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Jul
2
I just put up a post on my appliqué blog showing some little quilts that I made using motifs from my Home quilt. Click on over to All About Appliqué and take a look at these cute little guys that I stitched up after seeing some darling wire hangers at Quilt Market in May.
I showed my new pattern booklet Home: A Heartfelt Nap Quilt back in May.
Until next time,
Kay
Quilt Puppy Publications & Designs
Filed Under Appliqué, Home | Leave a Comment
Jun
22
My wacky wonderful friend Cathy Perlmutter made an election year tea set!
I can’t tell you how much I adore this combination of my brain and hers.
Cathy says, “I’m calling this Constant Comment. Nothing gets more comment these days than Obama.
“I picked your teapot with the top handle that looks like a question mark, because, of course there are so many questions around presidential elections and candidates (not only whether they will be elected, but especially whether they will make a good president–I do like Obama, but, of course, one never knows).
“On the curvaceous Mackenzie teacup, there’s an exhortation to vote; a helpful Mackenzie spoon just to stir things up more… and the ‘Constant Comment’ tea box (note attempt at perspective) was, of course was my own brilliant design (LOL!) The steam from the teapot spells 2008.
“Please tell the world that this small quilt in no way reflects any political views held by Kay Mackenzie, Quilt Puppy Publications, or even my own mother, who comments constantly about her dislike of Obama (and McCain, for that
matter).”
Whatever your political preference, you gotta love the thought and wit behind this little wall quilt, not to mention the message to get out and vote (and the roses).
Until next time,
Kay
Quilt Puppy Publications & Designs
Filed Under Teapots 2 to Appliqué | Leave a Comment
Jun
5
I came across a teapot quilt on the web and was delighted to see that it was all designs from my first collection, Teapots to Appliqué!
I sent off an email asking about the quilt, and soon received a reply from MJ Peters in Vermont, on the left in the photo. Here’s the story behind her teapots.
“My guild in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont has a monthly activity we call friendship blocks, and my choice was to have my friends make each a teapot from your collection. It was a challenge for some members as they do not do appliqué often (myself included) but I am a teapot collector (65 approx.) and I have even thrown a formal tea party for friends. We will be having a tea party in August for the guild at my house.
I am also a retiring Family and Consumer Sciences teacher (31 years) so it will be a treasured memento from this great group of women I see once per month. I really enjoyed the patterns and you have helped to make a wonderful treasure.”
Okay, folks, this is what it’s all about. I love hearing these stories more than anything!
I have to admit that I had not heard of the Northeast Kingdom, but Google soon educated me. I learned that it’s a region in the northeastern corner of Vermont known for its lovely countryside and recreational opportunities.
MJ, congratulations on your retirement, and thanks for sharing your beautiful friendship quilt with us.
Until next time,
Kay
P.S. Teapots to Appliqué is now out of print, but there’s a pattern pack available over at Quilt Puppy, as well as a brand-new collection of teapot designs, Teapots 2 to Appliqué.
Filed Under Appliqué, Friendship quilts, Teapots to Appliqué | Leave a Comment
May
28
I’m excited to announce the publication of my newest pattern booklet for quilters!
Home: A Heartfelt Nap Quilt has been so much fun to work on! I wanted to go on a bit of a departure for this design, and I think it’s more primitive and folksy looking than what I’ve done before. I just love this style of casual scattered appliqué.
I took pictures as I went in the construction process. You can see the motifs go on bit by bit. Here are my home Home shots, complete with crummy lighting, pins, lint, ironing board, etc. The last one with the borders on is a beautiful professionally shot photo by Gregory Case.
Home: A Heartfelt Nap Quilt
As the years go by, I find that I appreciate more and more the simple comforts of home and shelter. From beloved pets to pie and coffee to the feeling that “home is where the heart is,” this nap-size quilt with its cozy and familiar motifs is my commemoration to the places we make our own.
The 16-page booklet has full-size patterns plus complete construction information. Any form of appliqué will work — nothing fancy required!
Here’s the book cover.
Home is available on the Quilt Puppy website.
Until next time,
Kay
Quilt Puppy Publications & Designs
Filed Under Appliqué, Home | Leave a Comment
May
26
Mary Fran Archer, one of the members of my quilt guild, mentioned to me that she had made a Dog Cabin quilt using my book. I begged her to send me pictures and tell me more about it. I was delighted to learn that her quilt was actually made in honor of some dogs!! Yay!
