Stars of Peace: Let the stitching begin:)

 IT'S HERE!!

After many hours of work
 I am beyond excited to bring my
Stars of Peace: 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

of 4 blocks together.

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'.

The block I used to create the center is 

originally attributed to Nancy Cabot, a 

syndicated column writer and quilt designer

from the 1930s.

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 $20 until 
February 7th, 2025
(Reg price $25)
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. 

I will also be offering a block by block option.
Block 1-Eagle/Stars will be available on 
February 1st, 2025 for $8.
It will include all the pattern instructions.

Subsequent blocks will be $5 each.

You can find month 1 HERE.

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

Good-bye 2024 and Hello 2026

That is Not a typo:)

It has been a rough year on so many levels for many people and I don't know about you, but my calm, the balm for my soul is stitching. The slow and steady pull of the thread through fabric calms me in ways I can't fully describe. There is a form of meditation in this glorious art form that I am thankful to have in my life and hope I can entice others to feel as well.

I have been absent a bit now, I know.  For those following along, we moved from Florida at the end of 2023 to Northern Illinois to be near our grand little.  Once here we were so excited to find out there would be a second one too!  They are a delight, and it is nice being near family again.

Something I have been relatively quiet about is that through the move and littles and all of 2024 I have been going through many medical tests for an unknown (as of now) neurological disorder. It has put a small crimp in some of my plans but not all:)

I have taken 2024 to enjoy my littles, get my new studio up and going, and come to terms with my slightly restricted abilities of which stitching is not one of them!!  Every day I am grateful for that. This time away has let me think about priorities and what I want from my business. 

In 2026 we will celebrate the Sesquicentennial, the 250th birthday of our always great country. I have been designing a BOM that will start in early 2025 and take us up to the celebrations in 2026. There will be 2 designs to choose from to cover the piecers and the applique' lovers and both done sampler style.

I want as many of us quilters as I can get to celebrate together leading up to all the events that will be planned. The pieced quilt will have a touch of applique' because this is still me...LOL. The applique' quilt will be an appliquepalooza of beautiful florals designed by me over the years.

So, gather your red, white (cream), and blues for a fabulous year of stitching.

This is how I want to spend my time, creating beauty and inspiration. I do hope you will join me!

SPRING GARDENS

 

The March issue is available!

Inside you will find my fun and easy

strip quilt, "Spring Garden".

Where do we always start,

the fabrics, of course! 

For this design I used 

Pepper Cory's 

shot cottons. 

Thank you, Judy Gauthier, of 

Bungalow Quilting

for getting these to me!

This quilt is SO EASY and 

these fabrics make it 

so soft and snuggable.

Piece your blocks...

Cut out your applique'.....

Make some vines.....

Use teflon pressing sheet

OR parchment paper to 

make completed butterflies.....

I absolutely love seeing 

these all together!

Model quilted with floral and swirl designs.

PRESTO WHAMMO,

QUILT ready for binding:)

Thank you AQ Magazine!!

Until next time,

~KEEP STITCHIN~

Remembrance & QOV

REMEMBRANCE REVISITED

I met Terry and Ruth at Fall Paducah in September. They are involved with Quilts of Valor and we discussed what a great kit my 'Remembrance' quilt would be for that organization.

Then the fun idea of miniaturizing the design was introduced to the conversation and I knew there should be enough fabric from the kit to make a mini because Connecting Threads is very generous with their kits.

I cannot express how exciting it is to receive pictures of completed quilts from makers!  Thank you, Terry and Ruth, for sharing your lovely work with all of us and for all you do for our Veterans.

If you are involved with QOV, here are some links to take a peek at.

QOV is always looking for volunteers: https://www.qovf.org/

Connecting Threads has partnered with and is offering a thread collection: https://www.connectingthreads.com/quilts-of-valor-thread-set/p/21541

My 'Remembrance' kit is available here:

https://www.connectingthreads.com/remembrance-quilt-kit/p/93515

The pattern is also available here:

https://www.connectingthreads.com/remembrance-pattern-download/p/12745D

THANK YOU VETERANS!

Heritage Stories: Bowties

I have written before about why I am a Heritage Architect

and here is another one of those stories.

 

This quilt came to me because the quilter had taken a class, made the top, and started hand quilting only to realize that it just wasn't her thing and so it sat in a closet for 20 years.  Instead of trashing it (after all that work!), she found me via a guild member from my guild at the fair- Thank you Karen!

Unfortunately she no longer had the template for the flower in the red blocks she told me.  NO Problem!  I can recreate that star-like flower out of freezer paper and away we go.

This simple and sweet Bowtie block really just needed some outline quilting with the flower to accent the red blocks and a lovely quilted throw was completed for her to give to her son!

What son wouldn't want a warm snuggly throw

made by mom on a chilly winter eve?!!

