Beginnings, Breaking Free, & Sexual Abuse Awareness

BREAKING FREE!

Years ago I was part of an 

art group that did a challenge

where we were given a 

monthly prompt from which

to write a Haiku.

I really enjoyed the Haiku

writing and the creativity it brought.

Once our Haiku was written, we 

were to create a small art piece

that represented our Haiku.

Breaking Free

Bound by darkness then

bubbling want from within

Breaking free, blooming.

When "beginnings" was our 

prompt, I found myself thinking 

a lot about my past and how many

"beginnings" I had been offered 

over the years and not taken advantage of.

WHY?? FEAR!!

It made me think about where 

I wanted my design career to go and 

how much fear was still holding me back.

I want to bloom!

I want to be bolder!

I want to be everything I know I can be!!

I thought about all obstacles I had

already overcome and how it feels like

a maze as you daily maneuver your way 

through the world, your feelings, your healing, 

and all your relationships (some knowing, most not!)

Forty years after the sexual abuse

 and somedays it 

still feels like yesterday.

I can be cruising along, all going well,

and then one little trigger and I just 

want to curl into a ball and give it all up.

I don't talk about this publicly

and I rarely talk about it privately

because it is terribly uncomfortable 

for most people including me!

It is time to STOP being afraid!!!

The original art piece is 

only about 7" x 9" and had

grommets so I could put all 

the Haiku art pieces together.

It is all painted and machine

quilted from a sketch I drew.

The browns represent the dark 

times with blue feeling like

waves crushing and /or uplifting 

me depending on the day.

Green is the new growth and 

the blooming of healing and growing.

You will notice the colors all 

intermingle because life isn't all 

good or bad no matter what the 

struggle is that you are dealing with.

When it came time to create the

pattern, I knew it most closely

resembled a log cabin and so that

is how it is written.

I tried to stay as true to my original 

idea as possible because I loved it so!

True to form I am running a bit

behind so here is a top minus 

the embroidery/quilting.

If you follow me on my FB page,

you will get to watch it grow

as I post updates on finishing it.

The pattern has been tested, I promise:)

Back to the topic...

As I stated in my last post HERE,

I have joined an awareness group.

This month it is my turn and I 

chose this design to bring awareness to

Sexual Abuse.

My story is that I was abused 

all through my teenage years.

I attempted suicide.

I thought I was Alone!

Please know that as much as 

you loathe hearing about what 

we are going through, we 1000%

more hate dealing with it on a 

constant basis.

We don't tell anyone all the times

we are reminded of it or are dealing with it!!

We suffer in silence!

I made many choices in life 

that aggravated my suffering.

These decisions were made out of guilt,

shame, and fear of not being loved.

Those who support us have no idea how

thankful we are for your understanding,

BELIEVING US,

your shoulder to cry on, 

your friendship and love!!

We don't talk about these 

people enough!!

We don't give them enough credit 

for dealing with our emotional 

outbursts and bad behavior.

THANK YOU!

I was one of the few fortunate ones who

found a wonderful, loving man

who helped me heal while 

dealing with WAY MORE

than he bargained for when he 

married me.

We raised 2 amazing children

and I didn't mess them up

anymore than anyone else.

I am eternally grateful for 

him and them for showing

me real love and joy.

It has been a life of constant healing.

It NEVER goes away!!

MY hope is that we will all become

better listeners.  It is extremely uncomfortable 

but every time one chooses not to listen,

the survivor feels all the lies are true!

My other hope is that all those suffering 

in silence will find the courage to 

find a support group.

There is hope for a better life, I promise!

You have to work for it just

like anything else but you 

are worth putting in the effort for.

You are NOT Alone!!

Please help a friend 

 by just listening when needed.

It isn't an easy subject to hear

about but it means the world to that

one person to have someone hear

them, believe them, and allow them

to have those moments when the world

is too much.

My charity is RAINN.

RAINN does so much in the way of 

educating, counseling,  & training.

They offer a safe and confidential

place to reach out and find the

assistance and someone to listen,

so desperately needed.

If you are open to quilting for a cause

and want to try something a little less

traditional whilst helping another, 

my pattern can be found HERE.

For every pattern purchased, $8

will be donated to RAINN.

Thank you to Carolyn Burgess and 

the other designers sharing their stories.

I THANK YOU from the bottom of 

my heart if you read all the way to

the bottom of my public moment!!

You are FAB!

What EXCITES you about quilting?

Is it piecing a new quilt top or the enjoyment of slow stitching while watching a good movie?

Is it making new friends in guild or taking a class at a big show and learning a new technique?

