Happy 2018 and BOOM, September already!

Why do we always say that we don't know where the year went already?  HAPPY NEW YEAR......Boom.....March...Boom
SEPTEMBER???!!!!

We do know, we just can't believe that time goes so fast!  I have been SUPER busy this year and no signs of slowing until December.
Here is a quick run down of the year so far.....

We were given tickets to see Jim Gaffigan on New Year's Eve at Amelie Arena here in Tampa.  His opening act was hilarious!  It is great to see so many people come out to see a comedian vs. watching free online.  Live is always better for the shared community experience.

January was quite chilly down here in Florida.  We were way below average temps and although we weren't as cold as the rest of the country, for Florida is was brutal!  We have tile floors that little dog usually sleeps on so we let her up a few nights.  Doesn't she look like she is never leaving?!
I had a quilt to finish hand quilting so I was very cozy:)

Took a trip to St. Louis for a quilt retreat with friends from when I lived there.  We stay in a lovely quilt shop, ROSEMARY'S, in Highland, ILL. There was also time for antique shopping:)

 Plus 2 appraisal events with Brenda!

FEBRUARY

"Robin's Wreaths" had been finished and sent off for photography

Our trees started getting some leaves back after IRMA last September and we had a brief warm up where we could go sit for a beer by the water...I know, Boo Hoo:)  I needed the break after 2 more appraisal events (First one on my own this time) and being chained to my computer to finish writing, "Robin's Wreaths" for AQ magazine. 

MARCH

More commission quilting, another pattern written, another appraisal event, and then my guild's annual charity event for the COC!  

 ALL the quilts up for Auction

 New postcard for guild Advertising

One of my donations to the effort:)  This is a block from one of Sue Garman's patterns.  Hope I get to make the whole quilt someday:)

There was also some time for necessary Spring Cleaning!

You can read how a blog hop helped me get a move on! 

APRIL

April blew in the same way March went out with more work:) 

I was starting to do some appraisals on my own, which is exactly what I needed.  The hand quilting commission was coming along and I finally was able to meet the great lady who had been entrusting her family heirlooms to my hands!  We had a lovely day.

I was also trying to get as much done on my part of the guild Opportunity quilt as I could so I could get back to my work.  It is going to be a beauty!

BABIES!  I look so forward to our April lunch meeting at a guild member's house every year and this year did not disappoint...SO Stinkin' Cute!!

I volunteered to help with the applique for the center portion of the OPP quilt. This is P3 Designs, "Baltimore Autumn".

Here I am with Brenda, my AMAZING Appraiser Mentor, in front of my quilt in Paducah.  We had quite a road trip but that is a story for another day:)

MAY

The month of Snake Lovin'....EEEWWWWW!

The LIGHTNING were in the play offs-Very Exciting for this hockey fan!

My husband and I went to a concert...outside...after dark:)))

My parents went on a trip to celebrate their 50th Anniversary and I went to pup sit.  I think she likes me:)

Before getting to my parent's, I stopped to see this cutie.  We went to a comedy night and got DRENCHED on that way back to the car!! I LOVE her!!!

While in VA, I was able to visit the Williamsburg museum and do a little antique shopping where I found another lovely to add to my Red and Green lecture: "AN EVENING WITH WELL LOVED LADIES".

JUNE

This month was lots of catch up after being gone and lots of company:0  My BIL came down to help his daughter with a project so he and Jim spent some time together.  Then my brother and nephew came for a visit.  I had the honor of riding with my nephew on his first Roller coaster...Fun.  I hadn't been on one in ages.

This is becoming an annual tradition for him as well.

Lastly, our niece got married so we had a lovely family visit in Georgia at the end of the month.  I had never been to St. Simon's Island and it was lovely. Great margaritas and another outdoor concert:)

JULY

We were back on the road in July with a trip to Chicago to visit my other baby girl! The pups travel relatively well. And this trip brought a Momentous Occasion....My First EVER trip to Wrigley Field, the home of my husband's lifelong favorite team, The Cubs!
When asked, he said I was the first girl he had ever brought there:)
Another "first" after so many years together is endearing!

AUGUST

All the usual work has been getting done with one quilting commission finished this summer and another one into the hoop!

In case you have missed one or two along the way, here is one to read about.....

SEPTEMBER

This month started with a Fabulous trip to San Antonio to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary.  A bit frustrating that this is the only pic I have of us from that trip. Oh Well, we know what we look like:)

Thanks for following along and see you again soon!