Everything old is new again...

I came across these 2 little magazines at a thrift shop and they happen to be from exactly 25 years ago.

What was happening 25 years ago in quilting, you ask?

Do those colors remind you of the Pantone colors of the year?? Well they are and now I need to go see if they are just mining past years in a particular order...

The blue/pink combo continued on into the March/April
edition but not quite as pastel thankfully.

Solids were quite popular and have made a comeback
in the last couple of years too.

Did plaids ever go out of style??

I have always liked them and have a collection just waiting for the right project... Which could be one of the following quilts:

Plaids on Hand by Roberta Horton

OR

Plaid Pineapples by Teresa Reilly

Our love of classic historical quilts has not died either. The Star of Bethlehem and the Hexagon quilts are just as timely as ever especially with the revival of English Paper Piecing.

I hope you have enjoyed this walk down memory lane
and found some inspiration!

Until next time:)

Get Pumped- Ice Skating Anyone?

JANUARY

This whimsical January boot is 12" square to fit on the originally designed (by me) Ackfeld metal hanger.  Some days I am more excited about that than the shoes:)  When thinking of January, I do think of ice skates even though I haven't skated in years.  How many of you remember clogs in the 80s?  So clunky but so comfortable and this shoe is reminiscent of those.

 

Hopefully you have already signed up for the Starter Kit.  If not, this BOM is open enrollment so still plenty of time.

 

Since it is now January 15th, the templates for the January shoe are available for purchase on my website BOM 2015 page.

 

**NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR:)

Originally this project was set up so that you would pay for the templates and they would be an immediate download.  Due to a VAT (Value Added Tax) put into place overseas on digital products, I had very limited options as to how I could keep the digital aspect but not be subjected to a very disorganized new law.

 

When you pay for the templates on my website, a payment notification will be sent to me.  Once I have received this notification, I will then email you the PDFs of the templates.  Please be sure that your email address associated with Paypal is correct so that you can receive these files.  I will email within 24 hours of payment.  Thank you so much for your understanding.

**End of message**

 

In your 3 pages of templates, one will be a placement guide that is NOT full size but shows how the shoe goes together.  The other 2 pages contain full-sized, reversed for fusible applique templates.

As always, I am only an email away.

 

In your original pattern, you also received the templates for making mini shoes that would either go on a 3-1/2" or 4-1/2" block.  How cute is this little January shoe??  I am so excited to make the minis.  I had to pick a standard pump for the mini block since some of the months have a bit too much detail to go that small:)  Working in one shape, it becomes important for pattern and contrast to work together.  Also a great place to use novelty fabrics.

January Mini shoe

I am very excited about watching this BOM progress and seeing how all of you use different fabrics to achieve a new shoe each month.  Please share your progress on my FB page.  This is also where you will find additional tips about how I went about making these sweet shoes.

Flags from my Stash

It isn't like I want for something to do on a daily basis, but every now and then I just need to work on something that isn't for a pattern or just to get my juices flowing again or..... do I really need a reason?  :)

Fourth of July is coming and I haven't done anything for that holiday in quite some time.  I pulled out my little boxes of scraps not expecting to find enough of anything to accomplish a project, when the thought of mini flags jumped into my head.  How cute are these?? 
Do you have a 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" scrap of blue?  Do you have enough red and white to cut: 2 strips of each color @ 1-1/4" x 4-1/2" and 2 strips of each color @ 1-1/4" x 8-1/2"?  Then you have enough to make a cute little mini flag before the holiday gets here! 
I sewed my short stripes together and trimmed to match the blue rectangle.  Then I sewed the blue area and the short stripes together.
After the long stripes were sewn together, they were added to the top half of the flag.  For quilting, I just quilted wavy lines through all the stripes and one star in the blue rectangle.  This was all straight line sewing--no free motion. I then decided to face them vs. traditional binding so that I could add a bit of a wave to my flag. 

I had all 3 done in a day but that wasn't enough for me.....  A few days before, I had seen a yo yo flag on one of the sale sites.  Why buy when I could make it?  (Now I know why!!)
So I started cutting circles after I had decided how many I needed and thinking, "That isn't very many, I can do this!". 

If you have a Fat Quarter of each color, you too can make one of these old fashioned yet adorable flags.  It does have a throwback quality about it but I just love it...now that it is done!! 
You need 24 blue circles and 40 each of white and red circles.  I traced mine at 2-1/2" and the finished piece is 9" x 15-1/2".
I hadn't done a yo yo project in all my quilting years and now I can cross that off my list:)  The first 40-50 were fun and then I was pretty much over it.  Thankfully I was motivated to finish the other half when I saw how cute the top half was!  I think next time I might just buy the finished one but what sense of accomplishment would I get out of that, I ask you?  When I look at this one, I swell with pride for ALL that it stands for in regards to our country and the satisfaction of knowing I made it!!
Happy Fourth of July a bit early.

