Appliqué Books
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Jun
17
The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon, is legendary. A one-day show has grown over the years to become the “Week for the Quilter,” during which gazillions of quilters converge on the tricity area of Sisters, Redmond, and Bend.
Have you heard of the brand-new addition to this special week? It’s the Oregon Summer Quilt Expo, July 11-14.
That’s right! This year sees the start of an independent, indoor quilt show at the Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond. It’s quite the big deal! Not only will there be quilts on display, there are lectures and classes, and… drum roll… what the week has been lacking thus far… VENDORS!
Lots and lots of vendors, and I’m going to be one of them! It’s exciting to be in on the first year of this very cool new show. You can read about the history and development of the show on the About page of the OSQE website.
There are some intriguing appliqué classes scheduled.
Nancy Lee Chong of the the Pacific Rim Quilt Company will be teaching several classes on the beautiful art of Hawaiian appliqué.
Debora Kochinsky of Critter Pattern Works has a class called “Realistic Felted Appliques with a Sheep Theme.” Sounds cute!
Dee Brown of The Quilted Trillium is teaching something called “No Tracing Raw-Edge Applique.” I’ll be interested to learn what that’s all about!
These faculty members and more are presenting lectures during the show. Lectures are free with paid admission!
Here’s something very good: Parking has always been a challenge for the Sisters Outdoor show. With an admission ticket to OSQE, you can park there and catch a free shuttle bus over to Sisters and back!
Not only that, you can get discount OSQE admission coupons from the website.
If central Oregon is your destination during the Week for the Quilter, I hope to see you at the OSQE. If you haven’t made plans yet, maybe this new addition to the festivities, with its haven of indoorness, will make you want to come!
Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Quilt shows | Leave a Comment
Jun
8
The reader who won Edyta Sitar’s Seasonal Silhouettes is No. 56, Maureen! Congratulations Maureen! I know you will enjoy these beautiful designs.
In other news, my buddy Kim of Chatterbox Quilts has been cooking up some HEAT: “Hand Embroidery Appliqué Technique.” It’s so charming, and be sure to check out the introductory pattern that’s free for a short time on Kim’s blog Chatterbox Quilts Chitchat.
At the Moonlight Quilters show last weekend, I had to stop and fish out my camera on the spot when I saw this:
Mazie of Sonoma County by Sue Gragg
What a cow!!
Sue cites artist Carolee Clark as her inspiration, along with some fancifully decorated cows that are famous in Sonoma County. To me, Mazie looked like Kaffe Fassett fabric.
Filed Under Embroidery, Fabrics, Prizes, Show & Tell | 1 Comment
Jun
3
Last time I went to Quilt Market I made the pleasant acquaintance of one of the staff members at Landauer Publishing. Recently she emailed me to ask if I would like to share one of their brand-new books with readers of the blog.
Would I? Of course! I’m so excited to say that it’s Edyta Sitar’s Seasonal Silhouettes, hot off the presses!
Subtitled “12 Inspirational Quilt Blocks Featuring Raw-Edge Appliqué.”
Edyta used batik fabrics for their natural hues “touched by nature’s paintbrush” and tight weave. Since she does a form of raw-edge appliqué in which she stitches 1/8″ from the raw edge during the quilting process, batiks are an excellent choice. There’s a two-page spread of “color chips” so you can take the book to the fabric store with you in case you need to round out your stash of batiks.
What I really like is that the author gives an informational roundup of three different kinds of paper-backed fusible web, with the pros and cons of each, to help you make your choice for these projects. There’s also complete information on how she does her raw-edge appliqué and her quilting.
The gorgeous book is slightly oversized at 9×12. I imagine that’s so it can include… yes… full-size pull-out template pages for your convenience! On top of that, you can actually order all of the pre-made laser-cut appliqué shapes, complete with fusible web on the back, from Edyta’s website Laundry Basket Quilts.
