At the time Corey Yoder's Starry Eyed block was released for Moda Blockheads, I was deep in Quilt Market sewing. Finally this weeked I've had a little time to do the blocks! Here is Corey's post if you want to get the pattern:
​https://corianderquilts.com/moda-block-heads-block-15-giveaway/

Blue, blue, lovely blue! The main blues here used from Thatched Basics are Royal 96 (corners and background) and Sky 93 (bright medium light blue). For the lightest blue I flipped Sky and used the backside. I wanted the effect of shading or dimension, so even though the pattern used a single square in the middle top, bottom and sides, I used triangles.

The dark center is Navy 94 and the white is Cream 36 in Thatched. I did some color studies on the computer the week of the block release and if you didn't get a chance to see those, it is at this link:
​https://www.robinpickens.com/blog/moda-blockheads3-starry-eyed-by-corey-yoder-and-giveaway

For my block made with prints, I decided to use my NEW Solana line that is shipping to shops in October! The blue here is a more tealish blue with green undertones. I switched up the dark center this time for a lighter center with my happy ladybugs!

In Solana, there are two blues- Pond, the lighter medium blue and Horizon, the deeper darker blue. I love how the yellow sunflowers really pop on that Horizon Blue. The other prints in the Starry Eyed block are the Criss Cross print based on Ratan and Varietals, which are linear illustrations celebrating the varieties of Sunflowers.

I'm so glad we add in more Thatched blenders with each group to have more color range to play with. As for whether or not they stay on as basics depends on the popularity of the color and if it is different enough from the other basics of Thatched. I like how the Solana colors work really well with Marine and Turquoise and Peacock in the Thatched Basics.

Really hoping to get another set of blocks done tomorrow and get closer to catching up. Happy sewing, have a wonderful Memorial Day and stay safe and well!

Today I get to share my newest fabric line for Moda Fabrics, SOLANA. It is based on sunflowers and warm, happy colors. When I designed this fabric, I had no idea how much I would need and enjoy working with this optimistic group of fabrics at this particular time. 

Solana is a Spanish word for "the sunny side" of a mount or valley. This seemed like a perfect name for a group about sunflowers because they are always looking to the sunny side, always reaching up to that sunshine.

This collection feels like it celebrates simple pleasures. Ladybugs crawling on leaves, tall blooms looking pretty yet bold, linear illustrations of fanciful sunflower centers... It does remind me of being on family vacations in the summer, driving across country with the windows down and the warm air rushing at my face. I've included a painting of a rural scene in this collection that reminds me of those car trips and seeing miles of farmland and fields.

Solana includes 4 main colorways of cream/buttercup, green, peach/clementine, and pond and horizon blues. The large florals are accompanied by a criss cross ratan pattern, tall stalks, ladybugs, varietals illustrations, sunflower seeds, and of course more Thatched blenders. This collection will be shipping to quilt shops in October 2020.

A very exciting addition to the line this time are two PANELS! Each of these panels have a quote in the center and are a yard in width. Want to have some fun with free-motion quilting? Or add blocks for borders and make these the center of a bigger quilt? I can't wait to experiment more with these and share my progress with them!

The quotes are "Wherever life plants you, Bloom with Grace" (French Proverb) and "Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It's what Sunflowers do." by Helen Keller.

It's been a different experience to prepare for Quilt Market in a virtual way. Today I would have been back home, just arriving from a late night flight after seeing all you wonderful quilty peeps at Market. I miss that experience. It's like reuniting with family. ​But I am learning new ways of connecting with people over the internet and video. Speaking of video...this is what my dining room ended up looking like to make my market video! I'm still cleaning up...

I was able to get some more Village houses done in between other projects. I hope that I am able to keep making these fun little houses here and there and will have a full village in time for Christmas. 

My mother sent me some little fabric pieces she had too so I included some of those for some doors. I've been using fabrics from Sweetwater, Gingiber, Zenchic, Deb Strain, Natalia Bonner, Bonnie and Camille, my Thatched and Splendid, along with other pieces from my stash.

I'm so glad that Moda and Miss Rosie's Quilt Company made this pattern available to us during this time of staying at home. It is fun to sew these village blocks. You can view my previous post for more info on getting the pattern https://www.robinpickens.com/blog/the-village-in-christmas-cheer
​

Happy sewing! 

