Flags from my Stash

It isn't like I want for something to do on a daily basis, but every now and then I just need to work on something that isn't for a pattern or just to get my juices flowing again or..... do I really need a reason?  :)

Fourth of July is coming and I haven't done anything for that holiday in quite some time.  I pulled out my little boxes of scraps not expecting to find enough of anything to accomplish a project, when the thought of mini flags jumped into my head.  How cute are these?? 
Do you have a 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" scrap of blue?  Do you have enough red and white to cut: 2 strips of each color @ 1-1/4" x 4-1/2" and 2 strips of each color @ 1-1/4" x 8-1/2"?  Then you have enough to make a cute little mini flag before the holiday gets here! 
I sewed my short stripes together and trimmed to match the blue rectangle.  Then I sewed the blue area and the short stripes together.
After the long stripes were sewn together, they were added to the top half of the flag.  For quilting, I just quilted wavy lines through all the stripes and one star in the blue rectangle.  This was all straight line sewing--no free motion. I then decided to face them vs. traditional binding so that I could add a bit of a wave to my flag. 

I had all 3 done in a day but that wasn't enough for me.....  A few days before, I had seen a yo yo flag on one of the sale sites.  Why buy when I could make it?  (Now I know why!!)
So I started cutting circles after I had decided how many I needed and thinking, "That isn't very many, I can do this!". 

If you have a Fat Quarter of each color, you too can make one of these old fashioned yet adorable flags.  It does have a throwback quality about it but I just love it...now that it is done!! 
You need 24 blue circles and 40 each of white and red circles.  I traced mine at 2-1/2" and the finished piece is 9" x 15-1/2".
I hadn't done a yo yo project in all my quilting years and now I can cross that off my list:)  The first 40-50 were fun and then I was pretty much over it.  Thankfully I was motivated to finish the other half when I saw how cute the top half was!  I think next time I might just buy the finished one but what sense of accomplishment would I get out of that, I ask you?  When I look at this one, I swell with pride for ALL that it stands for in regards to our country and the satisfaction of knowing I made it!!
Happy Fourth of July a bit early.

What I have been working on...

Depending on how much you stop by, you may remember this post from May when I had a new block in Quiltmaker's 100 Quilt Blocks.  I will wait while you go read it:))
http://nestlingsbyrobin.blogspot.com/2012/05/volume-5-has-arrived.html

Back in February while at the Mancuso Mid-Atlantic show, I bought this piece of fabric for my mom.  She has a Pfaltzgraff kitchen and this indigo was perfect.  I have never worked with true indigo fabric before and the hand is very stiff until you rinse it extremely well following the instructions that come with it.  After rinsing, it sort of has the hand of a light chambray.  It worked very well for paper piecing.

So when Mom comes to visit, this will be my gift to her.

The blue in this photo is truer to the real color.....better lighting:)  I love how it turned out and if she didn't already know I was making it, she might not get it!  Love you Mom:)

Hidden Stitches Musical Moments

Welcome to some of my Hidden Stitches applique group.  I joined this group shortly after moving to Florida last summer and they have been very friendly and inviting and even LET me be the leader of their group:)) 

Recently the challenge of Musical Moments was put forth to the group: Be inspired by a song title or line from a song and it couldn't be more than an 80" perimeter (which leaves a lot of leeway:).

Here is what talent sung out:)

  

Liz M's  "I'll Fly Away", a hymm.

Her eagle's name is Spirit.
  Her wing applique uses different fabrics

for a wonderfully realistic feel.

                                               Barbara H's "There's a Hole in the Bucket"
                               There really is a hole too with a drop of water coming out:)

 Carol C did a Beatles Tribute and my pictures won't do it justice.  There is so much handwork

detailing each song and then there are more titles embroidered in the pink border.

 Here Carol holds up Barb L's "Daisy Daisy".

The reverse applique here is great because of the
pieced background.  The butterfly is 3D as well.

 Diane D's "Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend"

Simple, Sweet, and great graphically.

 Pat O's
"Teddy Bear"








We had an Elvis thing going here and lots of reminiscencing!  Pat had the cutest album pin that was perfect for the bear's belly. 

Lynn T's Elvis Tribute and I am pretty sure the look on her face

says it all about how Elvis made her feel:)))

 Great appliques representing different songs and don't forget those "Blue Suede Shoes" !

 Marva brought us another eagle for "Wind Beneath My Wings".  This is another great technique for adding texture and movement to an applique-choose a wonderful print!  

Lynn W's "Tea for Two"

Paper piecing and the tea bags are adorable!

Carol Q's rendition of "Daisy Daisy"  So sweet!

