Colorful Song Titles:

Every year at the Mancuso Mid-Atlantic show there are a multitude of Special Exhibitions.  The 2013 challenge from the Cabin Branch and Stone House Quilt Guilds was to come up with a song that has a color in the title and use that as inspiration. 

There were too many to photograph, so below are a few of my favorites .

 



 

Leslie Harris, Woodbridge VA

I love the color pallette and the quilting in this one. 

The quilting gives it such a delicate feel.  Good job, Leslie!



Jane Miller, Woodbridge VA

Again the quilting caught my eye but I also really appreciate the 'random' placing of gold in the background.  Very successful movement, Jane.

Carlene Halsing, Woodbridge VA

This was purely for technique!  This flower is so textural and fun to look at.  It got a lot of attention, Carlene.

Amazing what a little imagination can do!  This is why attending quilt shows is so important to our industry.  It only takes one little idea to become the next masterpiece.
Keep quilting!

BUSY BUSY BUSY

If you have wondered where I was, I have been very busy!  January brought that pesky 2 week flu that was really hard to shake. Then my husband had it too so in that one week overlap, we were pretty pathetic together!
That put me 2 weeks behind on my work deadlines with a February trip looming. February is when I usually make the trek up to Virginia to attend the Mid-Atlantic quilt show with my mom and spend some time hanging out with her.  It is fun and I usually run into some NC friends along the way.  This year's entry into the show was none other than my Butterfly Cabin design. 

Available at Nestlings by Robin website

I also talked mom into taking a beading class with me.  As a reasonably intelligent person, I am sure I could have figured out the Peyote stitch myself but it is always easier to learn something hands-on.  So we indulged ourselves with an all day class with Mary Stori and I highly recommend her.  The class went smoothly, at a good pace, with her telling us stories while we beaded.  Her samples were beautiful and it was like a class and a lecture all rolled into one.

While at mom's, I was able to finish quilting 3 new red work pattern samples so I could sit and write once home again. Plus I fused some things and traced a couple of red work pieces for her. 

Once home, I got busy writing my patterns...coming soon...and preparing to demo at my guild.  Mom came home with me and patiently sat knitting while I worked the first 3 days she was here.  Got to love a mom, right?!

Now I am finishing a design that I started before VA. that needs to be sent in for photography...more about that exciting news coming soon.
This is the down side of publishing- I have such fun things to show you but I can't, YET:)

I am in Quiltmaker!



Last week the Spring issue of Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks hit shelves and my Watermelon Days table runner is on page 68!

 

The original block is my Pinwheel Salute from Volume 5 and it really goes to show what changing the colors in a design can do!  This is a moment where I want everyone to think about doing something different vs. wanting the exact one that is on the pattern cover.  When you see a design you like but not the color scheme, change it up!

If you haven't paper pieced, give it a try!  A little patience and you have a new skill in your quilting arsenal that will bring you years of enjoyment.

Happy Quilting!

Robin