By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Edwardsburg Argus
EDWARDSBURG -- When one door shuts often a window is opened. For Robin English, the closing of the Selmer plant in April in Elkhart, Ind. may have meant the end of making oboes and bassoons, but it offered a chance for her to open her own shop.
Robin's Nest: Quilts and More will allow sewers a nearby place to go to purchase supplies and to take classes in quilting.
She sewed while in 4-H as a child and continued to take classes at Southwestern Michigan College (SMC), when they were offered.
Daughters Sabrina, 27, and Marita, 25, had been a help with setting up the shop.
Marita is often the one to choose the colors in her mother's quilts and draw the design. Marita though says she won't continue the tradition by actually sewing, she would rather be taking photographs.
Robin really does have the support of her husband Kevin, who has been extra busy recently on the Ontwa-Edwardsburg Police Department while Chief Wray has been recuperating from injuries he received in an accident.
For the coming Cass County Fair, Robin is working on a quilt, "To Serve and Protect," which will also someday be on display at the new Law and Courts building in Cassopolis. The quilt will represent all the police forces in the county, past and present. Marita is taking photos of the badges and a patch from each department will also be incorporated into the quilt.
Robin did receive two blue ribbons with her quilts last year.
Robin, who graduated from Edwardsburg High school in 1972, has been studying for a business degree through SMC and the Ferris program.
Some of the classes will show how easy and quickly a quilt can be made -- even in a day. Her Q.U.E. (Quilters University of Edwardsburg) will offer discounts to those completing a certain number of credits (classes).
She is offering classes on Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.
Saturdays are for UFOs (UnFinished Objects). From 1 to 3 p.m. will be a chance to join with others and be inspired, get help, or share "a crazy idea" and finish sewing or scrapbook projects which have been left undone.
She has work tables set up with irons and ironing boards. Quilters will need to bring their own scissors, threads, sewing machine and other tools. Fabric can be brought or purchased at the shop.
Stop in at Robin's Nest in the Gateway plaza off M-62, or give her a call at 269-663-3303.