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~

NESTLED BABIES

I am not sure why I started designing in 'baby', but they are mighty cute and I will be ready when the first grand bundle arrives someday.....

 

BABY BLOCK PILLOW

This little cutie was based on a crocheted block I made when my first child was born.  It was so much quicker to quilt:)  It contains the whole alphabet for personalizing plus appliques for girls or boys.



JUST HANGIN' OUT

Just Hangin' Out was designed from another monkey quilt I made and never finished because I hated the fabric I chose.  It seemed right at the time but after marinating in the closet for 4 years my tastes had changed.  Can anyone relate??

 

NESTLINGS by Robin booth at International Quilt Market 2015

 



FIREFLIES

 

I have designed so many quilts using a tessellation program and Fireflies is one of them. Someday I will get around to doing a girlie version:)


BABY BOTTLE ROCKETS



BINKY BLOOMS

A good play on words will get me every time....
Baby Bottle Rockets and Binky Blooms were so fun to dream up!! 

Binky Blooms can now be found in my ETSY

shop as a downloadable pattern:)

 

SPRING POND

Spring Pond is delightful and sweet and great for twins:))  When I was a little girl the idea of twins was just so appealing.  When I got pregnant for the first time I hoped it was twins.  After I had the baby, I was SO thankful it was NOT twins!  Anyone else have that crazy dream??

Pop over to see who else is blogging...
http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2016-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/

HAPPY 2014 and ....

Happy Valentine's Day, Happy President's Day, Happy St. Patrick's Day, Happy Easter, and Beyond!

Well 2013 sure was a very busy year for me and I know you have been wondering where I have been:) After not writing for so long, I wonder myself.....
To get us back on track, this post will mostly be a photo wrap up of what I have been doing.  I know it will pain you to look at photos vs. read big long paragraphs of tedious details, but please try to suffer through!

Here are the Highlights:)

1. Three new designs found here: http://nestlingsbyrobin.com/whats-new.html

'Just Hangin' Out' is an adorable monkey quilt

'Semper Paratus' is for the patriot in us all and has all the letters to adapt to any service.

'Blooms of Hope' allows us to send healing flowers to anyone with the change of a color.

 

2. These 3 photos show my Festival Booth in Houston last October where I debuted my new designs along with 2 photos of what the floor and aisles look like.  It is so hard to wrap your head around how large it all is.

 

3. The top photo is TREEO by Linda Evans bought from the SAQA Auction. Just Adorable!

The bottom quilt is my Star House donated to the House Quilt Project run by Jamie Fingal.

 

4. This little cutie was given to me by my guild for my service as Leader for the last 2 years.  I volunteered for another and was told not to expect another quilt:)  WHAT? :))

 

5. My husband bought me show tickets to We Will Rock You, the Queen musical for my birthday and it was only playing in Miami.  So we went to South Beach for an overnight trip and whilst walking the strip, I found a window full of Rhinestone covered shoes!!  I could never wear them but so shiny and pretty!!

 

6. Merry Christmas 2013 with my smart and gorgeous and talented and funny daughters!!

 

7. I found this fantastic wrought iron door stop whilst antiquing with my girls.  Parts of my life have been a bit like a fairy tale and IT is Orange!!  How could I pass it up!

 

8.  We rang in 2014 in Key West where they drop a Drag Queen named Sushi in a giant red pump.

 

9. My juried entry into the 2014 Mancuso Mid Atlantic quilt show Hampton, Va.

 

10.  A huge splurge for me as I bid on and won this mini quilt at my guild's annual charity auction.

 

11. This is our new baby, Biscuit.  He is a rescue Wheaten and what a sweetheart.

 

12. Finished my mom's Hawaiian quilt.  Last year she mentioned how she had always wanted one and I opened my mouth before realizing what I was undertaking.  It is 40+ x 60+ and all needle turn applique and hand quilted in the traditional echo style.  Turned out beautifully and I don't ever need to make another:)

 

13. GO BOLTS!  The Tampa Bay Lightning made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs.  They aren't doing so well but still an accomplishment.  The game we went to was Great: lots of action!

The St. Louis Blues are in too and doing well I hear:)  GO BLUES!

 

14. Here is my little Pooka Duck.  She is our other little Wheaten. She and new big brother are doing well even though she really gets on his last nerve sometimes:)

 

So there are my last 8 months in review with many of the other usual things in between!

There are more fun things to come in between my youngest daughter's college graduation and a dear friend coming to visit in June.  Stay Tuned and keep quilting!