 January |  June |  July |
Those are just three of the 12 designs… there’s one for every month, and you can stitch up as many or as few as you like.
There’s a short video about the book at the Landauer website. Just click on the “Look Inside” tab.
Thanks again to Landauer for providing a copy to give away to a lucky reader. If you’d like to enter the drawing, please leave a comment on this post before 7:00 p.m. California time on Friday, June 7.
Drawing open to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Do not reply to an email feed… instead come on down to the blog itself on the internet and leave your comment there.
Good luck!!
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Books, Fusible web, Prizes | 57 Comments
May
25
Just finished up a hand appliqué project for the November/December issue of Quiltmaker. Whew! It’s always a load off my mind when I get to the end of this type of assignment. And yes, they really do work this far ahead.
It’s a really cute piece. Kind of holiday-y but also very much in the red-and-green appliqué tradition. The article will include back-basting, so be on the lookout for it.
Next weekend I’m driving up to Santa Rosa, California, for the Moonlight Quilters of Sonoma County show. That’s wine country! Dana tells me that we drove past on a trip that we took one time to Napa, but this will be the first time I’ve really been in Santa Rosa. I’m really looking forward to it. That’s one of the great things about being a traveling quilt-show vendor… I’m getting to explore lots of cool places in this wonderful state.
The featured quilter is the one and only Judy Mathieson!!
Judy is known for her extraordinary Mariner’s Compass quilts. She’s also a dog person so she’s all right in my book 
.
Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Magazines, Quilt shows | 2 Comments
May
20
Had a great time at the Delta Quilters Guild Show over the weekend! My favorite quilt in the show was Shirley Coble and Isabel Maya’s “Pennies From Heaven.”
So beautiful. The design is from Gretchen Gibbons‘ book Pennies From Heaven.
Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Books, Show & Tell | 2 Comments
May
14
A few weeks back I showed a sneak peek of my newest pattern. Here’s the whole deal:
I love blue, and I had five out of six of these blues in my stash! Usually I work with a mix of colors, and it was a very fun departure to do a monochromatic piece. I think the Ginger Jars would also look great done up in Oriental fabrics.
This weekend I’m off to Brentwood, California. It’s time for the Delta Quilters Guild show, and they’re having it at a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, the Brentwood Community Center.
Sunday is our wedding anniversary (24 years!), and sweet DH Dana has decided to drive up to help me pack at the end of the show, and then we’ll have dinner. Anybody familiar with the area know of a nice casual place that has yummy food?
Filed Under Patterns, Quilt shows | 5 Comments
May
12
When Cathy says so, I pay attention. Go on over to Cathy Perlmutter’s blog GefilteQuilt to see which new book has received this hugely important title! And you’ll have a chance to win a copy!
Filed Under Books, Prizes | 2 Comments
May
8
The All About Appliqué reader who won a copy of 100 Blocks, Volume 7 in last week’s blog tour is #225, Lovie Ball! Congratulations Lovie! The magazine has already put your copy in the mail.
Lovie said that she loved unicorns as a child and that the pony block could be a unicorn with the addition of a little horn. Absolutely! I would love to see that variation.
If you didn’t win a copy during the tour, there’s still a chance! Shayla Wolf, editorial assistant at Quiltmaker, had her first block in this volume and is so excited about it that she’s doing an extra, special giveaway right now. Head on over to Quilty Pleasures to see Shayla’s adorable block “Hootie” and find out how to enter the draw in a couple of different ways.
And, if you’re still not in luck, I’ve added the issue to my website and you can order it there, on the Patterns page.
I made the cover again! Happy dance!
Filed Under Blog hops, Magazines, Prizes | 1 Comment
Apr
30
A hearty welcome to you!! It’s Day 2 of the 100 Blocks Volume 7 blog tour!
