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:)

Stars of Peace block #5

Welcome back:)

We are in full swing now and into month #5.

I do hope those sewing along are 

making progress that can be shown in

Robin's Rocking Needles.

This month's block name is, 

Lady in the Whitehouse and attributed

to Nancy Cabot in 1937

(Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia).

We have had many Amazing first

ladies in our White House!

The first lady in 1937 was 

Eleanor Roosevelt and she is a personal

favorite of mine!

Some of her accomplishments include:

Eleanor Roosevelt was more than just a First Lady—

she was a trailblazer, a humanitarian, and a champion 

for justice whose influence continues to resonate today. 

Known for her unwavering commitment to civil rights, 

women’s equality, and global human rights, she redefined 

what it meant to be a leader in public life.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a vocal proponent of 

racial equality during an era of segregation

and discrimination. Her decision to resign from the 

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 

protest of their refusal to allow Marian Anderson, 

an African-American singer, to perform in 

Constitution Hall was a bold statement.

She went a step further by arranging for 

Anderson to sing at the Lincoln Memorial in a 

concert that became a powerful symbol of racial justice. 

Eleanor also regularly met with African-American 

leaders and supported anti-lynching legislation, 

despite opposition from Southern politicians.

After Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death, Eleanor continued 

her political work by serving as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations. 

President Harry Truman appointed her to the role, 

where she became a key figure in drafting the 

Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As the first chairperson of the 

United Nations Human Rights Commission, 

Eleanor Roosevelt worked to establish its 

framework and mission. Her leadership was 

instrumental in bringing together representatives 

from diverse nations to create the

 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

She emphasized the importance of universal dignity, 

equality, and freedom, navigating complex political 

tensions during the drafting process. 

Her work laid the foundation for international 

human rights advocacy and continues to inspire 

efforts to protect human rights worldwide.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s lifelong commitment to humanitarian 

work extended far beyond her years in the White House. 

She championed causes such as affordable housing, 

education, and healthcare, often working with grassroots 

organizations to drive change.

After leaving the White House, she chaired 

John F. Kennedy’s Presidential Commission 

on the Status of Women, which advanced the 

discussion on gender equality. 

Her dedication to social justice and her hands-on 

approach to activism inspired generations to

continue the fight for a more equitable society.

If you would like to read more about her,

here are 2 links:

10 Eleanor Roosevelt Accomplishments and Achievements - Have Fun With History

Eleanor Roosevelt - Wikipedia

I hope you enjoy stitching this block.

See you over on FB:)

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 will take 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. 

Tour de Fabric 2025 Quilt Along

I am so excited to run my 

first Christmas in July event

in conjunction with 

Tour de Fabric. 

Everyone is welcome here whether 

you registered through their site or not.  

I encourage you to visit the 

site (link above) for all the other fun 

offers they have this summer.

My quilt along will be this fun & 
easy to accomplish wall hanging.

The link to the pattern is HERE 

(pattern is required).

We will work on it in 4 easy

skill building steps so if you know

someone new to quilting,

this is the perfect beginner project.

The quilt along runs July 1st-Aug 3rd.

Please go to my WEBSITE and 

sign up for my newsletter where 

you will be added to a list just

for this project.

You will receive your steps 

via a newsletter each week.

I look forward to adding a 

finishing ZOOM so we can meet

and show off our finishes!

In addition to the quilt along, all 

Christmas/Winter Holiday 

patterns in my ETSY shop will 

be on sale the whole month of July! 

Be sure to check them out.

Join Tour de Fabric:)

Join the HOPE quilt along:)

Join the fun:)

See you soon!

Sestercentennial Sampler Month 2

 Hello everyone!

I am excited that we are off to a great start.

Please share your progress over in 

the Robin's Rocking Needles

FB group.

I bet many of you made 

Betsy Ross proud as you stitched

all those stars:)💖

It is March 5th and snowing

as I write this....

As I said in the introductions,

in honor of those who sacrifice(d),

we should highlight some

not-so-well-known heroes of 

the Revolutionary War each month

with the block for that month.

Keep reading for this month's

first one.

MONTH 2:

IF you are working on 

"Stars of Peace", your block 2

is called Ribbon Stars and you 

are making 2 of them.

