Apple Baskets in AQ Magazine

 

Hello Apple Baskets!

Now appearing in the January 2022

issue of American Quilter Magazine,

this delightful reproduction of 

an antique quilt in my collection

brings that red and green 

cheer to any home.

When I started thinking about 

how to reproduce my very large

collection of red and green

applique' quilts from the 1800s, 

I truly considered making a one

off (in miniature) of every 

single quilt until I counted-LOL!!!

The idea eventually turned into

my Well-Loved Ladies Sampler.

I am so pleased I did the 

sampler but there were

one or two that had been 

started and needed to 

be seen through to completion.

Apple Baskets was one of

those ideas I just couldn't put away.

The border circles are so fun!

My original sample is done

with needle-turn applique' but

as always, I have written the 

instructions for fusible applique'

so you can get it done in this 

lifetime:) and have it up for 

next Christmas!

If you are not already an AQS member,

I highly recommend becoming one.

HERE is how to get your copy today!

~Keep Stitching~

Winter Games QAL: SAVE THE DATE

Who is ready for some 
BLIZZARD QUILTING?!! 

Anyone else have wonderful memories 

of watching the Olympics every year?
I think the most exciting one for me was 

1980 because we lived near
Albany, NY then and the excitement was 

amazing living so close to
​where it was all happening:)
SO, this year I will be hosting a QAL 

during the 2 weeks of the Winter Olympics.  

We will be sewing on my quilt, 

Winter Games.

This quilt was designed 

years and years ago 

but never made it to pattern stage

until now:)

As with previous QALs, 

all the information will 

be found here and in 

my newsletters.

You will need a pattern to participate

 in this quilt-along.

The pattern has been written for

fusible applique' and will be 

offered in PDF format only 

with all full-sized templates.

Techniques involved will include

general piecing, paper piecing & 

fusible machine applique'.

Of course, there will be some video assists

to help in the process.

We will be doing all the discussion and

ooohing/aaahing of fabric choices over

in my FB group, Robin's Rocking Needles.

As before, over the next few weeks

expect multiple blog posts leading up to 

our big reveal day where I will discuss

fabric selection and supplies so you

can start preparing and be ready to go

as soon as you get your pattern.

Please leave a comment here if you have

any questions or email me,

robin@nestlingsbyrobin.com

I will be stitching along too as I make

another one in fusible applique' in 

another color way.

Until next time,

keep stitchin'~

Quilter's Workshop of Tampa Bay, FL 2021 Quilt Show

 This guild does a FAB show 

and they didn't disappoint this year!

One of the members

even wore her best 

poodle skirt and scarf.

Wish I had asked for a pic:)

Here was my booth for 

conducting business and 

catching up with familiar faces!

Lots of vendors with lots

of lovelies!

This fun vintage booth

had a couple of 'take me home'

pieces just for me:)

Then we must not forget

the quilts:)

All silk ties!!

Margaret Stephens

Spinning Spools

Margaret Stephens

LOOK at the fabulous

ribbons they make 

for their winners!

BEST OF SHOW!!

Lorraine Masten

Around the World with

Mary Mannekee.

So much to see and I couldn't

possibly get it all in one post.

Thanks for visiting

and keep stitching:)

Ocala, FL Quilt Show 2021

Time to get back out there,

meet people, hear their stories, 

and appraise quilts

I was very impressed with the

Country Road Quilters'

community service efforts!

They had a whole stage

devoted to their accomplishments.

The donation board below

divides the different

ways one can help out 

their community and the 

number of donations made

to each endeavor.

FANTASTIC!!!

Here is just one wall

of vendors and they had

a wonderful array of goodies.

I spent some of my 

hard earned $$ on 

lovely bits I didn't need but

who is to say:)

There were 3 drapes worth

of AMAZING miniature quilts.

The patience....!!!

Lastly, this was BEST of SHOW

made by Kay Smith.

She is also a lovely hostess.

The level of workmanship in

this guild was incredible and I 

just don't have the space to 

include them all, sadly!

Thank you to the 

Country Road Quilters

for having me to their show

and being delightful in every way.

 

HOPE for Christmas:)

HOPE

I don't know where my

grandpa got his love of candles

but it passed down to my

mother and to me.

For years one of my shopping

highlights was going to 

Yankee Candle every season

to see what new wonderful

candle décor was available.

Being brought up Catholic

there were many opportunities 

for candle lighting.