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I’m Kay Mackenzie, a designer and author in Santa Cruz, California. My website is By Kay Mackenzie, which has all of my books and patterns on it, plus select notions for the appliqué enthusiast. If this is your first time visiting my blog All About Appliqué, I’m glad you’re here! You’ll find a wealth of information about appliqué — all kinds — here on the blog. If you’re a regular reader or you’ve been here before for one of these hops, welcome back!
I’m delighted to say that this is my sixth time having a block in an issue of 100 Blocks. It’s so much fun! Dogs and cats often work their way into my appliqué designs. This time, I went back to my first love in animals. I was one of those horse-crazy girls, and for awhile we had a little horse Zora, named after the beloved ninth-grade English teacher that all of us kids had going through school.
Me and Zora, circa 19$%&^ oh sorry got a finger cramp. Zora was white with black specks, known as a flea-bitten gray. She was a gentle soul and and she let me ride her bareback all around the countryside for hours.
When I was looking for the photo I found another one, this time of my beautiful late mother when she was young. Maybe it runs in the family.
Now you know why I was so pleased that the editors of 100 Blocks chose “Dream Pony” to be in Volume 7!
For my block that’s in the magazine, pictured above, I made a buckskin pony. You can easily change the coat color, mane, and tail to make a whole herd of others!
Palomino
Dapple Gray
Bay
Piebald
Apaloosa
Just a few of the wide range of wonderful ponies in the world.
There are 99 more charming and delightful quilt blocks in Volume 7, made all different ways, so there’s something for everyone. The publishers are offering a free copy of the magazine to a lucky winner! If you’d like a chance to win one, leave a comment here on this post before 7:00 p.m. California time on Monday, May 6.
Thanks a million for visiting, enjoy the hop! Be sure to start each day this week at Quilty Pleasures.
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Blog hops, Magazines, Patterns | 259 Comments
Apr
24
Last weekend I was at the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association’s biannual show. My booth was right up front and I was delighted to find out that I was directly across from the featured quilters, one of whom was Bobbi Finley!
I first met Bobbi, who’s friends with a number of friends of mine, in 2010 at Road to California. In the years since then she’s popped by my booth at various shows to say hello. It was great having a chance to be neighbors for the weekend.
Bobbi is co-author with Carol Gilham Jones of the wonderful book Tile Quilt Revival, previously featured here on the blog. She had beautiful samples of tile quilts hung up, as well as some quilts from her new book with Carol, Fresh Perspectives.
Subtitled “Reinventing 18 Classic Quilts from the International Quilt Study Center & Museum,” this very cool book shows fresh, new updated versions side by side with the classic quilts that inspired them.
The cover quilt.
New houses!
There were some incredible appliqué quilts in the show.
Baltimore & Bali by Charlotte Scholberg
Olive Roses by Ratnes Siva
Penny Tucker is good buddies with my buddy Pam and is a fabulous appliqué teacher. Whiffle Tree is since closed, and Penny now teaches at Prairie Queens in San Jose, California.
Summer by Kathy McComas
Brenda's Wooly Garden by Brenda Croak
Kaye Moore is a buddy of mine in quilt-show land, and does the most incredible work with wool appliqué. If you haven’t seen Kaye’s article here on the blog, you should check it out!
And then there were a couple of old-timey quilts… okay, when I read their descriptions I kind of choked up. You’ll see what I mean.
Prairie Sunflowers by Karen Friedrichs
Sunbonnet Sue by Renee Rankin
Gulp. Quilts are mighty powerful things, aren’t they?
In other news:
This weekend I’m off to San Luis Obispo for the Seven Sisters Quilt Show. If you’re in that neighborhood, I hope to see you there!
Mark your calendars for the 100 Blocks Volume 7 blog tour! It’s April 29-May 3. Start each day at the Quilmaker blog, Quilty Pleasures. From there you’ll be sent off each day to blogs written by the designers who have a block in the issue. There are lots of great creative ideas along the way, not to mention giveaways, so don’t miss the tour. My day is Tuesday, April 30.
See you then!