IF you are working on 

"Botanical Beauty", your block 2

is called Star Sashes and you

are making 2 of them.

I am hoping to have some

bias tape video assists up

later next week.

In Barbara Brackman's

Encyclopedia of Pieced designs,

Ribbon Stars is joined by

other stars named: 

Lone Star, Texas Star, Crystal Star,

Joining Star, and Star of Virginia.

All these designs have estimated 

publish dates between the late

1920s to the 1930s.

I say publish dates because the designs

have been around longer but we 

didn't have "published" quilt designs then.

The Star Sashes from "Botanical Beauty"

are from another published pattern of mine

that can be found in the QOVF book, 

"All-Star Quilts of Valor: 

25 Patriotic Patterns from Star Designers Book".

I used it as the borders for the quilt

in that book but they were larger to fit the quilt.

Now to honor an unsung hero...

There are so many to choose from 

once you start researching.

Meet Deborah Sampson Gannett!

If you click on her name, you can

read her whole story-FASCINATING!

Deborah Sampson Gannett, also known as 

Deborah Samson or Deborah Sampson, 

was a Massachusetts woman who 

disguised herself as a man and served in 

the Continental Army during the 

American Revolutionary War. 

Born in Plympton, Massachusetts, 

she served under the name Robert Shirtliff. 

She was in uniform for 17 months 

before her sex was revealed in 1783 

when she required medical treatment 

after contracting a fever in Philadelphia. 

After her real identity was made 

known to her commander, 

she was honorably discharged at West Point. 

After her discharge, Sampson met and 

married Benjamin Gannett in 1785. 

In 1802, she became one of the first 

women to go on a lecture tour to speak 

about her wartime experiences. 

She died in Sharon, Massachusetts, in 1827. 

She was proclaimed the 

Official Heroine of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

on May 23, 1983, and in 1985 the 

United States Capitol Historical Society 

posthumously honored "Deborah Samson" 

with the Commemorative Medal.

HERE is another great write up 

about her.

This is a story that honors not just Deborah, 

but the people around her that recognized

her value and contribution by bestowing on her

an honorable discharge and a medal so that 

she wouldn't be a lost story in our history!

The pattern is required for the QAL.

Stars of Peace

Botanical Beauty

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!

Just hearing about all of this?

Follow these links to catch up:)

Stars of Peace Info

BB Introduction

BB Fabric & Supplies

OK, 

Ready ~ Set ~ GO!

See you over on FB

Botanical Beauty QAL: IT'S HERE:)

 I am giddy with excitement!!

As I said before, this is one

of the grandest things I have ever done!

After many hours of work

 I am THRILLED to bring my,

Botanical Beauty: Sestercentennial Sampler

quilt pattern to you!

Lots of information in this post

so please read to the end.

I am very proud of my 

family's military service

and of all the military members

and their families

that sacrifice much 

more than most will ever know.

In honor of those who sacrifice,

I will be highlighting some

not-so-well-known heroes of 

the Revolutionary War each month

with the block for that month.

There will also be a bit of history

about the block shown (designer, etc).

MONTH 1:

Eagle and Stars set on a background.

There will be a video assist for 

aligning those stars so neatly:)

After I drew my eagle, I thought I 

remembered a myth about what the 

direction of the head meant.

I asked my fellow historians in the 

American Quilt Study Group and 

this is what I was told:

"When the eagle on the presidential

seal faces left and the talons hold

arrows, we are at war. 

When it faces right and holds 

olive branches, we are at peace.

The presidential seal doesn't switch out

like that but the information is interesting.

I am glad I drew it facing right but I 

left out the olive branches for ease of applique'.

Now to the QAL:

Thank YOU for being here.

 I look forward to 

lively participation!

The FULL pattern is available as a 

PDF digital download HERE at an

introductory price of $42 until 

February 15th, 2025

(Reg price $48)

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 will take 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. 

Just hearing about all of this?

Follow these links to catch up:)

Introduction

Fabric & Supplies

OK, 

Ready ~ Set ~ GO!

See you over on FB

In case you forgot to click over:)

AVAILABLE HERE