Once old enough to light my

own candle in thought or 

remembrance of another was

a big deal for me.

I enjoyed the ceremonial aspect

 of lighting the candle then 

kneeling to prayer.

Then there were the Advent candles

every Christmas season and the 

Easter wreath as well.

I do believe most people 

have a fascination with flame.

On to the quilt:)

Easy 4 patches shown above

helped make this little piece 

everything I wanted it to be. 

Small enough to be a weekend 

project with that bit of 

holiday charm to it.

No reason it can't be done 

in blue to celebrate our 

Jewish friends as well.

Of course, we all know

I made mine by hand:) but 

the instructions are written

for fusible so you can 

be ahead of the gift-giving season.

THANK YOU

 QUILTER'S WORLD for

publishing this gift of Hope:)

 ~Enjoy this gift of HOPE

for you and yours this season

and everyday~

Robin

SHOE TREE

  The November issue of AQ Magazine is out for 
delivery and on shelves very soon:)

So Much Inspiration and, if I 

may, yay me for being included

amongst the amazing talent!

I had been playing with shrinking

my shoes from my, "Get Pumped"

BOM in 2015.

You can find this 'tricked out'

design in my Etsy Shop.

HERE is the blog post about it:)

If only I could wear these to 

Thanksgiving dinner this year!!

This design is in my Etsy Shop too.

HERE is the blog post about it:)

As I was saying....

I had shrunk the shoes down so

I could recreate a picture I had

taken in South Beach, FL. of 

a shop window full of 

crystal decorated shoes.

I am not a "shoe" person but 

all that color and shiny...LOL!

So one day I am chatting with 

a friend and, Voila', 

this darling mini variation

is imagined.

THANK YOU, Mary:)!

I can't wait to see

all the new trees going up 

this holiday season:)

Beginnings, Breaking Free, & Sexual Abuse Awareness

BREAKING FREE!

Years ago I was part of an 

art group that did a challenge

where we were given a 

monthly prompt from which

to write a Haiku.

I really enjoyed the Haiku

writing and the creativity it brought.

Once our Haiku was written, we 

were to create a small art piece

that represented our Haiku.

Breaking Free

Bound by darkness then

bubbling want from within

Breaking free, blooming.

When "beginnings" was our 

prompt, I found myself thinking 

a lot about my past and how many

"beginnings" I had been offered 

over the years and not taken advantage of.

WHY?? FEAR!!

It made me think about where 

I wanted my design career to go and 

how much fear was still holding me back.

I want to bloom!

I want to be bolder!

I want to be everything I know I can be!!

I thought about all obstacles I had

already overcome and how it feels like

a maze as you daily maneuver your way 

through the world, your feelings, your healing, 

and all your relationships (some knowing, most not!)

Forty years after the sexual abuse

 and somedays it 

still feels like yesterday.

I can be cruising along, all going well,

and then one little trigger and I just 

want to curl into a ball and give it all up.

I don't talk about this publicly

and I rarely talk about it privately

because it is terribly uncomfortable 

for most people including me!

It is time to STOP being afraid!!!

The original art piece is 

only about 7" x 9" and had

grommets so I could put all 

the Haiku art pieces together.

It is all painted and machine

quilted from a sketch I drew.

The browns represent the dark 

times with blue feeling like

waves crushing and /or uplifting 

me depending on the day.

Green is the new growth and 

the blooming of healing and growing.

You will notice the colors all 

intermingle because life isn't all 

good or bad no matter what the 

struggle is that you are dealing with.

When it came time to create the

pattern, I knew it most closely

resembled a log cabin and so that

is how it is written.

I tried to stay as true to my original 

idea as possible because I loved it so!

True to form I am running a bit

behind so here is a top minus 

the embroidery/quilting.

If you follow me on my FB page,

you will get to watch it grow

as I post updates on finishing it.

The pattern has been tested, I promise:)

Back to the topic...

As I stated in my last post HERE,

I have joined an awareness group.

This month it is my turn and I 

chose this design to bring awareness to

Sexual Abuse.

My story is that I was abused 

all through my teenage years.

I attempted suicide.

I thought I was Alone!

Please know that as much as 

you loathe hearing about what 

we are going through, we 1000%

more hate dealing with it on a 

constant basis.

We don't tell anyone all the times

we are reminded of it or are dealing with it!!

We suffer in silence!

