Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Coxcomb

Welcome to Block 8.

Lectures & Workshops - NESTLINGS by Robin

The photo above is a portion of

a circa 1860 quilt in my collection.
The quilting is cross hatch even

through the applique'.

So soft!

I went to search coxcomb for 

the plant information link and

look at this definition I found:

NOUN 

archaic: a vain and conceited man; a dandy.

synonyms: fop · beau · man about town · 

bright young thing · glamour boy · rake .

I laughed and laughed!!

Not sure why but I did:)

So, this was purchased this from 

a collector while in Paducah for my 

appraisal training when I fell

in love with the colors and layout.

Let's talk Coxcomb variations.

This design is most often 

combined with currants hence

the Coxcomb and Currants we

often hear of when titles

are being tossed around.

Mine does have a currant in 

the center which was our

block 1 in the sampler.

The unique bit about mine is

the layout using sashing vs.

setting them block to block.

Here are some lovely 

examples at the Quilt Index.

ASSEMBLY TIPS

Lots of little inside curves

on this one so the biggest

tip is take your time!!

Whether you hand applique'

this or machine, slow down

when you get 

into those valleys.

WELL-LOVED LADIES 

SAMPLER PATTERN

FULL PATTERN

Available HERE

Coxcomb TEMPLATES ONLY

HERE

My Well-Loved Ladies lecture is

where I showcase the 

variations of designs.

I am excited to announce 

this lecture is now available

in ZOOM format.

Guild program chairs can EMAIL me 

for availability:)

ADDITIONAL READING 

& Eye Candy:)

The links below go into more depth about 

either the history of the block OR 

FAB pictures of variations.

Barbara Brackman will blow you away

with all the variations she has accumulated!!

ENJOY~

The plants are beautiful! Britannica

Barbara Brackman

Coxcomb and Birds

Red and Green

Show off Piecing

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Laurel Leaves

  Welcome to Block 7.

The photo above is a portion of

a circa 1850 quilt in my collection.
The quilting is cross hatch with 

a FAB red applique' scallop border.

The leaves are done in 

various green prints.

I purchased this from a collector

in Maryland who only collects from

that region so we have a lovely

Mid-Atlantic quilt in 

the style of the day.

Let's talk Laurel Leaf variations.

There really aren't that many

variations as it is very straight 

forward in design.

When one varies it does

so in the shape of the 

red leaves at the end being

lobed or pointed.

The other variation I have 

seen is when 4 more leaves

are added in the center of

the vine crossing in a 

NSEW layout to fill in

that space.

Here are some lovely 

examples at the Quilt Index.

If you love the block so 

much you would like to 

make a full quilt, try

placing blocks on point

for another view.

ASSEMBLY TIPS

Once your vines are in 

place, there are dots at 

the leaf bases to assist

with alignment.

I recommend using a 

large tapestry needle to 

poke through the holes

so that a pencil lead

will easily fit inside

for marking.

Here is a bonus layout

for those that fall head 

over heels in love 

with this simple and

sweet design!

WELL-LOVED LADIES 

SAMPLER PATTERN

FULL PATTERN

Available HERE

Laurel Leaves TEMPLATES ONLY

HERE

My Well-Loved Ladies lecture is

where I showcase the 

variations of designs.

I am excited to announce 

this lecture is now available

in ZOOM format.

Guild program chairs can EMAIL me 

for availability:)

ADDITIONAL READING 

& Eye Candy:)

The links below go into more depth about 

either the history of the block OR 

FAB pictures of variations.

Barbara Brackman will blow you away

with all the variations she has accumulated!!

ENJOY~

Laurus nobilis

Barbara Brackman: Laurel Leaves or Photinia?

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Cherry Tree

 Welcome to Block 6.

We are now half way 

done with blocks:)

There will be a bit of a 

holiday break and I will 

be back with the next

block December 6th.

Gives you plenty of time

to catch up to us:)

Above is my ca 1860 

Cherry Tree quilt.

I loved it the minute I laid

eyes on it just for how

unique it was and 

the QUILTING!!

Quilted in 1/4" cross hatch 

with feathered wreaths

at the intersections.

OOH LA LA!

It came to me early in 

my appraisal study so I 

went to the professional who

knew way more than me 

(historians and dealers).

No one had seen this pattern

before except my dealer

friend, Cindy Rennels.

Below is her pic.

It had sold already as

Cindy is a dealer.

There is a small part of 

me that thinks

these two are related

somehow due to rarity 

and having the same quilting.

So let's talk variations...

I haven't really found any

for my design.

I have found other designs

that are called Cherry Tree and 

I have included links below 

for Quilt Index, Barbara B.,

and IQM.  

It really is a mystery:)

The Quilt Index has quite a few.

Enter the rabbit hole at your

own risk:)

This was the earliest I 

could find in a search 

of Cherry Tree and it

is dated 1852:

S. Z. Wilhoit March, 

1852 by her mother

ASSEMBLY TIPS

When you look at the 

applique' it is mirror image.

The templates are created

as mirror image for the top

and the bottom halves.

You will need to tape

pages together.

Easy and fun:)

Come quilt along with us

as we learn about the quilts

that inspired my 

WELL-LOVED LADIES 

SAMPLER PATTERN

FULL PATTERN

Available HERE

Cherry Tree TEMPLATES ONLY

HERE

My Well-Loved Ladies lecture is

where I showcase the 

variations of designs and 

it is exciting to announce that 

this lecture will become available

in ZOOM format in 2021

for so many more guilds to access

and see all the lovely details.

ADDITIONAL READING:

The links below go into more depth about 

either the history of the block OR 

FAB pictures of variations.

