March 1, 2013

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

Comments

52 Responses to “Baltimore’s Country Cousins”

  1. Nancy on March 1st, 2013 6:31 am

    Oh, gorgeous! Beginning one of those blocks would perk up the dreary winter days.

  2. Dolores on March 1st, 2013 6:33 am

    I love applique and I’ve not yet made a Baltimore Album. The patterns that you’ve shown are refreshing. Thank you for the chance to win.

  3. Deb L on March 1st, 2013 7:11 am

    I would love to win this!

  4. Glynis on March 1st, 2013 9:26 am

    What gorgeous blocks and how generous of you to give us a chance to win this beautiful book.

  5. Carol Schlabach on March 1st, 2013 9:57 am

    Thanks. You are always so generous with us. I’ve always wanted to do a Baltimore Album but frankly they do intimidate me. These designs look a little more my speed. I think I could handle them! Thanks again!

  6. Karen Crosby on March 1st, 2013 10:15 am

    What lovely folk art applique!
    Thank you for the chance!
    karen 608 at yahoo dot com

  7. Lea on March 1st, 2013 10:17 am

    I was just looking for a new applique book this week, I missed seeing that one! Thanks for a chance to win!

  8. Patricia Faye on March 1st, 2013 10:20 am

    I would love to win this beautiful book. i recently learned to do applique’ and would love to try these. Thank you & you have great site.

  9. Linda Bolyard on March 1st, 2013 10:50 am

    I’ve been shopping for Applique / Quilt books and found quite a few “out of print”. In that search is one of the reasons I happened upon your site. Great Site, by the way! I am just learning the Applique technique and would love to have this book!

  10. Chris on March 1st, 2013 11:01 am

    I can’t wait to get my hands on this book. It looks like a fabulous collection of wonderful applique patterns. Maybe I will be lucky. If not I will surely buy a copy.

  11. Lisa Mikel on March 1st, 2013 11:23 am

    I would really love to win the book. The blocks are gorgeous. It would be fun to make. Thanks, Lisa

  12. Kim Q on March 1st, 2013 11:31 am

    What sweet blocks! I sure hope I win the book…but if not, it’s going onto my wishlist anyway. Thanks for the chance to win!

  13. Nita on March 1st, 2013 11:31 am

    Oh! I love baltimore album quilts but have never made one. A book like this would be fabulous! Thank you for the chance to win one! Nita

  14. Kathy O in GA on March 1st, 2013 11:55 am

    I’d love to win the book to add to my collection of Baltimore books – it will be a great resource as I design my own quilt! Thank you!

  15. Dee on March 1st, 2013 11:59 am

    Looks like beautiful patterns.

  16. Susan M on March 1st, 2013 12:36 pm

    OOH ! such great ideas! I would love to have this book ! How come the best books are always out of print?????

  17. Nancy in Newport on March 1st, 2013 12:39 pm

    What a sweet book! I love the country spin to the classic designs.

  18. Donna Hollingsworth on March 1st, 2013 1:00 pm

    I would love to win this book! I love album quilts!!!

  19. Barb Colvin on March 1st, 2013 1:03 pm

    How can such a delightful book be OOP? 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! The country flair shown in these designs is much more comfortable and more my style.

  20. gab on March 1st, 2013 1:18 pm

    These look like fun motifs to applique. Haven’t done a Baltimore quilt yet, but would love to. Winning this book would get me started.

  21. Cathy Weatherford on March 1st, 2013 1:37 pm

    What a wonderful book. Love the country charm. Thanks so much for a chance to win this book. Hope I do.

  22. Char on March 1st, 2013 1:56 pm

    What a fun book! A Baltimore is on my bucket list, and these patterns are just perfect! Thanks for giving us a chance to win!

  23. Kathy Lancaster on March 1st, 2013 2:00 pm

    Would love to try my hand at that applique.

  24. Teresa on March 1st, 2013 2:23 pm

    Oh how I would love to win. Please count me in and thank you for such a lovely give away.

  25. Jane on March 1st, 2013 3:32 pm

    Oh, my, how I would love to win this wonderful book – Just in time for Spring!!
    Thanks for the chance and generosity!!

  26. Brenda C. on March 1st, 2013 4:43 pm

    This book looks like it has some beautiful blocks. Thanks for offering it up for us.