Rainy Days never get me down:))

Working on a new block and loving the Autumn vibe on a rainy day!

I am a rainy day kind of girl;  The sound of the wind and pattering of rain is the perfect weather for curling up with a project and stitching the hours away.  Today the added sound of a friend's laughter while I worked on my new design was just what my soul needed!!

Does the rain hinder or expand your creativity?

Kansas City Spring Market 2012

Spring Market has come and gone...what a whirlwind!

This is one of the many fountains in KC.  The city is known for its beautiful fountains and only Rome, Italy has more. 

Here is the NESTLINGS booth and new designs are on my website ready for ordering:)  I really didn't get to leave my booth much over the 3 day market.  First thing in the morning before opening, I walked a bit of the floor and saw a lot of kids patterns and fabrics, bright colors, and supposedly we are trending back towards solids.  They aren't my personal favorite since I really like tonals that add a bit of texture and depth to my designing.  What do you think?

                                         BOOTH MATES

Perkins Dry Goods and my sweet friend Celine.



Suzn Quilts with my dear friend Susan and her daughter Chloe.

The ever energized Susan and Mary Jane of the Quilt Branch.

Our hotel room overlooked the KC Royals stadium and
one night we were treated to a fireworks show.  The city is beautiful and I would recommend a stop there if you are ever out that way.
In the meantime, keep quilting.

Volume 5 Has Arrived!!

I am honored to once again be included among today's top designers in the newest issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

                                                                 

Pinwheel Salute

For all the paper piece lovers out there, here is another versatile block to play with.  Pinwheel Salute is a great block that can be rearranged and / or changed to the colors of your heritage.

 

Here I have shown German and Irish for my heritage and the blocks are arranged differently as well.

This fun little quilt uses 8 copies of the template in the magazine.  Then add 4, 6-1/2" x 12-1/2" border strips.

The quilting was done with a star stencil, quilting wiggly lines along the paper piece seams, and tracing straight lines into the border strips.  It was quilted with a variegated Red/White/Blue thread for more POP.

It finishes at 24-1/2" square and there is still plenty of time to get one done for Memorial Day or 4th of July;)

Now that you are here, don't forget to leave a comment, including your email address, for a chance to win a FREE copy of the new magazine. 

I will draw a winner on Friday, May 4th.

For a chance to win a free pattern of your choice from my website, LIKE me on Facebook.  I will draw a winner from my

new friends on Friday, May 4th as well. 

For chances to win the block itself plus lots of other fun gifts, be sure to visit the official Blog Tour blog:)   

So glad you hopped by and have a great week!!

Art Quilt Portfolio: The Natural World

Imagine my joy opening my mail to this!

Martha, you have done it again:  The cover is beautifully simple with paper that is slick yet soft and a raised edge on the quilt so you can feel the binding...love that.  You would never imagine the amount of beauty contained within such a portable size.

In this format, Martha has given us the best of both worlds with in-depth artist interviews combined with pages of organized, drool-over beauty.

The FLOWERS section contains photography that makes you feel as if you could just pluck one from the page.

The THIRTEEN WAYS OF LOOKING AT A BLACKBIRD exhibit was not what I expected.  Not being a big bird fan myself (although I do love Big Bird:), I was pleasantly surprised by all the variations on a theme and how the artists brought themselves to it.  The lesson being  that even when you aren't excited about a subject matter, there is still appreciation for the process to be had if you open yourself up to it.

Ginny Eckley creates such color depth in her paintings as does Sally Dillon.  Their work again reinforced my discovery that I am repeatedly drawn to the silk paintings for their fluidness and depth.

As a beginner or self-taught artist, this book along with the MASTERS series are great resources for defining what techniques you are drawn to and deserve greater research.  When I read a process and find my eyes glazing over after step 3, then I know I am not interested in pursuing that technique.  Don't mistake disinterest in a technique for not being in awe of what the artist can accomplish though.

Technique, talent, and variety abound from Cassandra Williams to Betty Busby to Gabrielle Paquin.

Annemieke Mein's nature work is exquisite in spite of looking at bugs.

Katherine K. Allen's process really intrigues and excites me.  In my mind I would love this process but reality is that I am too weird about getting dirty to be out collecting nature:)

Dottie Moore-  First of all, I so love and admire the beauty of trees, and in Dottie's skillful hands their textural beauty is mesmerizing.

Nancy G Cook- I have followed Nancy's work for a few years now and am always in awe of the seemingly simple beauty she brings to cloth. 

Thank you again, Martha, for a must have for any library especially anyone enthralled with the wonder of nature.  Thank you artists for your continued push for excellence.