Reflections and Predictions- my 2 cents

I'll be answering the questions from my perspective as a quilter rather than a garmet sewer. 

Looking back at the 2011 sewing scene, what trends stand out in your mind?

  Gray every where and I was thrilled about it. I really hated that harsh hard white. 

Hand applique - or is that just me?
lots of Mid Mod design everywhere.
in the last couple months Im obsessed with single block quilts - or non pieced blocks ie. triangles, tumblers, etc.

What were some of your favorite things related to sewing this past year?

 For me it was Friends Fabric and Fun :)
Other than Kona solids ... I love RJR brand, Northcott , some of the Bellas ..Im happy to see them in stores and being used... 

What did you make that you’re most proud of? 










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This project and learning this blossom pattern and learning it well enough to quilt it out. I can feel my confidence building as a quilter.  I'm becoming more comfortable with my skills and exploring ways to use it to express my creativity. I feel like I have a more of voice.

What sewn projects have you seen this year that you absolutely love?
That School house Tunic! Made me want to sew a garment... :D not very likely but made me want to. 

Do you have a favorite sewing book or pattern from the past year to recommend?

Susan Beal's Modern Log Cabin. I just loved that book! I generally don't buy books or use patterns but it was a great book and got me making a log cabin.. or two. I love that she included History and  paid respect to the ladies before us.

Are there any trends you’re over and done with?

Aqua... I have so much of it in my stash its unlikely I'll ever be with out in my quilts though. I really need to make my Red/Aqua quilt before that goes out completly .. 
the zigzag quilt or 2 rail fence- yawn
coin quilt-  double yawn
Kona kona kona... there are other brands of solids  and some of them ROCK!

What are your thoughts about social media? How is it going for you? What do you love or hate?

I love that its social and fun.. I love all the great charity hookups and ways to help folks who need it. 
I love Flickr still... wonderful! twitter..rocks! facebook..Hi Friends!
im not on pintrest... seems like one more thing... Im full. 
I love store blogs.. tell me what you have, when it comes in, if I can preorder..very helpful... 


I hate that monetized blogs who get stuff for free and then push it, get this iron, get this fabric ... but don't say that it was a free item and that they are being paid to review...  my hackles are kinda up on that... If I read too often " go this store" 'buy this product" "I only use this brand" I am actively unfollowing... 

Did you have a favorite fabric collection or print in 2011?

Paris Apartment gray stripe..
A lot of Betty Dear by Robert Kaufman made me swoon...
Echo- I want to lick Jansdotter!

What do you predict for 2012 in the sewing industry?

Now that I have a great stash I'll be buying less fabric
With 1 in 4 children food insecure I think there will be more charity quilting... 
Im going crazy for neutrals, moda wovens and shirtings...   
I higher focus on quality..

Can you tell us what to expect from you in 2012? Any big projects or life-changing goals?

Im taking a more active role in caring for an elder but I expect to be doing lots more charity quilting and quilting  for my friends...  
I've kinda cleared my schedule so Im gonna be having some fun...im excited... 
I have some great quilt projects in the works.. I cant wait.
I'll changing the focus of my blog to more local charity work/quilting. With 50% of this country lowincome/poverty I feel very called to this mission. My life is so blessed I feel obligated to help. 

Quilters Rock! 

Xmas at the Guild

2011 Xmas Guild Swap

 I picked the largest bag of fabric I saw out of the gift exchange bag. Then I checked the name to make sure it wasn't one of the Queen Bees or Wannabees (every group has a couple) in our Guild. It contained a MoMo HoneyBun solids and a great piece of a Feed Sack reprint. I loved the idea of using an old print with moderns.
 Turns out it was my pal Kim, I wouldn't say that we are super close but I know her and she always so nice to everybody. I tried to hide her bag from her so she wouldn't know I had it. I didn't think I had time to do what I did last year and I didn't want her to have expectations.
for cherri 















I looked on Flickr and saw that she had favorited a technique called Strip Race (see more about it here and here
What ever I did, I wanted it to be fast, easy and simple. We had 2 months to make our gift but with the Habitat Quilts and family obligations I hadn't started till about a week before it was due.
While my husband was gone to the gym I produced the top... Yes it was that fast! no joke! petal to the metal! balls out sewing! bam! I read that it only takes 90 minutes and its true.. it does.
This border treatment is one that I have used on my Jackson School quilt and I've been drawing it for years and years... so it was super simple and fast as well ..
Next came the quilting:
I'd been doing this on a previous quilt Here so I had lots of practice and it goes so fast. Its basically "S" quilting. The quilt is pretty small at 50 x 60, a size that is very similar to Passage Quilts and I've had lots of practice.
Took a couple hours total over a couple of days.