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Blog hops, Books, History, Quilt shows, Wool | 6 Comments
Apr
10
In 1983, appliqué icon Elly Sienkiewicz published a little square 12½” book with a red cover entitled Spoken Without a Word.
The photo-less, 68-page black-and-white book, which brought Baltimore Album block patterns and an infectious theory about symbolism to the modern quilter, quickly went through five printings and arguably served as a catalyst for the Baltimore revival that is still going strong. Today, copies of the original “Red Book” can be found listed on the internet for hundreds of dollars.
Exciting news! A little bird told me that Elly is preparing a new edition of this important classic! Spoken Without a Word: A Lexicon of Symbols with 24 Faithfully Reproduced Patterns from Classic Baltimore Quilts, 30th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, is coming out this fall!
The original book’s signature red color is threaded throughout the black-and-white engraving-like details of the new edition, now revised and reformatted to 8½’ x 11″ and 128 pages. The familiar original text remains intact, and the patterns remain untouched. What’s new and additional are glorious photos of newly made blocks, settings, and wall quilts, and a new foreword and afterword from Elly.
The new edition is available for pre-order on Elly’s website, Appliqué With Elly.
Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Baltimore Album, Books | 2 Comments
Apr
6
Thanks so much to everyone who entered the draw for Mimi Dietrich’s beautiful book Baltimore Blocks for Beginners.
Random.org has declared that the winner is No. 16, Suzanne McFadden! Congratulations! Suzanne says she’s always wanted to do a Baltimore Album quilt. This’ll get you started Suzanne!
A few of you pointed out that I wrote March 5 instead of April 5. Fear not, gentle readers! If you’ve been following this blog you’ll know that I am perennially calendar-challenged. Even when I go back in and correct the date, if the email feed has already gone out, those of you who are subscribed by email will not see the fix. So if I ever write anything having to do with a date that doesn’t make sense, just have faith!
In other news, I’ve updated the Events page here on the blog and on my website. I think that’s it for 2013! I was a mite surprised when I finished the updates to realize that I have 16 more shows this year! In 2012 there were a number of guild shows that were every other year. I thought I might have some gaps in my schedule, so I signed up for things right and left, and all of a sudden my calendar is more packed than ever! I love it!
Here’s what’s coming up this month!
April 20-21, 2013
SCVQA Show
This biennial show put on by the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association takes place in the same venue as PIQF. Last time we had a great show and I’m looking forward to it once again. This time we have the primo spot, Hall A! The show theme is “Shower of Stars.” www.scvqaquiltshow.org
April 27-28, 2013
Seven Sisters Quilt Show
I love driving down the coast for this show held at the lovely and historic Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California. DH Dana just took a day trip down to SLO for an interview and came home raving about how beautiful it was down there. Plus I told him about the Apple Farm and he went and got his favorite, an apple dumpling. All the info about the quilt show is at www.aqgcc.org
In between shows I’ve been working on a new pattern. Here’s a sneak peek!
Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Prizes, Quilt shows | 2 Comments
Apr
1
Happy April! No fooling here at All About Appliqué.
Last month, when we looked at
Baltimore’s County Cousins, I detected the Baltimore longing in many of the comments.
I’ve always wanted to do a Baltimore Album but frankly they do intimidate me.
I love applique but I’m not up for the more complicated patterns, yet.
I’m just now deciding that I can actually do some of this…
A Baltimore is on my bucket list…
Haven’t done a Baltimore quilt yet, but would love to.
Oh! I love baltimore album quilts but have never made one.
One of the things that has kept me from making my own Baltimore album quilt is the feeling that I need to wear formal attire!
These wistful reflections made it clear which book I needed to pull out of the cupboard next. May I present, courtesy of Martingale, Mimi Dietrich’s Baltimore Blocks for Beginners.
Subtitled “A Step-by-Step Guide,” this book is designed to to be a gentle and compelling introduction to the Baltimore genre that will get you started on your way at last!