Happy Blockheads Wednesday! I squeezed a few flying geese in here or there while I was doing other sewing this week. I love the balance and movement in this Crossroads block from Betsy Chutchian. You can get the pattern by visiting her blog here:

This week I am playing with ORANGES and it is such a lively color. Orange and purple, orange and green, orange and yellow, orange and pink...these are all ways I love to see orange pair up with other colors. I've used a mix of Abby Rose and Dandi Annie and Thatched on my mixed print block. Before I show more pictures of those, would you like to see some COLOR PLAY with this block design?

I liked the idea of the flying geese changing color as they moved closer to the square in the center. The top two image have darker geese on the outer perimeter with colors getting lighter as they march towards the center. The one on the left also mimics the dark to light movement with the triangles in the corners of the geese units as well, with a very dark background moving to a dark to medium pinks for the geese backgrounds. On the row right under that, its fun to see how the large corner blocks all becoming that same dark background makes the outer geese look like horns blowing out in all four directions. My next one was just color play to see the blocks in all different colors. Then on the bottom row I tried mixed colors within the geese, keeping my rows in a more pinky horizontal row and more purple vertical row, with a pop of orange for the center. The white large squares keeps all the focus on those flying geese rows. The very last image feels like 3 vertical columns with orange, red and gold reading in a stronger vertically banded composition.

Since my overall quilt plan is to go from darker blocks on the left to lighter blocks on the right, I thought I would  borrrow from this last color study idea. My Thatched-only block has the Tangerine color to the left large squares and I'm envisioning the light movement by making my right squares the lighter Apricot color. I think I'm going to have to fix that seam on the left or replace that upper left block to give myself a better seam allowance when I join these together. But that is for another day... 

I also used the idea of the dark perimeter geese moving into the lighter/more yellow colors as we get to the center. I feel like it is pointing to the sunshine!

On another note, I'll be sharing a new fabric line coming in a few weeks! I'm busy sewing and so excited to share so I hope you check back in. Till next week, happy sewing everyone!
​Robin

This week I made my first PURPLE block for my purple row in my Moda Blockheads3 quilt! I love that the name of this block by Sherri McConnell is "Dream" since I think purple can be a dreamy kind of color.

In the purple colors I used here, the darker Thatched purple and more plum-ish red purple color are both basics. The lighter purple was done specifically with my Sweet Pea & Lily line and I like this lighter background with the darker lines a lot. I'm hoping we can add a lighter purple to the basics like this!

For some reason I was having a hard time getting my points to match up today when I was sewing. Some days are just like that. When that happens, I rip it out, and I re-sew starting right at the middle point where the points are meeting, going out to the side, then flip the block and sew the other half from that middle point (instead of from one side to the other). That usually will allow me to match those points meeting in the center better. 

For my Thatched with prints version, I used all purple fabrics from Sweet Pea & Lily and I was reminded how fun it is to do some playing in purples. This block is also fun because I could create some other shapes within the blocks by changing the light and dark placements in the half square triangles. Want to see some color play?? 

The first one is my initial color mockup and it is the one I decided to go with since it works well with the overall ratio of light to dark within my bigger quilt plan. The next one over is trying the colors all getting lighter as the triangles move from left to right. Then flipping to see how that looks on a dark background. In the second row, the large half square triangles make new shapes if they are the same color as the smaller HSTs. I keep seeing arrows in the one on the left if I squint my eyes. And the two next to it make me think of bowties. The angled movement is strong in these. The bottom row is more dimensional with the additional shades. Are they large angled diamonds...no, they are Amethysts! I am so intrigued by the darkest one and am wondering if perhaps another Dream block is in my future?

Thanks to Sherri McConnell for this versatile and fun block. You can get the pattern at her blog at 
A Quilting Life. And just a note about those purple scissors. They are made by Kai Scissors and are serrated edged and are great to use! Love them.

And one more piece of news...CONGRATULATIONS JANE KIMBERLING! You are my winner for an ebook of Moda Blockheads 1 from Martingale Publishing! I've emailed you and I hope you love the book!

Check out my fellow designers for their Moda Blockhead posts:

• Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts
• Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life 
• Betsy Chutchian
• Jan Patek of Jan Patek Quilts
• Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic
• Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings
• Lissa Alexander
• Laurie Simpson of Minick & Simpson
• Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique
• Stacey Iest Hsu
• Janet Clare
• Jen Kingwell
• Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Company

Happy Moda Blockheads Wednesday and happy GIVEAWAY NEWS! First, the block! We are starting ROUND 2 of the blocks from the 14 designers. This week's block is STARRY EYED by Corey Yoder. You can get the block pattern on Corey's bog.

