WIP WEDNESDAY

What I'm working on..., a photo by Rachel @ 2nd Avenue Studio on Flickr.

What I'm working on is a WIP from last year that Im finally finishing .. I'm pretty excited with how its turning out and can't wait to show it off when its finished.
Hope your holiday was grand and since this week is "off" anyway I thought I'd get a head start on Wednesday. :)
I'm linking up to WIP WEDNESDAY over at Freshly Pieced.  I've got 2 new projects I want to start, they are in the pencil phase.
4 projects that need quilting and 3 projects that need binding... so we'll see how it goes... now that I've written it down I'm kind of committed..:)
Quilters Rock!

Destash

Destash, a photo by Rachel @ 2nd Avenue Studio on Flickr.

annie seed in yellow...
half yard is 5$ - there are at least 5 yards available..
whatever doesn't sell to my web and flickr friends will go to etsy...
shipping is 5$ so I dont have to think about it... :)
send me mail and we can paypal it. or when I see you if your in PDX....
Quilters Rock!
Rachel 

SYD'S 3RD BIRTHDAY

Here's the latest finish: I call it Syd's 3rd Birthday.

 

We took the quilt to a school to take pictures and the fire truck was there. So we thought "who doesn't love a fire truck?" My quilt holder felt really naughty standing so close to the truck.  Anyway, we had fun. but I guess you had to be there. :D 

 I had already made the top and was struggling to finish it. One the one hand, it was too dang cute and I loved it. One the other hand, it was a purposeless top and it had no home. I asked my girlfriend if she thought her sweet daughter (evil hellcat in a princess dress) would like the quilt. Would she tea party on it? Play on it? Look at picture books and nap on it? My girl friend Jill responded with a resounding "YES!".  Oh good, I'll finish it with her mind.
I don't have kids of my own and love doting on, making friends with, the kids of my friends. I wait patiently for the grandkids I fear my adult step kids will never give me, but that doesn't stop me buying "grandkid stash". :D

 It had four balls on it... I removed one ball and made the theme of the quilt the obvious "3".  I added borders and a little yellow to balance and play up the apple tree basket.  Note: the inner border fabric has flower pots with "get it??" 3 flowers per pot.  The cuteness sweetness is making my teeth hurt.

 I quilted it in a whimsical imperfect way that played up its charm and usefulness as a play mat.  Just simple straight lines in the baskets  with swirls and pebbles in the body with large feathers and wreaths in the border.

I wanted it to be cozy after laundry and never stiff. I bound it in ladybugs.
This is also the 3rd quilt I've made with the 60 degree triangle I got over at Tabslot.. a lot of these pieces of fabric were the fold end of a fabric strip I used to cut triangles for this quilt and this one too.. 
Happy Birthday Syd.

Quilter Rock!

Veggie Grill

Veggie grill, a photo by Rachel @ 2nd Avenue Studio on Flickr.

They added a new salad and hot plates they call homestyle plates... and I got on the list...
hopefully I'm going to the grand opening in Portland, who wants to be my plus one?

I had the fried chicken which is always delicious but next time I'll sub in for grilled.
The mashed potatoes were red and lumpy, just like I like them. seriously. yummy.
I think we all know that vegan gravy can be gross but this was really really good. really. good.
Im excited about Portland opening, but the one opening in Tanasbourne is way. too. exciting.

how you doing?

Heres a little peek at what I've got up on my wall, Im working on freehand pieced improv curves. The picture is a little fuzzy but you get the idea... Im just playing.  Right now,  Im "just looking".

....

Heres the last in the current 60 degree series... I'll be starting a new series after a while. I have really been enjoying working like this...  gives me a chance to really get to know the line/character of the shape.

Its been a busy couple of weeks, I turned in an interview, taught a class, finished a quilt and started another.... 

So excited! 

But the sun is out and  friends waiting. My machine is going to spa for a couple days so I'll be taking a little break... in the mean time, get out in that sun and enjoy your Mother... or if your a mother, be enjoyed.

Quilters Rock!

PORTLAND PEEL

Oh look! It's getting close to release! I'm so excited the templates are ready to go.  The paperwork is done and I'm ready for class at Modern Domestic PDX

 

Here is my Quilt as the cover of the template set. I had so much fun working with Jill. The download is on my side bar as is her website. I'm proud and thrilled of all our hard work. 

quilters rock! 

Gander at This

get it? ha! Its a Column of Geese quilt. Popular with the Amish and the Civil War repro crowd, I've never been particularly inspired by them. I'm pretty pleased with my interpretation. 
But I fell in love with my little process for making Geese and I was off to the races. I started making this with input from friends on flickr, I got kinda carried away. I mean, who doesn't like talking about their making? I spent a week or so,  putting up photos and saying "hey, look at what I just did?"

The strippy style quilt is also something I've done but hated as I thought it was boring..  by piecing the strips I got to show my "girly" side with the Quilt Gate by Robert Kaufman prints

 and my "modern" side with the grey, linen and selvages.

 

There are so many details that it's really impossible to show every little one. Its a vanity, I know. I put them in for me and I quilt little details in for me.

 These are my initials...:) and the year.. and I gave myself a star. Good Job! :)

If you don't get to see it in person, most of this is really lost. I just think that when a person gets to have this quilt as their own, there should be "details of love" for them to discover. 

I even pieced the back, something I rarely do, but I think it worked great. Last year Cherri and I did a 7" strip swap of Red/Aqua fabrics. I used quite a few of that stash to make this quilt.
The Red Pearl Bracelet is from Cool Cottons here in Portland, Marie is pretty awesome.  She picks great stuff for her store.

I joined the Precious QAL over at flickr. A QAL to encourage us to use our horded favorite fabrics.
I broke out my Munki, cake rock beach and Flea Market Fancy, etc...






















to make these Cinemascope Blocks- or at least, that's what I'm calling them... something like (in my memory) used to be on movie posters. "filmed in Cinemascope" I have no idea where I'm gong with it, but my last project worked so well..... I'm starting a new one.
Quilters Rock!