Botanical Beauty block #9

 Celebrate!

Did you know that the very first use 

of fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July

was on the first anniversary of our 

declared independence, July 4th, 1777!

In 1776, then-future President John Adams 

sent a letter to his wife, Abigail, 

outlining how the country's declared 

independence from England should be celebrated. 

He wrote that the day should be marked 

with "pomp & parade, with shews (shows), 

games, sports, bonfires, bells and illuminations 

from one end of this continent to the other 

from this time forward forever more (sic)."

The next year, a July 4th fireworks display 

in Philadelphia began and ended with 13 rockets, 

according to American University historian 

James R. Heintze.

"The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, 

and at night there was a grand exhibition 

of fireworks, which began and concluded 

with thirteen rockets on the commons, 

and the city was beautifully illuminated," he wrote. "Everything was conducted with the greatest order and decorum, and the face of joy and gladness was universal."

By about five years later, the fireworks 

shows included a wide variety of 

types of fireworks such as serpents, 

wheels, table rockets, cherry trees, 

fountains and sunflowers.

So there you have it: 

We celebrate our independence 

with fireworks and picnics because 

that's the way our founders 

intended it to be.

It is quite the spectacle now

with towns going bigger and

better all the time.

I still love a great show but am 

also aware now how these

can affect veterans.

As to the origin of my block above, 

maybe you remember it from 

another quilt of mine published

in AQ magazine a few years back,

Rockets Red Glare.

So, even if you aren't up for 

making Botanical Beauty, there

are other fun patriotic quilts to make:)

Keep Quilting:)

Botanical Beauty block #8

 Welcome to block #8, Homestead.

This is a modified block from my Village Square 

quilt a few years ago that was published in

American Quilter Magazine.

When I named this block, I was

thinking about how the colonists came here

then had to set up a new home.

Having done that my whole life via 

military transfers, I can't imagine how

much harder it was for them!!

My process was very involved and sometimes 

difficult and yet I didn't have

to clear my own land or build my own

home when I arrived.

My food was already grown and in a 

nice grocery store for me to pluck 

necessities off a shelf for my family.

The Homestead Act didn't come until 1862.

Before that the colonists had to endure rough 

terrain and build roads before they

could even get to a spot to clear for a home.

During the war, soldiers and troops could

just plunder what you had already 

grown for your family...No protections.

They were badass!

My trials pale in comparison and I am 

so grateful to those who stuck it out and 

prospered in the face of adversity.

IF you are new to our quilt along,

the FULL pattern is available as a 

PDF digital download HERE.

Etsy offers tips for printing digital patterns.

Please be sure to print ACTUAL SIZE.

All templates have a 1" square for accuracy.

This is a single-copy purchase for a single user!

Copies may not be forwarded or copied to 

be shared with others!

The pattern is required for the QAL.

My accompanying posts and videos

will not provide any measurements.

I will be providing technique

tips and history tidbits.

The QAL is taking place in 

my FB Group, 

Robin's Rocking Needles

 with blog posts

adding additional information.

Make sure all your notifications

are turned on so you don't miss anything.

If you aren't a member yet, please 

answer all 3 questions an agree to the 

rules in order to be accepted. Thank you.

HAPPY QUILTING:)

Stars of Peace #7

 Welcome back for block 7, Community.

This month's block is unnamed but

attributed to the Dakota Farmer of 1926.

It is also listed in a Grandmother Clark

booklet in 1932

(Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia).

No matter what we call it, it is a

beautiful star block that I named,

Community. This piggybacked well 

with last month's Neighborhood.

They both make me contemplate my

youth and how those different

communities shaped me whether they

were the military community, church, or

my school clubs, teachers and friends.

In reference to the Revolutionary War,

there were so many women who saw

a need in their community and found

a way to help. 

One such woman was 

Esther de Berdt Reed.

When you click on her name above, her

page will tell you how she used her

privilege to aid George Washington.

The connection to sewing and how we

use this skill to aid our communities today

is important to remember and pass along

to generations that follow.

~Keep Stitching~

Botanical Beauty block #7

 Welcome back for block 7, Laurel Wreaths.

You will make 2 of these this month.

