With Unflattering Promptness

My rejection letter from Tor has arrived. It's the short form one, so of course, I'm left wondering why it's not what they're looking for. I mean, it could really not be something they have an opening for at this time. It could be that the writing is atrocious. If the latter, I'm sure that's not something any publisher ever says in a rejection letter.

I'm going with the assumption that it's just not their cup of tea, and sending it on to the next publisher on my list.

It's Never Too Small To Use

scrap balls
Originally uploaded by Flyingsquid.

These are made from the bits too small to use for patchwork, mostly seams and hems.

They're fairly decorative. And you could use them to practice juggling, I suppose. (I can't. I suck at juggling, so the chances of me accidentally throwing one of these rather solid balls at, say, the TV are just that little bit too high.)

The truth is, I can't stand not to use the whole shirt.

Raw Materials

fabric
Originally uploaded by Flyingsquid.

Here's what I've been doing over the weekend: cutting up old shirts. These are cotton, not flannel, though you may notice a certain colour theme! I've actually been collecting them for a couple of years. I have enough now, and also, I need a new hand-sewing project.

The quilt they're destined for will be a large feathered star, with lone stars in between the points, and bits of lemoyne stars here and there.

It will have applique in the centre and around the edges, but I haven't designed that bit yet.

News from the Book Front

I've just gotten back the postcard I enclosed with my submission to Tor. It says my synop + 3 arrived on July 14th. As I sent it back in March, I take it this means they aren't kidding about it taking 4-6 months to reply. It's taken them pretty much exactly 4 months to open it. Which is what I expected, given they also say not to query to see if they got it until 4 months after you've sent it.

So now I get to start worrying about whether they'll actually like it or not.

Tiny Stories

I've just submitted a story for Bob Podrasky's Tiny Stories collection. It's exactly 101 words long, including the title, and contains psychedelic mice. I'm pleased with it.

You too can play - they'll take submissions until August 5th. Rules are here. And here's one I wrote earlier with gorgeous illustration by Lisa Snellings Clark. Be sure to read the other ones while you're there!

And now I can go back to reading Lisa's blog without feeling guilty for not having done my story yet.

Flannel Star

flannel star
Originally uploaded by Flyingsquid.

I told you I'm obsessed with these. This one is made of flannel, mostly old shirts, one bathrobe, and a few nightgowns. I asked my parents for all of their worn-out flannel shirts and got this amazingly colour-coordinated lot. The bit in the centre is from my favourite shirt from when I was ten, which I never would let my mother throw out. See? It came in handy.

I pieced this over thin fabric, instead of paper, which will stay as a permanent part of the quilt. It worked pretty well. Flannel is a lot more slippery and difficult to work with than I would have guessed, and I think pulling off papers would have caused too much unravelling of the seam allowances.

The star measures a metre or so across, and will form the centre of a larger quilt. I'll put a border of the red flannel around it, and then more strip-pieced strips, like the ones used for the corners.

It's already unbelievably soft and cuddly, without even being quilted yet.

What It's About

At last night's Zokutou meeting, I somewhat disastrously attempted to explain what the novel currently nestling in Tor's slushpile is about. This is in preparation for Worldcon, in case I should happen to find myself talking to someone who wants to know. I may be in trouble here. If I can't explain it to people I'm used to babbling on about writing to, how am I going to cope with people I've only just met?

It might, of course, have helped if it hadn't been far too hot last night to consume alcohol...

The Stars Are Ours

purplestarsmall
Originally uploaded by Flyingsquid.

Today I thought I'd put up a quilt photo. I made this last winter for my mom & stepfather. Trev really hated to see it go, so I'm working on a similar one for us now.

The stars are 12" square, string-pieced on freezer paper. Variations on this pattern seem to have been really popular mid-20th c. I'm finding it a bit addictive myself.

About sums it up really

londoncantakeit
Originally uploaded by Flyingsquid.

Seeing as I live in London, I was pondering what to post about Thursday. I myself was writing all morning, and didn't even know anything was happening until I noticed how bad the traffic was, halfway to work on the bus.

On Saturday, because Trev is into military history, we went down to see the MOD's Living Museum in St. James's Park. Down Pall Mall, they had a row of vintage vehicles on display. Many of them bore this same slogan. Sometimes I'm really proud I live here.