Mimi, who lives in Baltimore, has been teaching Baltimore Album appliqué classes for over 30 years. Her most basic class is called, “My First Baltimore Block,” and this book is that class! It will take you slowly through all the techniques and elements of a basic block.
Rose wreath design.
There’s also a circle wreath and a crossed leaves design, as well as a gallery of different colorways to provide inspiration.
I love what Mimi says in the introduction: “There are many techniques, tools, and patterns for appliqué. All of these are correct, as long as you are comfortable and pleased with the results.” Yes! That’s what I believe too. Mimi presents her own favorite methods for successful beginnings.
The information covers fabrics, appliqué supplies, preparing the pattern and templates, cutting and preparing the shapes, and illustrated information on hand-appliqué stitch techniques, followed by step-by-step instructions for making your first Baltimore Album block.
Are you starting to feel like you can do it? You can!!!
If you’d like to win this book, please leave a comment here on this post before 7:00 p.m. California time on Friday, April 5.
Contest open to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Do not click “reply” to your email feed. That will only send me an email and not enter you in the draw. Click over to the blog on the internet and leave your comment at the bottom of the post.
Good luck!
Until then,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Baltimore Album, Books, Prizes | 46 Comments
Mar
26
At the recent Glendale guild show, a quilter told me that she had made one of the projects from Scrap-Appliqué Playground. I’m always thrilled to learn these things!
My version of Studio. You can make any sewing room or nook into a studio if you hang up a sign!
Marilyn said, “I made my own version of the black, white and red studio quilt. This wall hanging was made for Cindy, a friend of mine who tried quilting, but decided she prefers making clothing. Nuts, in my opinion, hence the name Crazy Couture.”
Crazy Couture
Marilyn Robinson
Hawthorne, CA
Size: 18 x 12
I love it! Very Project Runway, don’t you think?
When I told Marilyn that it means so much to me when other quilters take my designs and personalize them, she said, “I am trying to develop my creativity now, instead of just copying what others do. This is my first baby step. ”
I’d call it a giant step. Thanks for the Show & Tell Marilyn!
Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Books, Patched appliqué, Show & Tell, Words | 3 Comments
Mar
19
Hello everyone! Back safe and sound from SoCal. I’m excited… this post has been cooking for over a year now! I met Australian quilter and stitcher extraordinaire Helen Stubbings at Market a couple of times, and we finally got it together for her to do a guest post on her method of appliqué! You are going to love this! Take it away Helen!
Glue stick Applique
By Helen Stubbings of Hugs ‘n Kisses
This easy or some would say ‘cheats’ method of needleturn applique takes the scare factor out of needleturn. Most of the work is in the preparation, leaving the actual stitching as the easy bit.
The method uses two products – Hugs ‘n Kisses Applique Paper and a glue pen – I use the Sewline Water-Soluble Glue Pen.
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Method:
Place a sheet of applique paper with the shiny (glue) side down on top of your template or design printed sheet. It is semitransparent so you can easily see the design through the paper. Trace each design or template shape onto the paper – I like to use a Sewline Ceramic pencil which glides on nicely. Note: if your applique design is directional you need to reverse it for this method.
Cut out each shape carefully on the traced lines. This is the important part – be as careful as possible as this determines your final shape.
Fuse each shape to the wrong side of your chosen fabrics. You need to leave a large ¼” between shapes for seam allowances.
If you wish, you can fussy-cut your fabrics by positioning the shapes to suit.
Cut out each shape leaving an approximate 1/8” seam allowance.
Using the glue pen, run a line of glue along the edge of the paper template –- it only needs to be light and right on the edge.
Using your thumb and forefinger, gently press over the seam allowance onto the glue. You want to fold the fabric on the edge of the paper –- but you don’t want to fold the paper as well, it doesn’t take too long to get the feel of the edge of the paper and where to fold to.
If the end of your applique piece is going to be under another piece in the final design you do not need to glue and fold these edges over.
