Stars of Peace: Let the stitching begin:)

 IT'S HERE!!

After many hours of work
 I am beyond excited to bring my
Stars of Peace: Sestercentennial Sampler
quilt pattern to you!
Lots of information in this post
so please read to the end.

I am very proud of my 

family's military service

and of all the military members

and their families

that sacrifice much 

more than most will ever know.

In honor of those who sacrifice,

I will be highlighting some

not-so-well-known heroes of 

the Revolutionary War each month

with the block for that month.

There will also be a bit of history

about the block shown (designer, etc).

MONTH 1:

Eagle and Stars set on a background

of 4 blocks together.

After I drew my eagle, I thought I 

remembered a myth about what the 

direction of the head meant.

I asked my fellow historians in the 

American Quilt Study Group and 

this is what I was told:

"When the eagle on the presidential

seal faces left and the talons hold

arrows, we are at war. 

When it faces right and holds olive branches, 

we are at peace.

The presidential seal doesn't switch out

like that but the information is interesting.

I am glad I drew it facing right but I 

left out the olive branches for ease of applique'.

The block I used to create the center is 

originally attributed to Nancy Cabot, a 

syndicated column writer and quilt designer

from the 1930s.

Now to the QAL:
Thank YOU for being here.
 I look forward to 
lively participation!

The FULL pattern is available as a 
PDF digital download HERE at an
introductory price of $20 until 
February 7th, 2025
(Reg price $25)
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 and history tidbits.

The QAL will take place in 

my FB Group, 

Robin's Rocking Needles

 with blog posts
adding additional information.
Make sure all your notifications
are turned on so you don't miss anything.

If you aren't a member yet, please 

answer all 3 questions an agree to the 

rules in order to be accepted. Thank you.

SCHEDULE
Looks like a lot but time flies when we quilt:)
February 2025: Pattern Release
February '25-April '26: 1 block per month

May '26: Finishing Instructions

June '26: Time to get it quilted

July 2026: Show that baby off to all 

who will want to see to celebrate 

our country's 250th birthday. 

I will also be offering a block by block option.
Block 1-Eagle/Stars will be available on 
February 1st, 2025 for $8.
It will include all the pattern instructions.

Subsequent blocks will be $5 each.

You can find month 1 HERE.

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

Good-bye 2024 and Hello 2026

That is Not a typo:)

It has been a rough year on so many levels for many people and I don't know about you, but my calm, the balm for my soul is stitching. The slow and steady pull of the thread through fabric calms me in ways I can't fully describe. There is a form of meditation in this glorious art form that I am thankful to have in my life and hope I can entice others to feel as well.

I have been absent a bit now, I know.  For those following along, we moved from Florida at the end of 2023 to Northern Illinois to be near our grand little.  Once here we were so excited to find out there would be a second one too!  They are a delight, and it is nice being near family again.

Something I have been relatively quiet about is that through the move and littles and all of 2024 I have been going through many medical tests for an unknown (as of now) neurological disorder. It has put a small crimp in some of my plans but not all:)

I have taken 2024 to enjoy my littles, get my new studio up and going, and come to terms with my slightly restricted abilities of which stitching is not one of them!!  Every day I am grateful for that. This time away has let me think about priorities and what I want from my business. 

In 2026 we will celebrate the Sesquicentennial, the 250th birthday of our always great country. I have been designing a BOM that will start in early 2025 and take us up to the celebrations in 2026. There will be 2 designs to choose from to cover the piecers and the applique' lovers and both done sampler style.

I want as many of us quilters as I can get to celebrate together leading up to all the events that will be planned. The pieced quilt will have a touch of applique' because this is still me...LOL. The applique' quilt will be an appliquepalooza of beautiful florals designed by me over the years.

So, gather your red, white (cream), and blues for a fabulous year of stitching.

This is how I want to spend my time, creating beauty and inspiration. I do hope you will join me!

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!

Benartex Ambassador Project #3

 Christmas in July is celebrated by 

lots of quilters to get a jump on

their Christmas gift lists, so

I am going to offer 2

Christmas in July patterns

for my Benartex projects!

For project #3 I chose

to work with the new

line, Rhapsody in White,

arriving in shops now.

This line has a lovely

silky feel to it and there

are lots of cute

prints to choose from.