I am busy pulling colors today for another project but will get to sewing, hopefully this afternoon! Once I have my block I'll post an update here. But for my start, I did some color studies with the block to figure out what I am doing.

I am doing a block that will live on the blue stripe of my rainbow row quilt. I sometimes pull colors from the other rows in to the blocks in bits and pieces and since the blue and green are next to each other I could put in some green accents too.  I liked the idea of making a little optical illusion on that top left one by having a light blue next to a medium blue in the outer ring of quarter square triangles. I feel like it gives it a shaddow look, as if the sun were coming from the left and casting a shadow on 3-dimensional diamonds. 
​
On the block to the right, the four quadrants are each home to blue or green families with a light white and gray center that sets them off.  And green takes more prominence in the lower left. This is too much green for my blue row, however I like how graphic and strong this one looks. And the last one is the idea of lightness emanating from the center, with the quarter square triangles and stitch and flip triangles making the directional rays reaching out into the dark. I also really like the strength of this block but I wonder if it will pull TOO much attention since that light radiating center is so focused. Which one to make? I make a plan like this and the blocks do evolve a bit on their own as I sew and depending on my fabric scraps.

But while I am figuring that out, I wanted to share my mockups and also let you start entering the MODA BLOCKHEADS BOOK GIVEAWAY from Martingale Publishing! There are a couple versions you can possibly win. Martingale is giving away a PRINTED book and you can leave a message on their page (click the box below) AND you can possibly win a digital version of the book from one of this year's Moda Blockhead designers! Each of us has our own giveaway to do with a digital version of the book from Blockheads 1! 

I started doing Blockheads, sewing along and not as one of the designers, on Blockheads 2. So I am also really excited about this book since I haven't made these blocks yet! And no, I can't win my own giveaway. That would be cheating! But one of you can!

How to enter my digital giveaway of Moda Blockheads 1 book from Martingale? Leave me a message below in the comments about what you have learned so far doing Blockheads. Doesn't have to be long. One thing I've learned is how much I like my different seam rippers! Ha, ha, I'm sure some of you can relate. I do like how I've tried new things and learned so much (triangle paper, applique techniques to name a couple).

​I will pick a winner next Wednesday morning, just in time for the next block from Sherri McConnell. 

​Here's a couple more images to get you excited for the book!

Check out the other Blockheads designers to see how to enter for more chances to win a digital book!
Happy sewing everyone!
4.22 – Corey Yoder  <–this week's designer and pattern blog
4.29 – Sherri McConnell
5.6 – Betsy Chutchian
5.13 – Jan Patek
5.20 – Brigitte Heitland 
5.27 – Lisa Bongean
6.03 – Lissa Alexander
6.10 – Laurie Simpson
6.17– Vanessa Goertzen
6.24 – Stacy Iest Hsu
7.1 – Robin Pickens
7.8 – Janet Clare
7.15 – Jen Kingwell
7.22 – Joanna Figueroa

​

I've had requests to show my sewing space and I've shown it in bits and pieces before but thought it was time for a better tour! My daughter was home this past weekend and she spent a day helping me clean it up so it was presentable to share. We made a video and posted it to youtube and I'm sharing that here. I'm also giving a little more info on some specifics of my setup and things I use.

This space has gone through a lot of changes and rearranging. When we first moved into this house this room was carpeted and had wood paneling on the walls that had been painted a peachy color and turquoise formica cupboards and counter built into the end wall.  Those came out. We put in drywall and wood floors, but after water damage downstairs, years later, we moved everything out and the room was tiled. I've rearranged this room many times and at one point it had 5 large desks in it, along with numerous bookcases, chairs, boxes of samples, etc. My husband has commented that I couldn't possibly get more furniture into the room. Of course that is when I decided to add a longarm. I was determined. I can make it fit. That whole plan and journey is really deserving of it's own blog post, so I'll just say here that this is the new and improved layout with more things moved to the walls (and my daughter's room since she is at college), leaving space in the center for the longarm. Welcome!