Paper Cloth-How Fun!

A friend of mine, Kathy Sands, talked about making paper cloth one day on her blog. I was very intrigued and went to her site to find her tutorial. Pulling out some of the papers I had been collecting for 'just the right thing', I began following the directions not sure of where it would take me.

This is a simple and fun process. The hardest part of all of it was having the patience to wait for it to dry. Not sure if I used too much glue but overnight was not enough time. Thankfully I had chosen right before I was leaving on a trip to attempt this so I left it wet and came home to it being dry....you know that whole "a watched pot doesn't boil" thing. It was so fun to see the colors from other papers peek through on this little shrimp. Who knows what I will do to him next:)

This piece was actually done first and in purples and blues since I decided that if I didn't really like it, I could make something for my mother in her favorite colors. Once I did some stamping and writing inspirational phrases on it, I really liked it. I have been collecting ideas for what to do with my wonderful new hand made paper...or is it cloth?

I have also started looking at all the paper I have in a new way. Now if I could only find the time. The great thing about this type of project is that it is relatively inexpensive, quick, and easy. It is the perfect project to jumpstart your creativity if you are in a lull and if you don't like it, you aren't out much. The paper designs add so much depth and you can just write on it to add to it.

Take a look at the tutorial and try your hand at surface design for dummies:)

A Mermaid's Playground

This past weekend, the Arts Council that I am involved with hosted a mini show to celebrate the one year mark for our Adopt an Artist program. I wanted to have a new piece to show vs. the 7 in the catalog that the businesses can choose from....she exceeded my vision.

We invited the already existing business representatives along with new businesses that we would like to sign up for the program. The program has been a wonderful experience for me by allowing my art to be shown to audiences that wouldn't normally see it. This cycle I was adopted by the Leon Mann Senior Center in Morehead City. They chose all 7 pieces that will hang through December.

Lorelai, the mermaid, was a lot of fun for me and I am very pleased with how my threadwork turned out for the coral.

Of course, when I start a project around here it somehow becomes a family event with recommendations and ideas flying from every angle. Some I accept and some I don't. Usually the creativity of this family adds hours more work but is worth it in the end.

I knew I wanted beading on her tail but the idea just wasn't coming together quickly enough until my daughter suggested her idea....

I machine quilted a clamshell design and then placed a bead at each point of the stitching, by hand. The beading was a lot of work but the results were just more than I imagined.
So now the mini show is over and she is mine to submit to shows. I am very excited about where she may end up.

Pick one color

Under my 'Creative Living' post (7/31) there is a black, white, and blue piece. Both that piece and the piece seen here resulted from the work-for-trade (7/21) piece that I made. Once I got going, I really enjoyed working in a series and seeing what else I could do with a limited color palette.

The original piece is named "Pine Knoll Blues" after the beach where the photo was taken. The second piece is named "Which Way to the Beach" since it is an abstract of a traditional quilt block named flying geese. The piece directly below is named "Blue Peacock" because it reminds me of a back view of a peacock tail. There are quilted feathers as well.


I started the original project timidly because I worried that a limited color palette would stifle my thought process. The opposite actually happened and now I am looking at my fabrics for the next color to play with.

Creative Living

I try very hard to be creative every day of my life. Since I am a quilt pattern designer and fiber artist...creativity comes with the job description.

Recently I met and interviewed with a creativity coach who is awesome and aims for the stars in all that she does. During the interview I was asked some questions that really made me think about what I do, strengths and weaknesses, and could I live without my creativity. There were questions about being emotionally empowered by our art, the fear of putting ourselves 'out there', and who encourages our art. It was a lot to think about and, of course, after the fact I had better answers:)

Mel Edwards is always looking for creative women, wanting to know what makes us tick and how and why we do what we do. Today at http://www.votrevray.blogspot.com/2008/07/go-to-work-every-day.html you can read an excerpt from my interview along with many other talented artists. You can also sign up to be a part of the "Kiss My Art" crowd and her One Woman Show.

I hope you will take a minute or twenty to visit her site. You go Mel.

Work for Trade

Recently I was given an opportunity to do a piece as a 'work for trade'. I personally find this situation awkward since I don't want either party to feel short changed (especially me) and creating a piece without direction, hoping they will feel it's value in the end, is exhausting. Fortunately, the receiver of my work loved it.
I had been working in a series using the same photo (above) lately and thought it could be interesting to use it in this situation. The only direction I was given was to use the logo colors of black/white/sky blue.
Blue isn't really a color I quickly associate with the sun but as you will see, it really looks cool (pun intended) :)

In this 'work for trade' all worked out well but I don't know how quickly I would do it again without some sort of contract in place.
On to my next project....