutorials (with new and improved photos!) of two of my favourite facing finish techniques: Mitred Facing and Wholecloth Facing. Apparently the print copies are held up in Singapore but you can see view the article online with a free digital subscription.