Benartex Project #2- Peacock Petals

 We round up the first quarter of the year

with my second Benartex project....

Peacock Petals using fabrics

from the Peacock Symphony

line by David Galchutt.

It hit store shelves in January so

keep an eye out for it.

Deep rich colors and 

a spring vibe kept niggling at 

the back of my mind.

I thought about 2 particular 

design workshops that I

adore teaching, Scrapplique'

and Fabric Collaborations.

Both concepts along with these

two fabrics inspired

my work for this challenge.

Thankfully the style of the fabric

goes beautifully with my own 

aesthetic of swirls and dots!

Admittedly, I got a bit carried away

with my design work.

It was only supposed to be

one small wall hanging.

THEN, I got excited about working

in lights vs. darks and so only

one of four blocks is done...

Now you will be intrigued enough to 

come back and see how it goes:)

HOW CUTE IS THIS?!!!?

I cannot wait to finish the 

whole quilt now!

My ambition thought I would

do it all by hand-LOLOLOL!!

SO many little circles.

Then I saw the work of 

Kyra Reps at Daytona...WOW!

So, I tried the prepared edge

applique' method using apliquick

bars that my friend,

Susan Marth, has been prodding 

me to try for years.

I am so resistant to change!

It did make my circles a bit

better but I really do loathe 

all that prep work.

So far this piece has 3 applique' 

methods on it:

Needle turn hand applique'

Prepared edge applique'

and fusible raw edge applique'.

Whatever gets it done right?

So, keep stitching in whatever

way makes your heart happy:)

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Fabric Selection

FABRICS!

Isn't this why we 

really do this quilting thing??

So, let's talk fabrics!
This pic shows the fabrics I chose to work with.

The pattern supply list will give overall yardage.
Example: Red- # yards

I chose to use a 10" layer

 cake of red prints.

The red value is consistent throughout

with different prints. There were 42

squares in this pack from

 Wilmington Prints

and I used most of them.

For my greens, I pulled 6 that were

anywhere from a FQ to a yard.

When you are doing the QAL with us, 

there is no reason you can't choose

as you go and shop your stash.

Choose a color palette and then

proceed to make each block 

as its own entity repeating

a fabric amongst 2-3

blocks for cohesiveness.

Then pull fabrics from the blocks

for the border applique'

for continuity.

So, I obviously went the traditional 

red, white, green, and cheddar route

to pay homage to my collection of 

lovelies but there is NO rule 

that says you have to follow me.

I will end this post with a series of

other color options for you to ponder

using the first block we will discuss, 

Currants.

Above and below are the traditional colors.

I really like my

 black/orange sample.

That sashing fabric made it!

You could always work in pastels

or brights or batiks.

PURPLE?!

How about darker barn reds, grays, & black?

Have fun choosing your palette

and use your background / border

and your sashing fabrics

as your constant.

If you are just coming to the 

conversation, HERE is a post

that starts the story.

You can start sharing your fabric choices

on our FB group:

Robin's Rocking Needles.

NOW AVAILABLE HERE

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Introduction

I started collecting these 

Centenarian Sweethearts

pretty soon after I began 

studying to become a

certified quilt appraiser.

The applique' artist in me

was completely fascinated by 

this era of women creating

their own designs too.

I have assembled a collection of quilts 

that are not in the greatest shape but still 

so beautiful in their history and imperfections.

This quilt along has been

well over a year in the making.
Once the Well-Loved Ladies lecture
was finished and being presented

to guilds, requests for a pattern

started and I knew a sampler 

of the different quilts from 

the lecture was the answer

so that attendees could 

bring a little piece of 

the lecture home with them.

Why a QAL?

Now is the perfect time to keep us

inspired & engaged & connected.

The girls aren't getting any 

younger and all their trips

were cancelled too.

When and How?

AUGUST 30TH, 2020

I recently asked about pattern

preferences on my FB page

and thoughts between paper

and PDF were relatively 

split down the middle.

The final decision was made

when I realized all those

full-sized templates may

put you off on shipping.

If you absolutely NEED

a paper pattern, we can 

work something out:)

So, the decision has been

made for me to step into 

the new tech age and 

go PDF on this one!

It will be offered as a 

full PDF or as BOM  

purchased in sections 

with the QAL 

if you choose.

Twice a month starting in 

September, I will present a block

via a post here & FB including 

history, tips, etc. 

The whole QAL will run 

8 months.

You will need a pattern to participate 

in this quilt-along.

Techniques involved will include

applique' (hand or machine), 

general piecing (HST/flying geese)

& bias vines.

Of course there will be some

video assists to help in the process.

We will be doing all the 

discussion and oohing/aaahing

of fabric choices over

at my FB group

Robin's Rocking Needles.

I like to pride myself on quality

(tested with full-size templates)

patterns, bang for your buck

 and having fun; so, in 

the next few weeks, 

expect multiple blog 

posts leading up to our big

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!

There may be prizes along

the way but you'll have to quilt

along with me to find out and

to win:)

Please leave a comment if

you have questions

or email me at 

robin@nestlingsbyrobin.com 

I will be stitching along too

as I make another one

in fusible applique'.

Until next time,

keep stitching~

NOW AVAILABLE HERE

Tea & Crumpets

IT'S HERE!

August brings 

September AQ magazines

to mailboxes all over:)

Soon to be found on 

shop shelves near you.

Within the pages you

will find my cheerful

Tea & Crumpets.

This piece was originally

done in a completely 

different colorway

and in the end we

went with brights!

Before I can order fabrics,

I have to do a test block...

Luckily I had some 

brights laying around 

to play with.

I know paper piecing intimidates

some of you but I would encourage

everyone to have another go at it.

Organization is KEY!

See all the tidy piles and I only 

work on one section at a time 

almost like chain piecing.

Put your favorite movie on

that you know all the words to 

and …...

Add all the blue....

Add all the green...

Add all the red.....

This keeps you focused 

and less likely to goof a piece.

Plus you can play with the parts before 

assembly because you never know

what new shape you will come up with:)

Of course, eventually you will get 

to a step you loath...Mine is trimming!

I dread this step in regular

piecing as well but it is 

necessary to accuracy.

But then....My reward is 

APPLIQUE'!!

Did I hear a, "Nerd!", 

out there somewhere? LOL

YES! I Love it!!

This little flower has been so 

patient, waiting its turn to 

shine in a project:)

Time to stitch it all down 

and get ready for quilting!

I am the first to admit that 

quilting creativity evades me!

It is the dreaded blank page

to me but in recent years

I have started using the applique'

templates to fill in the 

negative space around.

So I start by outlining the 

original applique', then add additional 

leaves and swirls in the quilting.

Also added some contrasting

accents in the red.

So Cute!

(if I do say so myself:)

Meet Tea & Crumpets!!

THANK YOU AQ!

Didn't they do a great job on 

the header?!

Here are a couple of other

color ways to get your 

creative juices flowing.

If picking fabric isn't your thing,

shop for the kit over

at AQS!

Thank you for 

following along

and Enjoy!

Until next time~