I spend a lot of time at this desk. It is actually a dining table from Ikea. It is the "TORSBY" table and I see they have it now with a high gloss white top. My table has a glass top which is painted white on the underside. I like having a larger desk surface by using a dining table, plus I like the clean modern look of this. This table measures 53" x 33 1/2" so I can spread out. I like the fact that the top surface is glass because sometimes I do watercolor painting here (or in the kitchen) and when I do, I can clean off the surface of the glass easily. I tucked a Ikea Alex drawer unit under the table/desk. This holds my pens, envelopes for orders, postage, packing tape, plastic bags for kits, office supplies, etc. It fits really nicely. I also have some holders on the desk top for my notebooks, calculators, business cards and clip boards. The magnet boards are also from Ikea. Just so you know now- I have a LOT from Ikea. I love their creative solutions with furniture and all the options they have.

In the corner I have an antique chest that was my Aunt Doris'. She was the only relative living out here when I moved to California so it seems appropriate that I use it to house things that feel like sentimental treasures to me. I've got the fat quarter bundles and jelly rolls for each of my collections with Moda. I also keep some Christmas giftware little critter figurines I did for One Hundred 80 degrees and lovely pincushions. I like to hunt for vintage sewing things so old thimbles, spools, rulers, sewing machine oil and parts, along with buttons and some vintage cameras live here. When you close the glass door it makes a creaking noise, like the chest is talking to you. I covered the shelves with some removable peel and stick wall covering in white with gold metallic animal spots because it felt fun and fresh (by Valspar and found at Target). I also rotate the vintage sewing machines I display on the chest. The brown one is my newest and I got that from Aspire Sewing in Anaheim at the Road to California show. I love the two-tone tan. Under the sewing machine cover I have a beautiful hand crank Singer that my husband gave me as a gift. How great that I can machine sew even if the power goes out!! Add in some artwork on the wall from Crafted Moon and a sewing notions clock from Moda and I'd have to say this is a really happy corner of the room for me! By the way, the quilt on the wall is STARLET in the medium size, made in Dear Mum fabrics. And the sewing machine cover is a pattern in Jenelle Kent's FARMHOUSE FRESH book using her toweling fabric.

When planning out the rearranging to fit the longarm, I knew a priority to me was to have a longer cutting space. I used two desk tops from previous desks with a cupboard that was left over from our kitchen renovation (I mentioned water damage...well, it started in the kitchen and we had to redo that too) and  a Kallax shelf unit from Ikea as an end support. This gives me storage and cutting table support and is a good height. I can measure out over 2 1/2 yards at once from a bolt on this surface and that is a great help when I am making kits or doing backings for quilts. Having a longer cutting table is a great thing to have in a quilting work space! Since my longarm is right behind me when I am working at this cutting table, I can always turn and use it as a counter space for compiling kits too. This area has become a very efficient work space. 

On my cutting matts, I have acrylic stands that hold my numerous rulers. They are from A. T. Enterprises and I found them at Road to California. The grooves make the rulers stand up straight. I have a lot of Creative Grids Rulers. No matter what others I try, these seem to be my favorites that I use the most. I use Bloc Loc for trimming my half square triangles and flying geese units, but Creative Grids has become my GO-TO rulers for cutting. When I have blocks that need eighth measures, I use the Primitive Gatherings Creative Grids Itty Bitty Eighths Square and for most of my general cutting, I use the Creative Grids stripology ruler (designed by Gudrun Erla) and 3 1/2" x 12 1/2" ruler, 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" ruler and the big 8 1/2" x 24" ruler for cutting width-of-fabric cuts. So I keep these handy and at the cutting table, vs the other specialty ones that I keep on the wall shelf. I have the perfect 10 ruler too and use that for layer cake projects, but the ones I just mentioned are my normal daily rulers ( the 3 1/2", 4, 1/2" and 8 1/2" long one). For rotary cutters, I usually use Olfa Splash or Martelli Ergonomic (Ergo 2000 which is kinder to my wrist) rotary cutter.

I also keep my scraps for projects in some tubs and containers I can easily access as I'm doing sewalongs and other scrappy projects. These Variera containers from Ikea provide a nice space to fold up and store my Thatched Basics fabrics in scraps as I work on numerous projects. I keep some of these on shelves or on rolling carts, where they are easily accessed. I put the colors in according to the rainbow ramp of colors I have used. It is easy to pull out a bin, use scraps, put the remaining back, and keep some order to the studio.

