Monday, June 28, 2021

FLOURISH QAL: Supplies

 We are only 3 days away 
from this fun and inspiring quilt along!
So Exciting!!

Last time we talked FABRICS!
If you are new to the conversation,
go read the introduction HERE
We will wait...
Ok, now that you are back, 
let's talk supplies.
Some of my favorite supplies!
My swirly twirly designs
are back for this project
as well but I wrote the
whole pattern for 
fusible applique' and 
that is what we will 
focus on throughout
the QAL.

 *Still love the Magic sizing 
for PRESSING my seams.
*You see my favorite 
Bohin pencil is back.
That will come in handy
depending on the value
of your border fabric.
*There are two threads
shown because the supply
list says a skein of floss
but I chose to do all my 
embroidery with a YLI 
variegated machine thread.

Other items in the picture are: 
a pencil, Karen Kay Buckley
serrated scissors for cutting
my applique' (especially
cutting into V points/curves,
a tracing kit for an
embroidery tracing shortcut
(we will discuss at that step),
all sitting on my favorite
Pellon Wonder Under & Stabilizer.
These items make my life 
so much easier.

I know we all have our
own favorite tools so 
assemble what you need
based on this supply list below:

Right click the image to save
to your computer so you can
use it as a checklist before
Thursday.
See you in 3 short days!
~~~

Saturday, June 26, 2021

FLOURISH QAL: Fabrics

 The first exciting step in starting a new
project....FABRICS!! 
YAY! YIPPEE! YAHOO!

I had a lovely floral print, 
"First Impressions" designed by
Mary Anne Henderson 
from Red Hen Fabrics 
for Northcott 
that started it for me.
The color is true in the pic above.
I used the colors in the print
to pull my applique' and other
piecing fabrics.

 I placed a ruler over the 
fabric so you can get 
an idea of the print scale.
This print worked perfectly 
with the size of the templates.
You want a small to medium
print so that the fun details show
in the smaller pieces of the design.

Here is a second colorway
shown with ruler and with
the F template since the print
is larger than the original.
It still shows a lot of
color movement though and
that is important too.

A couple of fabrics
pulled to go with
this firework/spray print.



A third colorway 
shown with ruler and 
F template for scale.


Fabrics pulled to go with 
the floral print.
I really like that architectural
print to the left and wonder 
what it may look like in an F:)


Let's look at some
other print / color options..
Wild bubbles above or
repro below?



Folk art floral above or
tulips below??
I love these tulips but will
be saving them for another project:)

As you can see,
there are soooo many options!
How do we ever decide
when we start  new projects?!

In case you missed the 
first post 
discussing some
of the basics, go
HERE to read all about it.

Start your stash hunt and 
next time we will discuss supplies.

~Keep Stitchin'~

Friday, June 18, 2021

FLOURISH: New QAL

 Well-Loved Ladies was a Huge success
and we still have many that are 
working on it because it really
isn't a quick project:)

As promised many moons ago, 
a smaller more attainable project
would be next so that those 
intimidated or not up to the 
task of WLL would be able to
join the quilt along fun and 
sharpen their skills for when
they are ready to tackle WLL. 

Twice a month starting July 1st,
I will present a tutorial via a
post here & FB that prepares us 
for the next step in the quilt along.

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 and print form 
with all full-sized templates.
I will address using the templates
for hand applique' in a blog post
when we get there:)

Techniques involved will include
general piecing of flying geese units
and half-square triangles, applique'
(hand or fusible/machine), & embroidery.

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'~

Sunday, June 13, 2021

TWINKLE WHEELS

Meet Twinkle Wheels
featuring 
Connecting Threads'  
new line of fabric 
I was fortunate enough to 
design a new pattern for them
and I needed to test out the 
block design since I 
was doing something a bit
different for me:)

OK, not the first part that
starts with half-square triangles
(some of my favorites to 
design with:).
Figuring out how to align
the center bit was a tiny
challenge but it 
worked out wonderfully
(if I do say so myself:)!

Here is my cover with 
the finished quilt and 
the second layout you
get from your cut aways
so there is hardly any
waste!

Here is another color way 
showing how a splash of yellow
really brightens it up.
It looks much more
complex than the actual
construction is.
Super easy to assemble!
When you are ready to 
make one of your own,
find my fun and simple
pattern HERE

THANK YOU,
Connecting Threads!

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

THANK YOU PIGEON FORGE!!

This is a beautiful shot of 
I was able to eat dinner here one
evening and the food was 
delicious, home cooked, stick
to your ribs eats.

I spent weeks cutting kits
and preparing patterns and 
packing quilts....

so that I could arrive
in Pigeon Forge
and teach in this 
lovely setting...

The day before classes 
started I took a short 
drive toward Gatlinburg.
So Beautiful!!
Found a covered bridge
by accident:)
Here is the wonderful
slate of instructors I 
had the honor to share
a page with!
The FUN banner 
outside of my room 
showing my schedule
for the week.
 My room set up...

The staff was super helpful
and the students were eager
and patient and fun!
It truly was a lovely way
to come back to teaching!

Found this fun treasure in an
antique shop in Pigeon Forge-SCORE!
Yes that says 1853!!
I have wanted one for awhile now
and so happy to have found a 
sweet little one that looks
darling with my machines
and spool cabinet!
Also shown here is my new
POPPY POD LANE now 
available in 
Primitive Quilts and Projects.

Lastly, on my way home, I 
stopped in to see mom:)
We did some much needed work 
around the place and also 
took time to have a couple of 
fun nights out together forcing
us to put on nicer clothes...lol.