Heritage Stories: MY find:)

I found this Gorgeous embroidered pieced in an antique mall for maybe $6 or $8... 
It was just what I always wanted but didn't know it until that moment:)

 Look at these perfect satin stitches (that I loathe to do!!)

The fabric was much heavier than I like to

hand quilt through but I made do!

The edges were a bit wonky but once I put the binding on,

I was able to preserve most of her adorable edge

work that adds so much to the design.

It is almost time to change out my holiday décor and so here is another sweet rescue piece that lives in a cute little vignette:

A cross stitched Revolutionary Drummer boy doily.

The hunt is half the fun and I am always looking.

Heritage Stories: Susan's Find

You can look and look and rarely find such a lovely piece of embroidery needing its story finished.

 

Susan found this wonderful piece and thankfully someone suggested it be hand quilted and she knew just who to trust with it:)

 Neither of us know who started it but it is an honor

to be a part of completing her story!

Her stitches are perfect and lovely

and the design is so endearing!

 I know that Susan bragged on my quilting HERE

and so now it is my turn to brag:)

This final pic is where this adorable piece lives.  Susan's sense of design is awe inspiring!  I love being at her home where every little nook has fun antique items to drool over. 

 Home Sweet Home fits in perfectly in this vignette or the next one she dreams up after holiday change outs.

 

Make sure you check out her blog for lots of eye candy:

https://suznquilts.wordpress.com/

 

AND.....Susan has a new book that will be

out the end of this month! 

She has made Dresdens tiny and fun and adorable! 

Take a peek HERE.

PRE-Order it HERE.

Hurry Hurry:))

Hand Quilting

Have you ever tried it?  Do you know someone who hand quilts?  Do you go to shows and or museums and Oooh and Ahhhh

over all the little stitches? 

I Do, I Do, and I Do!!!

 

It is my passion and one of the most relaxing

things I know how to do.

As good as I am at it, I am no where near the quilters that I am in complete awe of and that is ok! Because whether we throw clay, knit, ski, paint, surf, or quilt, we need to have those just a bit better to look up to and to inspire us to do better!

#heritagearchitect:  To design, build, and complete

the heritage of a person or people!

Like my new high-falutin definition of what I do?  It tickles me but is very accurate.  I absolutely adore being given a quilt top that:  

1. has been started by someone who "decided that

quilting just isn't their thing"

2. (sadder) was started by someone who can't complete

 it due to health issues

3.  was found and their mother or grandmother or aunt made it

and they want to cherish it forever

4.  add reason here....

 

Here is Helen's story:

These lovelies come to me for many a reason and I have the honor of completing the heritage of that family. 

This is when labeling becomes SO important. 

Antique quilts get found all the time and humans are a

curious sort who want to know the

when, where, why, and who of these things. 

 

Every quilt has a story and when I get to stitch my story to another quilter in time, it warms my heart beyond explanation!

 

 

So if you are looking for a 2017 resolution, why not resolve to pick up a needle and learn a time honored tradition in America!  With a needle, I can teach you embroidery, applique, or quilting:)

 

If this isn't your thing but you have been hanging onto Mom or Grandma's tops, take a look at what I can do for you!

http://nestlingsbyrobin.com/services.html

 

 

 

 

In the meantime, pop over to see who else is blogging...

http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2016-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/

 

WHEW!

                                    
The year is off and running and I feel I am already playing catch up!
Whilst preparing for my upcoming BOM 2016 launch and my participation in BLOCK STOCK 2016, I took a break and went for a trip:)
Because that is what you do........

This is Rosemary's Quilt Shop in Highland, Illinois.  I used to live about 10 miles from here and her shop is just lovely!  She has rooms she will rent out to quilters so you can eat and quilt here for days...oh, and sleep if you need to :)

The house is full of beautiful antiques and walking through at night petting the fabric feels decadent.

There was a group of us that did it just before I was transferring to NC in 2007 and I really missed it.  I was able to fly out once again in 2011.

HERE is the post from 2011....

We had SEW much fun quilting and eating:)  There is a fantastic Chinese restaurant a couple of blocks away and I do miss it!

Looks like my friend Suzn Quilts was working on Dresdens even then!

The crew is a bit smaller now but just as much fun was had by all.

 

I was able to fly out a few days early and spend time junking and antiquing with my sweet friend.  Those treasures are for another post! 

Time spent with friends is so precious and rejuvenating so think about booking a retreat today!