This Raskog cart holds the bins of fabric scraps well and I like how it can roll over to the table or cutting surface easily. I have another cart for other sewing notions but I keep this one for fabrics near the cutting table. I can take the tubs of fabric out and replace them as needed and roll it to where I am working. This is where I pull most of my fabrics for my Moda Blockheads3 blocks each week. Since I am doing a quilt with rainbow bands of color for this sew-along, keeping the scraps in color groupings makes this very easy to assemble and play with the options. One of my quilts will be made in all Thatched basics and the other in Thatched plus prints so I like to keep that Thatched bin very handy. 

Speaking of Moda Blockheads, I am making 8" blocks (with occasional smaller blocks for other projects) and I found these great project boxes at Target to store my blocks. I love them because they are 11.8" x 11.8" so if you are making any blocks that are 10" or smaller, the pieces and finished blocks fit really well! These boxes are only about $2 or $3 a piece so they are very affordable and I stack them on top of bookcases with other projects in progress. I've got about 9 or 10 of these boxes for my different WIP. The box to the left of the Blockheads blocks above has my Moda Village #modavillage blocks for Christmas and Abby Rose versions. This pattern is from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company by Carrie Nelson and is lots of fun! Want to read more about that? Check out my blog post on my Christmas village.

I think as the Moda Blockheads progresses, I'll need to get the taller versions of this box. There is also a 10" high one and I just might have to go for that taller size to hold my growing blocks!

In the corner I have a lovely corner for sewing and piecing. Some nights, when things are dark in the rest of the house, this little corner is glowing and humming with the activities of late night sewing. The cupboards along the wall hold various cans of spray basting, paint brushes, stationery, and color swatches. The shelf below holds containers for strip piecing, extra rulers, magazines and works in progress. My sewing corner is lit up by a light from Costco with multiple brightness settings and a little fan to blow cool air on me on hot summer days. The corner desk is from (again) Ikea with a curved side that gives me extra space for a desktop ironing board, my Oliso iron, a bulletin board, and my peg board with notions is on the wall in front of me as I sew.  I love sewing at my trusty sewing machine, my Juki TL2200. This straight-stitch machine is my daily helper and workhorse. I also have a Bernina 125 for classes and a Juki HZL-F600 for other fancy stitches. But this Juki  TL2200 is my bestie in the sewing room.

I got this machine at the Quiltcon in Savanah from SewingMachinesPlus.com and it has run like a dream. I recently ordered more bobbins and needles from them and have had excellent customer service from Sewingmachinesplus.com. I've also faced this machine perpendicular to me and put an extended table on the desk and done free motion quilting on this machine with great results. I love my Juki!

This is the Skadis pegboard system from Ikea that holds a lot of my sewing notions. I have pegs for embroidery hoops, rulers and things I want to hang. The little slide-in containers hold my push pins, safety pins, measuring tapes, bias tape makers, pins, thimbles, needles, clips and marking chalks. I find it is so easy to have these things get lost and mixed in with other things that having this wall system really puts some order and structure to my organization. The shelves hold large threads, bobbin buddies, pins, starches and other notions. The cups hold pens, markers, needles, rulers, pliers, and snips. I've got two boards stacked one on top of the other and there is a little extra room. I think if I had one it would have not been enough so I'm happy to have some higher space that I don't use as much to have that extra storage.

The shelf on the wall holds some of my scraps as well as the cart. I use the smaller Samla bins from Ikea for strips that measure 1/2", 1", 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2" and so on so I can easily pull down containers and access leftover strips for projects. I print out the size labels on my computer and slide a printout into the front side to easily identify my organization bins.

When I'm at the longarm, this is my view. I can see my sewing space and my window. I've got a Daylight Company floor light that also helps to light up my longarm space as well as can lights in the ceiling. Good lighting is important. I'm still learning the Bernina Q24 but it's coming along!

To the side and behind the longarm I have Billy Bookcases that work really well for bolts of fabric. I have overflow of fabric bolts upstairs (as well as bagged and unbagged patterns and other supplies). Most of the fabrics I use for daily sewing and cutting kits are down here in this space. The Billy Bookcases work well in the tall size for two shelves of standing bolts with some middle sections of sample fabric yardage placed horizontally. I store totes and project boxes on the tops of the shelves. My husband also converted a tv nook in the wall into shelving storage for my art supplies and extra quilts. We close it off with curtains to keep the room looking a little neater. When we added the shelving for bolts to the perimeter of the two walls of the room I lost my design wall for quilt blocks. Something has to give, right? I now use the floor of the foyer as a "design wall" and I walk up the stairs and look over at the blocks in their arrangements from above. It works.