You do not need to clip into outer curves. Our seam allowance is small and often on the bias so clipping is not necessary. Just gently fold/pleat around curves a small step at a time so you do not get points. If you are having trouble eliminating points try trimming back the seam allowance a little further.
If you have tails like on this leaf, just leave those and they will be dealt with later.
Your prepared shape!
You will need to clip on inner curves – but not as much as you may be used to. Just clip where you absolutely need to to enable the seam allowances to fold in nicely. Inner points need to be clipped to the edge of the paper.
Continue glueing until all shapes are prepared.
Position your background fabric over the design sheet. Use a light box if you cannot easily see through the fabric.
Position and layer all applique pieces following the design you can see underneath. Use the glue pen or for larger projects Roxanne’s Glue baste it to secure all pieces at once. Just layer them up until the complete block is ready for stitching.
Now you can stitch all pieces down as you would for your normal applique method. I use Hugs ‘n Kisses applique needles and Superior Bottom Line threads but you can use your thread of choice. When stitching down those tails that are showing, stitch to the point and do a double stitch to hold, tuck under the tail with the tip of your needle and continue in the new direction.
No need to remove the papers – when it is washed they will just dissolve and soften into safe fibres in your quilt project.
All of our Hugs ‘n Kisses applique patterns include the full design sheet along with reversed where necessary templates and applique shapes for tracing. We are considering including pre-printed Applique Paper in our patterns in the future –- so you can just cut out, glue and stitch!
Happy appliquéing!
Hugs,
Helen
Filed Under Glue stick, Guest posts, Photo tutorials, Points, Prepared edge, Turned edge | 10 Comments
Mar
12
Dana’s loading the Vibe tomorrow morning for my trip to the environs of LA. I’ll visit Cathy Thursday morning, then it’s a short hop the rest of the way to Burbank to set up for the Glendale Quilt Guild Show.
I had a blast at this show last year and can’t wait to go again. If you’re down that way, do stop by to say hey. I’m in the same spot.
Did you see the free pattern at Bunny Hill? Adorable bunny towels!
See you next week! I have a fantastic guest tutorial coming right up!
Cheers,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Patterns, Quilt shows | Leave a Comment
Mar
11
I’m delighted today to turn the blog over to author, designer, and educator Margaret Bucklew!
Margaret just came out with a new book, Step by Step Portrait Art Quilts: Learn to Create Realistic Portrait and Pictorial Quilts, and today is the first day of a fun blog hop to celebrate its release!
Take it away, Margaret!
We each have our own first quilting experiences, some with more fanfare than others.
Once I had made quilts for everyone in the immediate family, I decided to include myself, and found a pattern with pieced triangular trees interspersed with schoolhouses. I wanted to use colors to reflect fall foliage and have some leaves falling within negative space on the quilt; however, those falling leaves presented a problem. They would need to be appliquéd onto the top. Uh-Oh! I had no idea how to appliqué. To me, the falling leaves had to be on the quilt, so I cut out shapes of leaves and pinned the fabric onto the top not knowing how they would permanently be affixed.
My one and only quilt class was needleturn appliqué. What a wonderful class! I was hooked. The leaves were appliquéd, the quilt was completed, and my appliqué adventure began. I love needleturn, but it is slow going. Machine appliqué is another option.
If you are like I was, a bit afraid to try appliqué, I have a super easy free block for you to use for practice and perhaps make more blocks and turn them into a quilt or a pillow.
This graphic indicates how the block would look if you needleturned, used a blanket stitch, or used a zig zag or satin stitch. Also shown in the pattern are easy-to-follow images indicating how to put on the back pieces covered by the front pieces.
I hope you’ll use the free pattern and give appliqué a try.
I migrated from being afraid of appliqué to designing appliqué quilts! A love of portrait work led me into developing a technique to create realistic portrait and pictorial appliqué quilts.
For a few more appliqué tips, please visit the next blog in the book blog tour.