Laurel leaves were part of my WLL quilt along

back in 2020 and HERE is the blog post

about the original quilt.

Since then, I have been playing with

other layouts. This is one of the layouts

that I have put into repeat as a fabric

design too for that exciting someday...:)

The symbolic history of the laurel is one of 

triumph and achievement since the 

original Greek Olympics and you 

can read more about that HERE if you choose.

I find it a nice easy simple shape especially for 

beginner hand appliquers.

The best way I have found to make them even

is to fold my freezer paper in half, 

trace half the leaf to my freezer paper, 

refold then cut on the traced line. 

This gives me a symmetrical

leaf to trace to fabric.

I hope you find some other fun 

uses for this fun leaf shape!

~Keep Stitching~

Stars of Peace block #6

 Welcome back for block 6, "Neighborhood".

I know this is a variation on a block,

but at this writing, I can't find my

notes on which block.

I do know that when I was 

done reworking it, it reminded

me of a neighborhood with homes

in the middle and the 

protective 'fence' line.

It reminded me of my childhood

when the neighborhood was all I needed! 

My first neighborhood memories are 

of when I was 4/5 years old in New York. 

We lived in military housing.

My friends were there 

along with the playground we 

spent hours at making up

all sorts of imaginary games.

There were woods surrounding the

housing that we were NOT supposed to 

go into....You know how that goes:)

We would sneak in there when the 

bushes were full of wild blueberries and

gorge ourselves thinking our parents

would never know. HA

Every child should experience

that at least once:)

Look at that repeat of 4....

I am excited that any

of the blocks in this

quilt make a great quilt

on their own once repeated.

Change the color

and rotate 2 blocks

for inner squares that

point out.

And, please show me pics of

what you do with some of the blocks!

Botanical Beauty block #6

Welcome to block #6 of the 

Sester Centennial quilt along.

This photo is of the original block

found on a circa 1860 quilt I own.

It is part of

my Well-Loved Ladies Sampler.

I redrafted it smaller as part of 

my Botanical Beauty sampler.

In the WLL sampler I named it 

apple block.

In the BB sampler I named it

tomato.

In my original studies of this design,

I found that it could go either way but

felt it looked more tomato.

The history of the tomato plant is quite 

interesting and if you want to read more,

go HERE. Thankfully it isn't poisonous

as initially thought and ours are 

growing great right now.

Are you growing any yourself?

Barbara Brackman wrote THIS

about tomato designs although

I know that design as a love apple:)

HERE is the original post about

the block in my WLL sampler.

Enjoy reading a little quilt history

in between stitching this sweet block.

 

Botanical Beauty block #5

Welcome to block #5, Tulip Star.

I designed this block about 10 years 

ago and planned to do it in red, white, and green.

Here is the center of the original.

It is soooo close to done:) and instead 

of finishing it, I have created a 

small wall hanging pattern and 

now included it in my Botanical Beauty Sampler. 

It has been enlarged and shrunk down 

depending on my feelings for that project.

I am loving the red, white, and blue!!

So, now imagine making multiples of 

this block and setting them together

as shown above.

What a gorgeous patriotic quilt you 

will have and they sort of look

like fireworks:)

IF you are new to our quilt along,

the FULL pattern is available as a 

PDF digital download HERE.

Etsy offers tips for printing digital patterns.

Please be sure to print ACTUAL SIZE.

All templates have a 1" square for accuracy.

This is a single-copy purchase for a single user!

Copies may not be forwarded or copied to 

be shared with others!

The pattern is required for the QAL.

My accompanying posts and videos

will not provide any measurements.

I will be providing technique

tips and history tidbits.

The QAL is taking place in 

my FB Group, 

Robin's Rocking Needles

 with blog posts

adding additional information.

Make sure all your notifications

are turned on so you don't miss anything.

If you aren't a member yet, please 

answer all 3 questions an agree to the 

rules in order to be accepted. Thank you.

SCHEDULE

Looks like a lot but time flies when we quilt:)

February 2025: Pattern Release

February '25-April '26: 1 block per month

May '26: Finishing Instructions

June '26: Time to get it quilted

July 2026: Show that baby off to all 

who will want to see to celebrate 

our country's 250th birthday. 

HAPPY QUILTING:)