  27. Sandy A in St. Louis on March 1st, 2013 5:35 pm

    Love that bluebell block! Please count me in!

  28. Gail on March 1st, 2013 5:55 pm

    I would love, love, love to win this book… I’m just now deciding that I can actually do some of this…

  29. Laura on March 1st, 2013 6:05 pm

    I love applique and country decor (we live in a log cabin) so this book would be perfect.

  30. Bonnie on March 1st, 2013 6:10 pm

    Would love the book!

  31. dee on March 1st, 2013 7:13 pm

    Would love to win that neat applique book.
    Thanks!

  32. ritainalaska on March 1st, 2013 8:39 pm

    love applique, ‘specially baltimore! thanx for the chance to win your book, to have and to hold it and work from it.

  33. Dot on March 1st, 2013 8:49 pm

    I’m a quilt guild librarian, and would love to add this book to our collection. Thank you!

  34. Donna A on March 2nd, 2013 4:45 am

    Oh that would be a wonderful book to win! I have several applique patterns but none with birds like that. Thanks for the opportunity to win Baltimore Country Cousins.

  35. Ferne on March 2nd, 2013 9:24 am

    I am loving the birds in the fountain block. I am wanting to do more applique and this looks like such a fun book to do that with!

  36. Rhonda Wegner on March 2nd, 2013 5:17 pm

    This book is beautiful and I would love to attempt my newly acquired applique passion to one of these patterns! Thank you for offering me the chance to win.

  37. Jan on March 2nd, 2013 5:28 pm

    I’d love to win this book–much more my style than the formal Baltimore blocks. And if I win you could deliver it to me at our guild meeting!

    Thanks for the chance!

  38. Paule-Marie on March 2nd, 2013 5:45 pm

    I would love to have this book. I love Baltimores, but these look ever so playful.

  39. Lynn D in NC on March 2nd, 2013 5:46 pm

    I’d love to win this book, thanks for providing the chance. I love applique more than anything.

  40. Maureen on March 2nd, 2013 7:02 pm

    WOW Kay! Another great book! Thanks so much for a chance at your give-away…love it!

  41. sandy on March 2nd, 2013 7:46 pm

    Looks like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win it.

  42. Yasmin on March 2nd, 2013 8:02 pm

    Hermoso libro. Quizás lo tenga en mis manos si gano. Gracias por tu generosidad.

  43. Lynn S on March 3rd, 2013 6:16 am

    I love the country slant–sunflowers and bluebells. What a nice book–yes, I’d love to make this quilt! I will need to look for this to study more of the blocks!

  44. kathleen c on March 3rd, 2013 6:51 am

    What a lovely book this must be! The fabrics give each block a new and different look. I’d enjoy making a quilt from this book. Thanks, Kay.

  45. Julierose on March 3rd, 2013 1:39 pm

    Oh this looks so charming–I am new to applique and would love to try these cute blocks…Julierose Thanks

  46. Patricia on March 3rd, 2013 2:15 pm

    Wow! I have seen the cover of this book but no other pages. I love the samples you shared. Thank you for the chance to own a copy. :)

  47. Ruthann on March 4th, 2013 3:11 am

    I’d definitely love to win this book. My hubby saw some of the samples you showed and he’s smitten.

    Thank you for sharing and giving everyone a chance to win this book.

  48. Mary on March 4th, 2013 10:23 am

    Oh my, just right for me. I have been learning some applique techniques, and could definitely see me doing this

  49. Susan on March 4th, 2013 7:33 pm

    Sounds like a wonderful book. Now you made me go get my Baltimore album book out and start drooling, Oh someday my little pretty! Thanks for the chance to win this beauty

  50. Linda Kay on March 5th, 2013 8:38 am

    I would love this book – it looks like the patterns are a simpler form of Baltimore album style quilts. I love applique but I’m not up for the more complicated patterns, yet.

  51. Kathy Jo of MN on March 5th, 2013 4:13 pm

    I love the patterns. The Bluebells are so charming. Thank you for this opportunity.

  52. Sarah Vee on March 5th, 2013 6:16 pm

    the blocks are absolutely charming. this looks very inspiring. love the last striped basket! thanks for the chance, kay!