If you are interested in giving portrait or pictorial quilts a try, my “Step by Step Portrait Art Quilts: Learn to Create Realistic Portrait and Pictorial Quilts” book might be just the answer for you. The book is available both in print and as an eBook.
Thank you Margaret! Be sure to follow the rest of the blog hop all this week for more fun with appliqué and information about the book. Here’s the schedule!
Tuesday
Sew Useful Designs
Wednesday
A Passion for Applique
Thursday
Jackie’s Art Quilts
Friday
Quilting and Sewing Videos
Thanks again Margaret, and congratulations! Enjoy every minute.
Until next time,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Blog hops, Books, Designers | 6 Comments
Mar
7
The lucky winner of Baltimore’s Country Cousins is No. 6, Karen Crosby. Congratulations Karen! You’ll enjoy these folk-art influenced designs.
In other news: Right now, on the Quiltmaker blog Quilty Pleasures, they’re having a giveaway contest of the new issue of Quilts From 100 Blocks.
Go on over and enter for a chance to win one of 25 copies! The contest ends Friday so go now.
Speaking of 100 Blocks, I was thrilled to hear that I have a block in the upcoming Volume 7! My block is so very dear to my heart and I hope you’ll enjoy it too. (Yes, it’s an animal, but maybe not the one you’d expect.) I’ll be participating in the blog hop March 29 through May 3 and I’ll show it then.
Last bit of news! Next week author, designer, and educator Margaret Bucklew is celebrating the release of her brand-new book, and she asked me to be in her blog tour! I’m kicking off on Day 1 with a neat guest post from Margaret. You won’t want to miss it… she has a nice surprise for you.
Until Monday,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Blog hops, Magazines, Prizes | 2 Comments
Mar
1
I’ve had this charming book in my cabinet for awhile now.
Baltimore’s Country Cousins
by Susan McKelvey
If you’re attracted to Baltimore album quilts and also simple, whimsical country quilts, then you would love Susan’s “country cousin” album blocks inspired by both of these forms. The designs in this beautiful book are filled with baskets, blooms, birds, berries, buds, and many more appealing folksy motifs.
The author begins with information on color and fabric selection, then moves to her own personal tips for hand appliqué. Any form of appliqué will work fine for the blocks, and the author recommends that anyone new to appliqué refer to one of the many excellent books available today that give soup-to-nuts instruction.
Stems and stitching sequence are covered, as are inking and stamping on quilts, elements that give album quilts an extra dose of charm. There’s a full pattern for a sampler quilt with a lovely appliquéd border that uses 12 of the 16 designs, also several ideas for other ways of using these utterly charming album blocks.
Published by the American Quilters Society, this gem is out of print but you can look for it on eBay or order from a reseller on Amazon.
That is if you don’t win it in the drawing! If you’d like to win my copy of Baltimore’s Country Cousins, leave a comment on this post before 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6.
Contest open to U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Do not reply to your email subscription! Click over to the blog on the internet and leave your comment at the bottom of the post.
Good luck!
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Filed Under Books, Prizes | 52 Comments
Feb
21
Whaat??!!! (Sorry, I just watched the Psych marathon.) I’ve been nominated for a Golden Quilter Award!
These are reader-nominated awards hosted by SewCalGal. Someone nominated me in the “Best Quilt Book Author” category. There’s some mighty powerful company over there… you’ve made my day!
The categories are:
Best Quilt Designer
Best Fabric Designer
Best Quilt Book Author
Best Teacher/Instructor
Best Quilt Store (physical)
Best Quilt Store (online)
Most Innovative Product (software)
Best New Product Introduced in 2012 (physical)
Best New Product Introduced in 2012 (software)
Best Quilt Book Published in 2012
Lifetime Achievement Award
To cast your vote in any of these categories, head on over to SewCalGal before the end of the month. Voting ends February 28, 2013.
Doin’ the happy dance!
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
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