This is my space and I love it. It is a work in progress. It continues to evolve and change. If you have questions, let me know. I'm including link below to some of the items here in case you are interested in them. They don't pay me, although sometimes a company will give me something to try. I'm sharing what I use on a regular basis. If you want a walk through of the space, watch my youtube video below and check out more videos on my youtube channel. If you want to be notified when new videos come out, select the "subscribe" button on youtube.

​I hope you have a space that brings you as much joy as my space brings me! Keep creating and sewing!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNFGL95Mw4YSj98_k5RakqQ/featured

​Ikea Items:
Torsby Dining Table
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/torsby-table-chrome-plated-high-gloss-white-s39931845/
Ikea Alex Drawer Unit
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/alex-drawer-unit-white-10192824/
Kallax shelving cubes
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/products/?q=kallax
​Variera storage box
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/variera-box-high-gloss-white-70177255/ 
Skadis pegboard for wall organization
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/skadis-pegboard-combination-white-s29217377/
Samla plastic storage boxes with lids for scraps
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/samla-box-with-lid-clear-s49871676/
Raskog rolling cart
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/raskog-utility-cart-white-20382932/
Billy Bookcases
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/products/?q=billy%20bookcase

Sewing Machine Cover in book Farmhouse Fresh by Jenelle Kent of Pieces to Treasure 
https://www.piecestotreasure.com/product-page/farmhouse-fresh

Acrylic Ruler Stands
https://www.atenterprises.com/rudi.html

Target project boxes (11.8 x 11.8" square) with lids
https://www.target.com/p/6-3qt-small-modular-storage-bin-room-essentials/-/A-53927402?preselect=53885131#lnk=sametab

https://www.target.com/p/9-1qt-medium-modular-storage-bin-room-essentials/-/A-53927400?preselect=53885134#lnk=sametab

Juki TL2200 QVP Mini
https://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/juki-tl-2200qvp-mini-sewing-machine.php

Oliso Iron
https://www.oliso.com/smartiron/

Bernina Q24 Longarm
​https://www.bernina.com/en-US/Longarm-Quilting-US/BERNINA-Q-20-Q-24-on-Frame
​
Starlet quilt pattern
https://robinpickensinc.com/products/quilt-pattern-of-starlet-digital-downloadable-pdf-by-robin-pickens-in-3-sizes-for-wall-or-lap-quilts-51-38-or-26-square

​Robin Pickens youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNFGL95Mw4YSj98_k5RakqQ/featured

Kyoto Steps quilt pattern was launched with Painted Meadow fabric and we were just cutting some more kits in the studio last week. My kits do use the coneflowers and bees in the Painted Meadow fabrics and are available in both Twin and Lap size in the red and blue/green colorways. I did a little video to show my Kyoto Steps quilts on my youtube channel. I hope you will check out other videos on my channel!

I've included information under each image to list the Abby Rose fabrics used in the mockup. I've listed the name, color and SKU number in case you want to order fabric from your local shops. The first mockups play with orange and pink and pink and green colors. Pretty, springy quilts in light and sweet colors.

How would it look to use a background with more color and with dark shades? I tried Thatched in Cranberry and Burgundy to offset a pink and orange mix and I love the deeper feeling of these.

Greens and Blues? Abby Rose has a soft seafoam blue that mixes nicely with the fresh green. The darker blue is called Night in Abby Rose and is the same Thatched color as Marine 89. I like the crisp feeling of this darker blue against the cream background. I also like using the lighter seafoam blues with Night as a background.

If you are looking for kits using Painted Meadow, visit my shop at www.robinpickensinc.com. You can also see more details of the Painted Meadow quilts on my youtube channel. For Abby Rose, check with your local quilt shops and have a great time sewing!

Hello Cotton Cuts Mystery Quilt Folks!
It is my month for the clue block for "Name of the Rose" quilt! I am block 3 and I received this fun pink envelope in the mail with fabrics and lovely Gingiber stickers! Oh I love those cute little animal stickers! Are you not sewing along yet but want to??  Check out Cotton Cuts for more info!