I made many choices in life 

that aggravated my suffering.

These decisions were made out of guilt,

shame, and fear of not being loved.

Those who support us have no idea how

thankful we are for your understanding,

BELIEVING US,

your shoulder to cry on, 

your friendship and love!!

We don't talk about these 

people enough!!

We don't give them enough credit 

for dealing with our emotional 

outbursts and bad behavior.

THANK YOU!

I was one of the few fortunate ones who

found a wonderful, loving man

who helped me heal while 

dealing with WAY MORE

than he bargained for when he 

married me.

We raised 2 amazing children

and I didn't mess them up

anymore than anyone else.

I am eternally grateful for 

him and them for showing

me real love and joy.

It has been a life of constant healing.

It NEVER goes away!!

MY hope is that we will all become

better listeners.  It is extremely uncomfortable 

but every time one chooses not to listen,

the survivor feels all the lies are true!

My other hope is that all those suffering 

in silence will find the courage to 

find a support group.

There is hope for a better life, I promise!

You have to work for it just

like anything else but you 

are worth putting in the effort for.

You are NOT Alone!!

Please help a friend 

 by just listening when needed.

It isn't an easy subject to hear

about but it means the world to that

one person to have someone hear

them, believe them, and allow them

to have those moments when the world

is too much.

My charity is RAINN.

RAINN does so much in the way of 

educating, counseling,  & training.

They offer a safe and confidential

place to reach out and find the

assistance and someone to listen,

so desperately needed.

If you are open to quilting for a cause

and want to try something a little less

traditional whilst helping another, 

my pattern can be found HERE.

For every pattern purchased, $8

will be donated to RAINN.

Thank you to Carolyn Burgess and 

the other designers sharing their stories.

I THANK YOU from the bottom of 

my heart if you read all the way to

the bottom of my public moment!!

You are FAB!

What is your issue?

 I took a deep breath and joined a group of quilters

that will be promoting social awareness for

diseases or issues that are

important and personal to them.

I do hope you will take the

time to read their stories and

support where you can.

The quilter who organized us

is Carolyn Burgess

She lost her lovely

daughter way too young!!

It is a story familiar

to my family when we

lost my aunt at the

very young age of 35

due to a brain aneurysm.

Carolyn wants to bring

awareness to this silent killer.

Go HERE to read more

about Carolyn's story

and what she is doing

for awareness.

&

~Keep Stitchin~

FLOURISH QAL: Ready-Set-Stitch!

FLOURISH

BLOOM-CHERISH

GROWTH-HOPE

 I am beyond excited to bring my

FLOURISH quilt pattern to you!

Lots of information in this post

so please read to the end. 

As you can see at the time 

of this posting, I am still quilting it:)

Although I rarely use 

blue in my designs, the fabric

and the design itself both

required it for this layout

to be joyful and balanced.

Now to the QAL:

I am so excited you are here.

The FB group has continued

to grow & since this is a 

smaller project, I am looking forward 

to lively participation!

The FULL pattern is available as a 

PDF digital download HERE at an

introductory price of $12 until 

July 8th, 2021

(Reg price $16)

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 only.

The QAL will take place in 

my FB Group with blog posts

adding additional information.

FB has been playing again so 

make sure all your notifications

are turned on so you don't miss anything.

Go to the area circled in orange to click the

 3 dots for a drop down menu.

In the menu (purple arrow) Follow group and in 

Manage notifications choose to get all posts.

SCHEDULE

Since most of us be doing

this as a fusible  applique'

project, I will moving at

a faster pace than last QAL.

JULY 1ST: Pattern Available

I may be live too:)

We can talk options.

July 3rd: We will be discussing piecing

July10th: Let's talk LETTERING

Fusible vs. Hand Applique'

July 17th: Embroidery tips

Machine vs. Hand

July 24th: Side borders

I will give extra time for this step

and to allow catching up for 

our hand work quilters.

August 7th: Bottom Border

August 14th: French knots vs. 

Colonial knots vs. beading:)

August 21st: Assembly

August 28th: Quilting Motifs

Extra time for catching up 

for our final reveals! 

September 12th: ZOOM meet up day

to show off your beauties.

Just hearing about all of this?

Follow these links to catch up:)

Introduction

Fabric selection

Supplies

OK, 

Ready ~ Set ~ GO!

See you over on FB

In case you forgot to click over:)

AVAILABLE HERE