WHERE LOVE GROWS

Thank you SIMPLY MODERNE for publishing this fun 

combination of paper piecing and applique'.

 Meet WHERE LOVE GROWS!

I did pretty well matching my colors

to make it cheerful.
Paper piecing trick: 
I collect notions and such and one of 
the items are the old heavy metal irons.
They are great weights for pressing
a pile of paper pieced blocks FLAT!!

There is an addition of some bias strips 

to the simple paper pieced blocks 

 to create the larger branches. 

I also stitched in some 

little skinny ones for texture.

Then my favorite part...the APPLIQUE'!!!

This is raw edge applique' where wavy lines

were added to the vines for texture .

Lastly, my label.

Here is my lazy label trick...

Fold a square in half to create a triangle, place the 

raw edges of the triangle within the binding 

seam allowance and stitch in place with 

a 1/8" seam just to hold until the binding is added.

THEN, use a sharpie or micron pen to write on it.

Of course the more I look at this photo, pretty sure

I skipped the triangle and wrote directly on that back.

Take that for lazy:)

 Here is the cover of Issue #20 of 

Simply Moderne (On Stands Now)

where you will find

WHERE LOVE GROWS.

Isn't that cover quilt gorgeous too?!!

WINTERBERRIES

On Shelves Now!

This block design is so versatile and I knew that I wanted it in Christmas colors so I started pulling shades of green and red and throwing them on the floor so I could think on them.

Isn't this a sweet little print?!

It gives so many colors to play with.

Let the chain piecing begin and be 

mindful of those 1/4" alignments.

 Here is a picture of a test block so you can 

see it in another colorway ...very sweet!

The more important part of this picture is showing the alignment

of the triangles to the block.

It looks like a hot mess but it all goes together and

then you trim.

 All trimmed!

 Blocks going together....

 What if you laid them all out into columns of triangles?

Lastly, here were 2 other lay outs that measured 

80" square and all done by rotating the blocks.

“During the winter months, the bursts of red and green that keep our spirits up are evident in the flutter of a cardinal, the pots of poinsettias decorating doorways, and the holly trees full of bright-red berries. Of course, the bigger inspiration is figuring out how many different designs I can create from rearranging these two blocks. That will while away the winter hours.”—designer Robin Koehler of Nestlings by Robin

Find Robin's Winterberries quilt pattern in our winter 2019 issue on newsstands now! Click here to find out where you can find the issue at a newsstand near you >>> https://magfinder.magnetdata.net/.

>> Order the winter issue here: https://bit.ly/30X9Feg
>> Subscribers, access your copy here: https://www.quiltersworld.com/members/login.php

Graduation and Elementals

THANK YOU CONNECTING THREADS

 for great write ups!

Meet Graduation...

We love how the graduating tones of this quilt provide the perfect backdrop for these gorgeous quilt blocks. This modern, stylish design is sure to brighten up any room!

Finished size: 60-1/2" x 72-1/2". $57

https://www.connectingthreads.com/graduation-quilt-kit/p/94744

I had an idea of doing a series of blocks that used the same 

components and graduate them in difficulty.

It turned out so well that we decided to do it in 2 fabric lines

in 2 different layouts.

Meet Elementals, named for the fun nature line.

This beautiful quilt is a fantastic opportunity to sew, one block at a time! A fantastic skill builder that will look stunning in any room.

Finished size: 48-1/2" x 72-1/2".  $59

https://www.connectingthreads.com/metamorphosis-quilt-kit/p/94754

Great kit deals for lap size quilts that will 

be easy to make and fun to give!

"ROMANTIQUE" is Simply Vintage

I am beyond thrilled to announce that one of my 

FABRIC COLLABORATIONS 

samples is featured on the cover of this awesome magazine!

~~on stands now~~

"ROMANTIQUE" is the upper left picture and

 it is quite a lovely piece, if I do say so myself:)

Simply Vintage always creates a special little graphic

to go with each design and look how sweet my graphic is!

Thank you, Simply Vintage!!

For those not familiar with FABRIC COLLABORATIONS, 

here is a quick overview.

I fell in love with the fabric in this ca. 1880s block.

It became the jumping off point for the lovely piece, "ROMANTIQUE".

It is romantic and antique:)

Detail of some of the embroidery.  

The samples become a 'search a block' to see if you can 

find the designs I created to match the fabric design.

Simply Vintage magazine is one of the Quiltmania publications and they do fantastic layouts and an overview of some of the antiquing to be found in a feature city each issue.  The magazines are more like a book and a great resource for summer trips.

If you would like to read more about my process 

on this post, Fabric Collaborations

Going to Houston Festival?  I know you are intrigued about collaborating with your stash so come to Festival and take the Fabric Collaborations class with me!

Keep stitching~

Appraisals, and workshops and QUILTS, Oh My:) -part1

This year has been crazy right out of the gate!

This is my appraisal booth at the Quilter's Workshop 

of Tampa Bay quilt show in February.

I also appraised the Sunbonnet Sue Quilters 

show in Vero Beach the week before.

Both shows were fabulous with lovely guild

members who were a joy to work with.

Then I hit the road these past 2 weekends in a row

to shadow Brenda some more because I can't have

too much training with her!!

We stay with hostesses from guilds sometimes 

and our last 2 were Amazing!! 

Fun, accomplished women who were so gracious to 

open their homes to us and feed us:)

THANK YOU Hilary and Susan!

It is exhilarating meeting new people and hearing

new stories especially since I work alone.

Quilt show season here in Florida is wrapping up 

and now I will get back to designing 

(a couple of magazine layouts coming up), 

lecturing, training, and teaching.

Hope to see you at one of your guilds.

http://nestlingsbyrobin.com/lectures--workshops.html

Happy December- DAY ONE!

DAY ONE: Welcome to the #31daysofblogging challenge from Cheryl Sleboda of muppin.com

Today we will do a brief intro since this may be your first time here.  My name is Robin:) 
I am a professional quilter:  Quilt Designer by day and Heritage Architect by night.  What does that mean you might ask??  Well, I started in this industry as a quilt designer of fun whimsical quilt designs.  This has grown to teaching, lecturing, and the fulfillment of quilt heritage projects through custom hand quilting.  These commissions usually come to me in the form of a quilt top that was started but never finished because they decided quilting wasn't for them (or health issues) or someone found blocks/quilt top that their mother or grandmother made and they would love to have it finished to keep.
I have the honor of finishing these and completing the quilting heritage for future generations. 
Please feel free to take a peek at my lovely designs:
www.nestlingsbyrobin.com
See you tomorrow!

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?