Or, is it the FABRIC that comes out in new colors and designs every season and we just can't seem to have enough of it on our shelves (in drawers, under desks, stuffed into every nook and cranny)!!

Most quilters have a color palette they are drawn to and maybe a style of design as well.
When I started collecting antique blocks, I noticed I was really drawn to the fabric design more than the block itself.  This is when I actually took account of the fabrics on my shelf. I am drawn to black, gold, green, red, orange, and off white. When I look at my designs, I see lots of whimsical swirly twirly florals that send my creative brain off the charts! There are so many antique fabrics in that genre of design-YAY!!

I believe that as humans we have a built in 'want' to create! That is what we do and have done since the beginning of time!  I also believe that the quilters that say they aren't creative just need a nudge, a new way to look at the world around them and the best place to start is your fabric world.
FABRIC COLLABORATIONS (Houston class #417) helps you look beyond to create something new.
JOIN ME in HOUSTON and play all day.  I mean it! The whole class is play time and there are NO mistakes to be made!

Below is a series of blog posts discussing different samples you will see in class (touch and pet if you need to) and how I came to design them.

https://nestlingsbyrobin.blogspot.com/2018/09/fabric-collaborations.html

https://nestlingsbyrobin.blogspot.com/2019/02/workshop-development.html

https://nestlingsbyrobin.blogspot.com/2019/04/appraisals-and-workshops-and-quilts-oh.html

https://nestlingsbyrobin.blogspot.com/2019/06/romantique-is-simply-vintage.html



TO DO BEFORE CLASS: Find an orphan block in your stash, preferably between 8”-12”.
IF you do not have an orphan block that contains a Printed fabric you Love, then please make a block using a print that

speaks to you. It can be as simple as a 9 patch since we are going for fun and easy not heirloom!

Small to medium prints work the best and the more details, the better it will be for inspiration.

Additional Fabric requirements:
__ A FQ of a coordinating (to your block) fabric that reads as solid for borders.

__ 2-3 coordinating FQs for design expansion to borders (prints and/or solids).

Additional supplies: (FULL LIST IN CATALOG)
__Rotary Cutter, mat (12” x 18” is fine), ruler 6” x 24” (minimum of 3” x 18”)
__Threads to match fabrics for sewing assembly and applique
__12 wt. Sulky thread to match fabrics for Embroidery details (hand or machine)
__Scissors: fabric and paper
__Pen, pencil (preferably mechanical), white chalk pencil for dark fabrics, and eraser
__pins
__glue stick
__½ yard of paper-backed fusible web if doing machine applique__$20 kit fee (custom stencils, chalk papers, handouts)

How many of you have are on the more 'experienced' side of quilting and looking for something new?  I can't wait to meet you!

Keep quilting~

www.nestlingsbyrobin.com

What is your deal?



Obviously Not a photographer:)))

I am a quilt pattern designer and hear from lots of other quilters how impressed they are with my creativity and how they aren't creative at all.  Oh Phooey! 

What really gets me are the non-quilters I meet along the way that are impressed because they can't do anything.  Double Phooey!!

Maybe you aren't 'quilt pattern designer' creative but I am pretty sure there is something you do in your life that I would be terrible at.  I can learn to do just about anything but that doesn't mean I am good at it or like it either.  I have learned how to garden (ok, start a garden), but I kill the plants eventually (ok, quickly). When I was younger, I really wanted to be an Interior Designer.  My house never looks put together and I can't figure out if it is because the military lifestyle causes me to not care since I will just be boxing it back up again or if I just don't have the eye for it.  Either way it is ok because I am so busy creating quilts that can go anywhere with me.

 

My husband can cook like a gourmet chef--without a recipe!  He doesn't understand how I can't:)  I finally found my analogy when I told him, "You know how you can put in a pinch of this and a pinch of that and it tastes great?  Well, I can do that with fabric."  We are each good at something...I won't starve and he won't freeze:) 

 

I follow an author by the name of Rick DiBasio and he is starting a series of blog posts about being creative. They are definately worth a read:)   Part One is here.
My comment:  This is a great explanation and answer to that constant excuse! I don’t say that I am not creative because I am, but I am also very aware of my limitations. I can design quilts and write the patterns but don’t ask me to grow a garden or build or decorate something….Not that I can’t but it is much more difficult. We all have something that comes easier to us than others and that is our ‘creative’ area whether it be gardening or accounting.

I think what I really like about his blog is HOW he writes: It isn't flowery or sugar coated and so I relate a bit better.  In the second post he discusses how creative we are as children when we use our imagination.  When did we stop doing that? 
What are you creative at?

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.