June Nestlings

June in Chicagoland was lovely. The temperatures stayed 'unseasonably' lower and there was usually a nice crispness to the morning air allowing for open windows and listening to birds chirping to start my day. That is now over...

Here is what else my June included along with lots of stitches and sunsets:)

Two patterns, Dogwood Stars and Just Hangin' Out, are both now available in my Etsy shop. If either has been on your radar, they're worth a closer look. 

And for those of you following along with my magazine work, I gave a peek at some of the sampler blocks I started using the fabric from those projects as a memory for myself. 

Seeing those come together never gets old.

I have put them on my calendar to slowly work on in between my design work and my commission work so stay tuned for more peeks.

June wasn't all business... I posted some sunset pics that remind me why evening concerts or a back patio can be some of the best studios there are. That's where a lot of my summer stitching happens, and I'll defend it as the perfect workspace until further notice :). 

My backyard views make every stitch sew worth it.

I also shared some thoughts on self-assurance this month. 

Through the PT and OT that I have been doing for my FND, the Calm App has been a terrific support. So, every now and again for my #reflectivefriday I will post one of their motivational prompts. 

Can't believe I am almost 60 and am just learning to breathe and be kind to myself!!

And big news (for me:), Botanical Beauty is almost finished...the top anyway. This quilt has been a labor of love. 

I think some quilters look at my designs as hard. None of what I design is "Hard", but they can be a time commitment. No one says we have to have a quilt done in a weekend! I like to enjoy the process on my heirloom designs and have my quick ones too.

Believing in what you're making even when it's slow, matters.

July is here tomorrow and I have a surprise class announcement. 

Join me for a new design and a fun twist on an old technique.

Here is the perfect weekend project-LOL.

 
Mod Poinsettia: Curved Half-Square Triangles Without the Curved Piecing!
Yes, you read that right.
This two-hour class introduces a clever technique that creates the look of curved piecing without requiring curved seams. Using my original Mod Poinsettia design, you'll learn how to achieve that flowing, modern shape entirely through straight-line piecing.
Whether you're picking up a rotary cutter for the first time or you've been quilting for decades, this technique is approachable and very satisfying. 

Everything is doable one step at a time and by the end of class, you'll have all the skills to finish this fun holiday wall hanging AND have a new trick up your sleeve.
What you'll learn:
-The curved half-square triangle technique (straight seams only!)
-Fusible applique' tips
-How to press for crisp, clean results
Come ready to be surprised and inspired by the simplicity. 

All details are in my June newsletter. 

Sign up HERE via the secure pop up:)

Limited Seats!

Thank you for being here! 

See you in July because there's plenty ahead worth sharing.
Obviously, I couldn't put a whole month's worth of posts here so I hope you will take a peek at my IG or FB feeds for the other stuff.

Keep Stitching~

Benartex Christmas in July 2023

 Jackie Robinson has 

done it again!

A Botanical Season is 

a lovely array of 

holiday touchstones from 

holly to Christmas ornaments.

I used techniques from

my Fabric Collaborations class

to adorn this sweet and 

simple table runner

with lovely amaryllis 

flower bouquets.

I am in love with 

these sweet flowers and the 

cute star negative space 

at their centers!

The pattern can be found

in my ETSY shop

HERE.

Fun quilting 

suggestions included.

Come see how I used this

line in another project HERE 

to create a matching set!

My first ever Calendar!

Initial orders have gone out 

and I am excited to start

my video tutorials that will

post each month on my

YouTube channel.

This labor of love is

comprised of various

flowers I have designed

over the years and put 

into a 3" format so

that each month you 

get a new little piece

to work on in all

those in between moments

(bank line, doctor 

appointment, etc).

Those minutes add

up so quickly.

 

Each month has a 

handy pocket calendar and

an inspirational phrase.

On the back side,

there are notes about

supplies, stitches to try,

and ideas for how to 

use these small pieces

in your everyday life.

It was designed not only

as a calendar but also

as a mini, self-paced

introduction to 

embroidery class.

Have some little fingers

that would like to shadow

you? This is perfect for 

ages 5 and up with

supervision.