White makes me think of 

snowflakes though and how 

fun are those little

paper cut ones from 

our childhood.

In all honesty, I was never 

much good at getting them 

to look pretty, and I 

have worked very hard

to make the ones

in my Holiday Settings

pattern easy and cute!

The designs can be single

or layered as shown and

explained in the 

pattern instructions

found HERE.

These will become

timeless family gifts,

used every year.

Use them for pillows,

tote bags, candle mats,

mug rugs, Santa's

cookie mat....

The list is endless!

Come see how I used this

line in another project HERE 

to create a matching set!

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Fabric Selection

FABRICS!

Isn't this why we 

really do this quilting thing??

So, let's talk fabrics!
This pic shows the fabrics I chose to work with.

The pattern supply list will give overall yardage.
Example: Red- # yards

I chose to use a 10" layer

 cake of red prints.

The red value is consistent throughout

with different prints. There were 42

squares in this pack from

 Wilmington Prints

and I used most of them.

For my greens, I pulled 6 that were

anywhere from a FQ to a yard.

When you are doing the QAL with us, 

there is no reason you can't choose

as you go and shop your stash.

Choose a color palette and then

proceed to make each block 

as its own entity repeating

a fabric amongst 2-3

blocks for cohesiveness.

Then pull fabrics from the blocks

for the border applique'

for continuity.

So, I obviously went the traditional 

red, white, green, and cheddar route

to pay homage to my collection of 

lovelies but there is NO rule 

that says you have to follow me.

I will end this post with a series of

other color options for you to ponder

using the first block we will discuss, 

Currants.

Above and below are the traditional colors.

I really like my

 black/orange sample.

That sashing fabric made it!

You could always work in pastels

or brights or batiks.

PURPLE?!

How about darker barn reds, grays, & black?

Have fun choosing your palette

and use your background / border

and your sashing fabrics

as your constant.

If you are just coming to the 

conversation, HERE is a post

that starts the story.

You can start sharing your fabric choices

on our FB group:

Robin's Rocking Needles.

NOW AVAILABLE HERE

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?!!

'Currant Pinwheels' in Simply Vintage!

Thank you all for sticking through 

some of the boring posts this past week

and here is your reward:)

 Here is the new issue of Simply Vintage, 

one of my Favorite publications!!

Inside you will find a sweet

red and green treat based on

this antique quilt below.

 This is Coxcombs and Currants which I own.

I thought I would try designing a 

smaller piece inspired by the quilt

but in a different colorway.

 These are some of my other 'go-to' 

colors; red, orange, black.

 I really like the small loop design within the leaves.

This one was all done by machine but

felt a bit too small so.....

 I started picking out my red, green, 

and white fabrics for a more traditional 

look to match the original quilt.

 This time I did all the work by 

hand (applique and quilting).

 I really enjoy the look of straight 

lines against curved lines.

Someone commented on the unique 

use of leaves on only one side of the 

vine vs. both sides as we traditionally see.

 I really wanted that FRAME appearance.

Then look how absolutely lovely

they staged it in the magazine!!

Thank you Simply Vintage and the 

whole Quiltmania staff!

I can't wait to see what other

colors people do this in!

Keep stitching~R

Cheryl Sleboda of Muppin.com 

for more blogs to follow.

Remembrance & QOV

REMEMBRANCE REVISITED

I met Terry and Ruth at Fall Paducah in September. They are involved with Quilts of Valor and we discussed what a great kit my 'Remembrance' quilt would be for that organization.

Then the fun idea of miniaturizing the design was introduced to the conversation and I knew there should be enough fabric from the kit to make a mini because Connecting Threads is very generous with their kits.

I cannot express how exciting it is to receive pictures of completed quilts from makers!  Thank you, Terry and Ruth, for sharing your lovely work with all of us and for all you do for our Veterans.

If you are involved with QOV, here are some links to take a peek at.

QOV is always looking for volunteers: https://www.qovf.org/

Connecting Threads has partnered with and is offering a thread collection: https://www.connectingthreads.com/quilts-of-valor-thread-set/p/21541

My 'Remembrance' kit is available here:

https://www.connectingthreads.com/remembrance-quilt-kit/p/93515

The pattern is also available here:

https://www.connectingthreads.com/remembrance-pattern-download/p/12745D

THANK YOU VETERANS!