Barbara Brackman will blow you away

with all the variations she has accumulated!!

ENJOY~

Black Cherry

Barbara Brackman Cherry Tree

InternationalQuiltMuseum

IQM Cherry Tree

Rocky Road to Love

Meet ROCKY ROAD TO LOVE 

in the Winter 2020 issue of

Primitive Quilts and Projects.

I have always loved the look and 

feel of this magazine so it is 

an honor to be amongst the pages.

My piece was inspired by 

a ca 1900 crazy quilt-esqe 

variation with embroidered hearts

that I came across during research.

The block is Rocky Road to Kansas

along with other names.

Many of us have had a rocky

road to finding love and so

once that thought entered

my brain, I was off to create:)

Here is a great article to 

read more about the history 

of the block....

The Rocky Road to Kansas.

For fabrics I chose to work

with Primitive Gatherings'

primitive muslins for that soft

'looks like wool but isn't' look.

My hearts are needle turn

applique' and it turns beautifully.

My tip for marking is

to use a thicker needle 

(I used my embroidery needle)

to poke holes every 3/8"

or so that I can get the point 

of a pencil through.

As you can see in the picture,

a fun round of connect

the dots gives the perfect

line for embroidery.

When it was time to mark

for quilting, I used the 

freezer paper hearts from

my needle turn tracing.

Iron them down where I 

want them, quilt around,

then remove without residue.

Easy!

Don't forget that label:)

I get busy and throw just

the basics on before shipping

but will now go back to add

some more info and

'Published' date.

Here is an exciting YIPPEE moment...

I was in 2 different shops that day

and found Rocky Road to Love

hanging out with my Wayward Sisters

and Where Love Grows!!

As you can see I was in 

a very lovey mood last year:)

I also hope you will remember

my skills next time your guild is 

looking for a new teacher.

My military 'jack of all trades'

designation has definitely transferred

over to my quilting  and I look 

forward to meeting you.

 

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Turkey Tracks

 Welcome to Block 5.

The photo above is a portion of

a circa 1860 quilt in my collection.
The quilting is triple rods in the 

background with echo quilting

within the applique' pieces.

This lady LOVED to hand quilt:)
I really love her winding border too.

Most often it was done only in red 

and green so finding a yellow

and green is fun & different.

Sometimes it was appliqued

and sometimes it was pieced.

LOVE the border on this one!

Both of mine are applique'...Yay!!

The original name of this

block was Wandering Foot.

The fun MYTH that goes with

this block is that the original name

was changed due to a superstition 

about it bringing wanderlust to

the owner of the quilt.

It is a fun story that you

can read HERE.

So let's talk Wandering Foot

or Turkey Tracks variations.

This design is also sometimes

called a tulip so let's look to

Barbara Brackman, Queen of

design indexing.

Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns:

3 variations of Wandering Foot &

1 Turkey Tracks.

Encyclopedia of Applique'

there are 2.

Neither of these searches

included the word tulip.

The Quilt Index has quite a few.

Enter the rabbit hole at your

own risk:)

This particular one was made

by Mrs. W.P. Butler 1850-1875

ASSEMBLY TIPS

The center

was stitched in place.

I then stitched my 3 petals together

before using the outer seam 

allowance to hand applique'

my complete set to the 

background.

Come quilt along with us

as we learn about the quilts

that inspired my 

WELL-LOVED LADIES 

SAMPLER PATTERN

FULL PATTERN

Available HERE

Turkey Tracks TEMPLATES ONLY

HERE

My Well-Loved Ladies lecture is

where I showcase the 

variations of designs and 

it is exciting to announce that 

this lecture will become available

in ZOOM format in 2021

for so many more guilds to access

and see all the lovely details.

ADDITIONAL READING:

The links below go into more depth about 

either the history of the block OR 

FAB pictures of variations.

Barbara Brackman will blow you away

with all the variations she has accumulated!!

ENJOY~

CollectorWithANeedle

Barbara Brackman Tulip or Turkey?

InternationalQuiltMuseum

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME:)

Another year passes and 

how do we mark them?

This year has had many 

challenges and one was all

my work cancellations.

As October approached, 2

contracts remained and both

groups decided to go forward.

So the day before my birthday

I taught one of my favorite

workshops ever, 

Fabric Collaborations

to the 

Florida Sewing Sew-ciety up

at the Lake Yale Baptist Center

near Leesburg, FL

.

Beautiful setting and a 

FABULOUS group of ladies.

They really took my inspiration

and made it their own.

Below is Margaret Travis and 

her sister, Marie.

Margaret is known for her Fabulous 

Cheerleading in our industry!

On my actual birthday, I spent 

the evening showing off the 

LADIES to the 

Ladies of the Lakes Quilters

in Lakeland, FL.

They loved them almost as

much as I do:)

I was somewhat apprehensive

getting back out with the 

new little coming to visit.

Thankfully most were very 

understanding of wearing masks.

I received lots of wonderful gifts 

from family and friends including

fabric, a salon tray for upcoming

filming assistance and ….

This sweet little

 (ca 1940s??) machine &

This Awesome book about

the Colonial Williamsburg

textile collection!

Four Centuries of Quilts

The reason I was so excited

is that back in 2018 I was 

privileged to stitch with some

of the volunteers on this quilt (above)

as they reproduced it for the 

house displays around the property.

When I received the book, I 

was able to find the exact 

quilting diagram of what I 

had been working on.

Nerd here finds that

very exciting:)

So, HAPPY HAPPY

BIRTHDAY to 

all the October kids and

Thank you to everyone

who reached out to make

me feel special!

 

Keep quilting:)