So, head over to my 

website and join the fun.

Sign up for my newsletter 

for video updates.

NESTLINGS by Robin

FLOURISH QAL: Ready-Set-Stitch!

FLOURISH

BLOOM-CHERISH

GROWTH-HOPE

 I am beyond excited to bring my

FLOURISH quilt pattern to you!

Lots of information in this post

so please read to the end. 

As you can see at the time 

of this posting, I am still quilting it:)

Although I rarely use 

blue in my designs, the fabric

and the design itself both

required it for this layout

to be joyful and balanced.

Now to the QAL:

I am so excited you are here.

The FB group has continued

to grow & since this is a 

smaller project, I am looking forward 

to lively participation!

The FULL pattern is available as a 

PDF digital download HERE at an

introductory price of $12 until 

July 8th, 2021

(Reg price $16)

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 only.

The QAL will take place in 

my FB Group with blog posts

adding additional information.

FB has been playing again so 

make sure all your notifications

are turned on so you don't miss anything.

Go to the area circled in orange to click the

 3 dots for a drop down menu.

In the menu (purple arrow) Follow group and in 

Manage notifications choose to get all posts.

SCHEDULE

Since most of us be doing

this as a fusible  applique'

project, I will moving at

a faster pace than last QAL.

JULY 1ST: Pattern Available

I may be live too:)

We can talk options.

July 3rd: We will be discussing piecing

July10th: Let's talk LETTERING

Fusible vs. Hand Applique'

July 17th: Embroidery tips

Machine vs. Hand

July 24th: Side borders

I will give extra time for this step

and to allow catching up for 

our hand work quilters.

August 7th: Bottom Border

August 14th: French knots vs. 

Colonial knots vs. beading:)

August 21st: Assembly

August 28th: Quilting Motifs

Extra time for catching up 

for our final reveals! 

September 12th: ZOOM meet up day

to show off your beauties.

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

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~

Honeysuckle Rose

Meet the Botanical Blue collection 

from Connecting Threads.

I am excited to announce 

I have a new kit with them...

Meet 

"HONEYSUCKLE ROSE"

The sweet little flowers in that strip 

are fusible applique' done with 

my method of cutting multiples

included in the pattern.

You can find additional visuals on

my blog within post tutorials.

Cutting Multiples

Heartbursts

This is also a full pattern 

available HERE on my website now.

"Honeysuckle Rose" is available 

through Connecting Threads 

as a kit or PDF downloadable pattern.

I LOVE to see pics of 

finished designs!

~ENJOY~

FABRIC COLLABORATIONS

Fabrics for quilters are inspiring and cherished.  As a designer they spark more ideas than I will ever get done in a lifetime.

My appraisal studies found me collecting antique and vintage quilt blocks for fabric/date study and the designer in me went crazy.  Wouldn't it be cute if.....?  What if I ….? and so 
FABRIC COLLABORATIONS was born.

I LOVE design and applique and I feel people as a whole are more creative than they give themselves credit for!  This workshop allows you to play without a lot of investment.  You already have what you need and you weren't using it anyway:)

Take any orphan block-
I know you ALL have one due to a workshop taken and life intervened or the technique wasn't enjoyable but you still love the colors and just can't part with it....

Here was one I started with-

I am really not a pink person but this block was intriguing and I wanted to challenge myself since the print isn't super inspiring.  Then I had to decide whether to fix her little error or leave it ….I just couldn't leave it.  The asymmetry bugged me too much. After the repair, I played with some designs and here is the result, meet "Strawberry Shortcake".