I sat down today to sew my clue. I have to confess I have never sewn with pre-cut pieces like this. And you know what- it was great! I liked that the pieces were already cut for me. I do a lot of cutting and I have some issues with my wrist when I cut. It gets sore and swollen because I have some arthritis. So having precut pieces was quite a treat! Also, the pieces having the angled corners also meant that I did not have to do ANY TRIMMING! That was wonderful!

I just followed the directions and diagrams. It was easy and fun! I liked how accurate all the pieces were.

As I was pressing these, my husband walked by and commented on how much he liked those fabrics. Hmmmmm. I'm thinking he prefers these over my florals! That's okay because I love these Gingiber prints too (so much that I am making a separate Christmas quilt with Merrily by Gingiber, with a similar look).

Here is my final block for this month's clue. I don't know the eventual quilt top image but I do know that this is a fun way to do a project! Thanks Cotton Cuts for including me!

Cotton Cuts is doing a quilt for a charity raffle to benefit Valley Industries at the end of this fun mystery quilt. Enter the RAFFLE by clicking the blue RAFFLE word! And visit the following designers as the clues progress:
May: Karen Lewis 
June: Heather Black 
July: Elea Lutz 
August: Jen Allyson 
September: Hilary Jordan 
October: Sheila Christensen Quilts and Kim Moos of Cotton Cuts 

Thanks Cotton Cuts and happy sewing everyone!!
​Robin

A fellow designer asked, in a group discussion, what ways social distancing has changed our businesses. I could think of numerous answers, from more downloadable patterns being bought, to less distributor orders coming in. But the biggest thing that occurred to me was YOUTUBE. 

We are watching it more here. I can tell lots of people are watching and using the computer, due to slower online speeds and lower resolution images (bandwidth issues). Even if it's slower, I sure appreciate still being able to connect with the rest of the world this way. Just like many other people in the country, we've had changes in our family with my husband's employer sending everyone home and shutting down his department. We don't know if and when we will go back to his job and I'm sure they don't know either. March 12th will stay in my head as the day he walked in the door just after lunchtime and my first thought was "what are you doing home NOW?" because it was about 4 or 5 hours earlier than he normally comes home. 

Oh boy. Things just got REAL real.

This is the time to stay in and stay healthy and not spread unknowing virus to someone else. I am thankful we are well. We know people who are sick. I know it could be so much worse. We are healthy. We are fortunate to have that and to have each other. My husband and I- we are a team and we are in this together.

So back to youtube...
My husband is home. My husband is very helpful. He's cutting fabric and filling pattern orders. He is the best. But he also has skills to edit and do animation. And I've been talking about doing youtube for awhile and I've just not had the time and the energy, and blah, blah, blah, a million other excuses for not doing it. It dawns on me that I can do something in my day that is in my control in a world that feels out of control. Sewing and making things brings me happiness and peace and a sense of accomplishment. I can share that. So I get beyond my fears and insecurities (did I look too fat on camera? Should I really be wearing THAT?) and jump in. Because now is the time. 

My kitchen is a great place to do this because it has a beautiful source of light. I just feel good in this room. We had a flood that ruined our floors a few years ago and had to rip out the whole kitchen and redo it so it also feels current and fresh to me now. And it's not cluttered. I love my workspace, my office/sewing studio, but its a little...um...full. Okay, a lot full. I think the kitchen also speaks to me of family and gathering and sharing and I think of those things with quilting too. So kitchen it is.

I was happy just to even get my first video up. We ended up replacing it because it needed a little re-doing. The second video still needed numerous takes. Luckily there is editing and you can cut some things out, like when I look at my husband, who is off on the side saying "slow down!!"  He is helping me to learn and get better. 

My goal is to have at least one new video a week. They are not long. Just to share something or give you a glimpse into my world. I can share my Moda Blockheads blocks. I can show quilts. I can just tell about some of the ways I combine color. I plan on doing a studio tour inside my oh-so-crowded sewing space (once its reasonable clean). Perhaps you have something you want to see? If so, let me know!

This feels like a needed change for me to be able to still connect to other quilters. We need to reach out within our homes and stay-at-home-orders and quarantine and still feel like we are part of a bigger picture of humanity and activity. I am so very thankful that I have sewing and quilting as an activity and business to keep me going and keep me occupied and sane. I hope to share a little of that slice of my world through this video connection. 

So check out my channel. Subscribe. Select the button to get notifications of new videos. Really, a week ago I didn't even know that button existed! Now I do. I hope you enjoy my little snippets. Stay in, stay healthy, stay productive. We are all in this together!