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 I call this Awesome Blossoms- Mostly, because when I first started making them I would stop and marvel at my genius and whisper "oh wow, that is so awesome". I freehand quilt and wanted flowers that spoke to the old quilting patterns but were more free and organic. I view my quilting as sculpture, something that changes with use, and also as an expression of my femininity and of the connection I feel to women past and present.
A lot of my work shares its vocabulary with nature, being non symmetrical, using natural images rather than a grid based motif system.
detail of quilting






















Awesome Blossoms














See the whole set over at flickr  ...  and the Habitat quilts too























 Next came the Label.  As Treasurer/Membership of the Guild this/last year my duties included sending out the new cards and I asked for a stamp for the envelopes. I inked it with Fabric Ink and used it with my usual stamps... I think it turned out great.
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All in all, it took only about 6 -8 hours which I'm sure was pretty average.
Late in the evening before we all went home I finally managed a snap.  
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Heres Kim with her Xmas Swap Gift. I hope she will enjoy it as much I did making it..
Quilters Rock!

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

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The way I read it I'm supposed to have 8 winners.... I picked 11 so I have a few in the wings, in case I need them... 
Okay so its been a process... I had to re reread my instructions, make sure at least one was international.

In my case, I used the randomizer to get a list of numbers and then I hand counted..
I reread my instructions and I decided to have 1US and 1International winner and then a runner up because I thought it read like international couldn't win only be runner up.

The 2nd number I got was international so she will get the same 1st prize as our First prize winner and they are:
Amber Noel  & NotYetTheDodo is my international winner.

The Non barbell winner is:
amelieandatticus

The 2 Munki Charm/F8th winners are :
Caitlin From LethargicLass
Jenny fromKrousegirl

The 3 Fat Eighth winners are:
 Sharon from a prairie sunrise
Sarah from coincidentallyiamquilting
Kate S. from Needle and Spatula

whew! Im tired! Ill be mailing the winners later late late tonight... right now Im going to Chicken Dinner! :)
Quilters Rock!
Rachel

GIVE AWAY! day is Here!

FMF BarBells

Give away day is here .. I'm giving Flea Market Fancy Barbells. FQs of yellow, red, brown, pink BUT  a F8th of blue.
This fabric line is being reprinted, I'm celebrating! I don't have a shop but I'm sure you'll find some later this spring, the barbells won't be being reprinted. Im sure Sew mama sew will carry it and somebody is taking 10$ preorders. ( Ill put the link in after I track it down)

How do you win?
Leave a comment before Dec 16 5pm PST (make sure I have your email addy)
Tell me which Denyse Schmidt Fabric, or any OOP fabric for that matter,  you're looking for. If I  have it, and you win, maybe I'll slip some in.. Or just enter...

*EDIT* I have no Outfoxed or FFA - if you know the print or would like scraps (larger than 5" but smaller than 10") tell me.  We'll have one winner and at least two non barbell winners,  one international and one US.  I'll keep adding prizes if we go over 100 entries..

*EDIT #2 * whoo hoo! 100 entries... okay lets add another prize.. hmmm Heather Ross  sound good?
How about at least one crochet lobster (I got some in the sample sale) and You pick a F8th from these fabrics or a 6x6 charm of each...  (all poplin except the cord art supplies and twill apples)
adding another prize


















 so that's 4 winners so far.. a 1 in 50 chance... I guess Ill add another prize like this at #150
 and at #200 I'll do another edit and and add another prize.

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 *EDIT #3*
Whew! can you believe it?? Almost 300 comments and lots of new followers. So time to add new prizes right?? okay keep those comments coming but be aware I have no/zip/nada Lizzy House/AnnaMarieHorner/HeatherBailey to share.( Im hoarding it like a Squirrel with its nuts so theres that there). I do have some of the blue Pearl Bracelet from Red Letter Day and have added that in...

Keep telling me what you're looking for  in your comments ... even if you don't see it, if I have enough to share, I will.
there will be 3 more F8th winners added.. whoo hoo... this was fun...

Would love it if you chose to follow me... but its not required.  Nothing is required but a way to contact you..:)

Im shipping international

All fabric from a smoke free and pet free home.

  click the button to link back to sew mama sew.

or go straight to my pal Jill at tabslot. She is having a give away too


 Quilters Rock!
Rachel

Its Official!

Its Official! by 2ndAveStudio
Its Official!, a photo by 2ndAveStudio on Flickr.
im done quilting.... Im on to binding.
and binding and binding... I have 3 days left till our Big Xmas Potluck Portland Modern Quilt Guild Meeting. My last as a Board Member. I want to thank everybody for letting me be of service to the group. Welcome to the new Board.! Hooray!

Last/First Board Meeting









A week or so ago we all met up for the Last/First Board Meeting. The Second Annual. We meet up, sip and sup, and laugh a whole lot.
Last/First Board Meeting



Last/First Board Meeting

Last/First Board Meeting










 Good luck to Our New Board! I know you will Rock It!
Nancy, if you need me, I'll lend a hand.

In other news, watch this space, I'll be changing things up and refocusing this blog next year.
I'll be back tomorrow for a sew mama sew Give Away Day!

Quilters Rock!