THANK YOU PIGEON FORGE!!

This is a beautiful shot of 

the Old Mill.

I was able to eat dinner here one

evening and the food was 

delicious, home cooked, stick

to your ribs eats.

I spent weeks cutting kits

and preparing patterns and 

packing quilts....

so that I could arrive

in Pigeon Forge

and teach in this 

lovely setting...

The day before classes 

started I took a short 

drive toward Gatlinburg.

So Beautiful!!

Found a covered bridge

by accident:)

Here is the wonderful

slate of instructors I 

had the honor to share

a page with!

The FUN banner 

outside of my room 

showing my schedule

for the week.

 My room set up...

The staff was super helpful

and the students were eager

and patient and fun!

It truly was a lovely way

to come back to teaching!

Found this fun treasure in an

antique shop in Pigeon Forge-SCORE!

Yes that says 1853!!

I have wanted one for awhile now

and so happy to have found a 

sweet little one that looks

darling with my machines

and spool cabinet!

Also shown here is my new

POPPY POD LANE now 

available in 

Primitive Quilts and Projects.

Lastly, on my way home, I 

stopped in to see mom:)

We did some much needed work 

around the place and also 

took time to have a couple of 

fun nights out together forcing

us to put on nicer clothes...lol.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME:)

Another year passes and 

how do we mark them?

This year has had many 

challenges and one was all

my work cancellations.

As October approached, 2

contracts remained and both

groups decided to go forward.

So the day before my birthday

I taught one of my favorite

workshops ever, 

Fabric Collaborations

to the 

Florida Sewing Sew-ciety up

at the Lake Yale Baptist Center

near Leesburg, FL

.

Beautiful setting and a 

FABULOUS group of ladies.

They really took my inspiration

and made it their own.

Below is Margaret Travis and 

her sister, Marie.

Margaret is known for her Fabulous 

Cheerleading in our industry!

On my actual birthday, I spent 

the evening showing off the 

LADIES to the 

Ladies of the Lakes Quilters

in Lakeland, FL.

They loved them almost as

much as I do:)

I was somewhat apprehensive

getting back out with the 

new little coming to visit.

Thankfully most were very 

understanding of wearing masks.

I received lots of wonderful gifts 

from family and friends including

fabric, a salon tray for upcoming

filming assistance and ….

This sweet little

 (ca 1940s??) machine &

This Awesome book about

the Colonial Williamsburg

textile collection!

Four Centuries of Quilts

The reason I was so excited

is that back in 2018 I was 

privileged to stitch with some

of the volunteers on this quilt (above)

as they reproduced it for the 

house displays around the property.

When I received the book, I 

was able to find the exact 

quilting diagram of what I 

had been working on.

Nerd here finds that

very exciting:)

So, HAPPY HAPPY

BIRTHDAY to 

all the October kids and

Thank you to everyone

who reached out to make

me feel special!

 

Keep quilting:)

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

How did I celebrate?  Very quietly:)  My year review is already done by completing the 31 day blog challenge.
If you missed it, you can read about it Here, Here, Here, and Here!

I am not picking a word this year as so many do.  Instead I will keep plugging away with the skills I have been nurturing in 2018 (hopefully a bit better though:)

I will have at least one new magazine project out this year and one in the works for 2020.
There are 3 lectures with signed contracts and 2 workshops.  If it isn't signed then it isn't scheduled so you can still get your empty calendar spaces filled:) 
LECTURES & WORKSHOPS  and WHAT'S NEW
My test for Appraisal Certification is in August and lots to learn between now and then!

My wish for us all is a touch of personal peace and loads of Quilting!! 
I also want to thank every single person (you know who you are:) that helped me keep my business growing this year!!  

CHEERS TO YOU! 

IF you read all the way to the bottom, message me through FB and I will send you a Free Jingle Penguin Pattern:)

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!