RSVP Designers with Studio E Fabrics

Last year I was invited by Pepper Cory to participate in a group designer challenge.  I am very particular in where I choose to Donate my time but I would do just about anything for my dear friend, Pepper!

Scott Fortunoff, CEO of Studio E Fabrics, thinks highly of Pepper as well and it is evident in this blog post here where he cracks me up:...As Always.

It was quite an honor to be amongst some of the best and bright designers of our time!

The parameters were that the block finish at 16" square, use her line of Peppered Cottons with Studio E, and that the block look like us (the designer).  It has taken me many years to actually see "MY Style" although others seem to see it just fine.

She gave me quite a bit of teasing about being an over achiever because I sent in 2 blocks when really it is because I am a terrible decision maker!  I knew she would love "Gingko Romance" since she was the color impetus behind the design which also became my first published design with Quilter's World in 2010.

Such a simple log cabin based block with lovely leaves and hearts fused to it.

If you haven't worked with Pepper's shot cottons yet, you are missing out!  They are so soft and the subtle color changes with the light due to the weave are sublime!

"Gingko Romance" can be found

on my website here

The second block I sent in is SO ME!  I can see it from the swirly embroidery to the circle embellishment to the floralesque applique and in such vibrant colors!!  I just love this one!

Here is one of my pups keeping an eye on me as I stitch:)

The original was hand applique but when it came time to make the pattern,  I chose to make it fusible applique and more user friendly. There is some hand embroidery but it adds so much:)

Have I told you how much I hate dealing with the threads from fusible??!!!  I don't have this issue when working with hand applique:)

That little pop of bright green is so exciting to me and I had to control myself not to add too much more!
It would look fantastic in any color way though!

The pattern comes out on Mother's Day, May 13th

but preorders are now happening.

Be the first on your block to have one!

Pepper and Studio E will present RSVP Designers at Spring Market in Portland with a finished quilt from the blocks collected last Fall.  I am sad that I won't be there to see it all together. Pictures please from anyone that attends Schoolhouse:)
Keep stitching!

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?!!

Charity Quilts

I know I am not alone in our quilting community when donating time and talent to worthy causes.  I usually hesitate to make full on quilts after hearing how some organizations don't do our donations justice.  However, the guild I belong to is aligned with a charity that does such a great service to underprivileged children that I am proud to donate lovelies.

 

Every spring the COC along with Hidden Stitches (my guild) puts on a huge luncheon and quilt auction.  We have over 300 people attend the lunch and so many quilts for auction that we have added a silent auction as well so everyone's bums don't go numb during the bidding:)

 

As I contemplated what to do for 2015 an estate sale of a quilter came to the guild's attention.  

 



I found 6 machine embroidered Sun Bonnet Sue blocks for $6...I knew I could come up with something:)  The one missing will go into a small pillow done in peach because she was the one NOT like the others in colors.  After adding some nine patches and a border, I had it machine quilted by a lovely woman in our guild who will quilt our charity quilts for free once we supply the backing/batting which is more than fair!!

After I received it back from Toddy, I added the floral applique to the borders for an adorable baby quilt...I just love the red and white!  The floral applique mimics a floral design in the embroidery of one of the other blocks.

At the estate sale, I also found these 16 completed kaleidoscope blocks ($8) and the gold fabric yardage that matched perfectly. What to do..... There weren't enough for a whole quilt and if I separated them, then you would lose that cool purple square between them.  I decided to just put them together and add a bigger header and footer for a lap size quilt.

Again I sent it off to Toddy and her husband, Ray, to quilt it for me.  Once it came back, I added the purple flower garlands to the top and bottom borders.

I machine appliqued the flower garlands and then replicated the quilting details into the flower heads.  If you look at the photo below, you will see that the applique flowers mimic the quilting.  This is a great way to add more detail and keep everything cohesive.

The joy is knowing someone will LOVE these and the money they spend on them at the auction will go to help kids that just need a little bit of attention so we don't lose them.
I am not one to shout my good deeds to the world but I thought this was a good way to show how orphan blocks at yard sales, thrift shops, etc. can be of use even if they aren't necessarily your style.
I don't do Sunbonnet Sue or purples/golds but someone will love these and it didn't cost me all that much other than my time.

What are your charity projects for the year?