I echoed the tiny circular print in the light fabric while challenging myself to use the smaller circles from my Karen Kay Buckley perfect circles.  I also challenged myself to do a back stitch vs. my usual stem stitch for my embroidery because it was the repeat from the small black lines in the fabric too.  Now this unknown quiltmaker from the past has had her work completed whilst making myself a sweet little 12" square wall hanging to decorate any small space perfectly. #heritagearchitect at work:)

Next I came across this vintage 1930s block.  Again 30s aren't my 'go to' since I like OLD but the black and green and yellow was so striking that it came home with me and I couldn't beat the $1 price tag:)

On this the inspiration was the daffodil.  I LOVE applique if you haven't already figured that out.  I know a lot of people avoid it but a workshop with me just may open your eyes.  You don't have to needle turn, fusible works great too.
"I CAN'T DRAW", you say?? Well I have some great hacks for drawing items using very simple shapes we can all handle easily.
I have also developed some drawing aids you will be able to use in class.  Easy Peasy! Meet, "Dancing Daffodil".

On this one, I added a header only and my daffodil has dancing ribbons flowing from her...sweet and simple. She measures 9" x 12" and fits perfectly on one of those adorable little Ackfeld hangers.
I have many other samples (shown in class) because once I got going, I just couldn't stop but these three are my favorite Finished ones. This last one I will show (to inspire and excite you) just made me cry out with glee!  Look at those Fabulous flowers in the print!!

I get to applique and embroider and add leaves and swirls and circles, Oh MY!!

Meet "Chocolate Brownie Bliss".  My mom named this one because there are only so many ways I can say Autumn Bloom, etc.
She is hand applique, hand embroidery, and hand quilted and I love love love her!!!

Your block can be from any time period (modern too) as long as there is an inspiring print somewhere within.  We will discuss copyright, choosing the best portion of the print, choosing the best layout for your block (1, 2, 4 borders), and work through our drawing hacks so that you get to go home with a mostly completed and upcycled, Orphan-No-More, original work!

Tell your friends--Tell your guild Program Chairs--
Now Booking FABRIC COLLABORATIONS FOR 2019.
Email: robin@nestlingsbyrobin.com for available dates.

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?!!

Do Pumpkins delight you?

I absolutely LOVE pumpkins and to date, this along with Hawaiian Halloween had been my only two patterns. Everyone who has seen this cutie has loved it so I don't know why it took me so long to design more pumpkins.

HARVEST NIGHTS #411

I decided that for Spring Market '13, I was going to have a completely Pumpkin booth and I almost made it....Autumn Wind isn't pumpkins but definitely completes the season for me.

AUTUMN WIND #430

When thinking of Autumn, I knew I wanted pumpkins and lots of them. My brain also kept coming back to crisp fall evenings and how bright the stars shine then. It felt natural to do night skies with star blocks with my pumpkins.


SIMPLY PUMPKINS #431

Pumpkin Star was actually one of the first to be designed because after studying Harvest Nights, I asked "what if" about switching the positions and putting the pumpkin in the star.

PUMPKIN STAR #432

Lace Pumpkin has been a sketch on a napkin for years and sometimes those ideas just don't come together immediately the way you want them to.  It sat and waited until I was ready and then the ideas came quickly.


LACE PUMPKIN #433

I LOVE these little red flowers in Lace Pumpkin and I have always been drawn to designs done in quadrants, wreaths, circles.  So it felt natural to take the flowers and do something different other than pumpkins.  This layout in another color way would fit into any season: Pinks for spring, change the yellow to white for red, white, and blue patriotic, etc.
As I looked at the circular design, it reminded me of ladies skirts swirling and that is how the word 'Cotillion' made it into the name.

AUTUMN COTILLION #434

PUMPKIN TRELLIS #435

Pumpkin Trellis is just so sweet to me!  I obviously started with the Lace Pumpkin design and thought it would look adorable in red work.  I really like Weeks Dye Works variegated flosses from my cross stitch days though, and so I found the right colors and got to work.  Since I wasn't stitching star blocks in, something had to take up that space...a Trellis.  They have always held a charm for me.  Who knows why when I can't grow anything to save my life:)

 

Pumpkin Trellis mini 9-1/2" x 11-1/2"

Just when the layout was done and I was ready to go, I accidently clicked a button and this beige background with black popped up on the computer screen.  Well I had to do it and in the mini format too.  It is just too cute!!

 

There is plenty of time to make one of these fabulous designs in time for the season and they can be found on my website!

 

Stay tuned for more quilting fun!