Here’s Mary Fran’s story:
“My husband’s colleague in the sociology department at the University of California at Santa Cruz hosted his retirement party earlier this month. It was a significant event and lots of time went into it. To thank her, I made the quilt. She has two dogs, Borzoi, and I felt that a dog quilt for the dogs themselves might be a good gift. I enjoyed making this so much.”
Here’s the quilt for the lucky Borzoi.
Here’s another shot, which as Mary Fran puts it “is more artistic and includes a cat tail.” There’s also one block of cats in the bottom row. I love including a little tweaky surprise in a quilt.
So I have to tell you that this is a really cool thing for me, because the Borzoi is my husband’s favorite kind of dog. Another name for them is the Russian Wolfhound. They’re really greyhounds with long hair. Borzoi are beautiful dogs with gentle temperaments, and make wonderful additions to the family if the climate is not too hot and they can get enough running in.
Mary Fran, how did they like the quilt?
Until next time,
Kay
Quilt Puppy Publications & Designs
Filed Under Dog Cabin, Patchwork, Theme quilts | Leave a Comment
Apr
14
I’ve been saving some great news to tell you. Always Quilting in San Mateo, California, is running a block-of-the-month program with Teapots 2 to Appliqué!
It was through their BOM with the original Teapots book that I got to know the shop’s owners, Kit and Julie. They contacted me with an emergency book order, and told me about their popular “Sunday Tea” program.
Last year, when I told them that I was putting out Teapots 2, they asked if they could make a sample to go in the book. Could they ever! I was delighted at the proposition. They made “Tea With the Empress” using the Empress Garden collection by Hoffman Fabrics, and these are the fabrics they’re using for the new BOM program (while supplies last of course).
You don’t have to live nearby to participate in the BOM, as it is also offered online. Their website is www.alwaysquiltingonline.com. Go there and click on On-Line Catalog, then Block of the Month. You’ll see “Tea with the Empress” among many other offerings.
The book comes with the program, but if you already have your copy of Teapots 2, just let them know. They’ll give you a different price structure.
When the new BOM program came out, there was also renewed interest in the first Teapots BOM. Though the original Teapots to Appliqué book is now out of print, I’m happy to say that Always Quiting continues to offer the original BOM using my pattern packs.
Thank you, Kit and Julie!
Until next time,
Kay
Filed Under Teapots 2 to Appliqué, Teapots to Appliqué | 1 Comment
Mar
29
Pam, you’ve done it again! Pam Crooks is one of the members of the small quilt group I’ve been stitching with for over 11 years. She’s a super-busy gal, working full-time and traveling for her position with a banking institution, plus participating in so many appliqué projects it could make your head spin. Yet she has been a fabulous supporter of my publishing work, finding the time to contribute beautiful original samples when I have a new book in the works.
Here’s what she made for Teapots 2 to Appliqué. I just love it!
Pam was at Round Robin Fabrics here in Santa Cruz, a quilt shop that specializes in ethnic, beachy, and not-your-ordinary-calicoes. Some Kaffe Fassett prints and some rusty batiks captured her imagination that day.
Pam has a habit of giving me her projects for photography without telling me a name for it. I was considering “Sugar, No Milk” or maybe “With Sugar Please” because of her adorable vine-and-sugar-bowl border. Before the book went to print, I ran my ideas past her, and a funny look came over her face. “Not so much,” I said to myself. Turns out that Pam was thinking more like “Tea With Kaffe” because of the K.F. print she used for the teapot. Well, I already had a “Tea with…” quilt, so we came up with “Tea Garden” to include the beautiful twining vines.
Get this… Pam was on the road so much during the making of this quilt that it’s hand-pieced! Yes, all those little squares. What a trooper!
Until next time,
Kay
Filed Under Appliqué, Teapots 2 to Appliqué | 2 Comments
Mar
21
The next quilt I’m showing you from Teapots 2 to Appliqué is very cool. Verona Flint hand-appliquéd a beautiful batik teapot with a shimmery gold handle and spout on plain white fabric, and handed it back to me. When I looked at it I immediately started brainstorming on a setting to show it off. Something round with a square top was speaking to me.,
I went to the fabric store and spotted an unusual fabric that just made the teapot sing. This fabric was unlike anything I’d used before. The salesperson said it was cotton. It had a somewhat rough, crepe-like texture.
I used a plate to mark the circle and a platter to mark the semi-circle, and reverse-appliquéd the print fabric around the teapot.
Then I did something else I hadn’t done before. I went to the store and got some gold rayon thread. This thread was not metallic, but had a sheen to it. I used a couple of decorative stitches on my Bernina for the quilting, including filling in the plain white area behind the teapot.
I’m very pleased with the result. Thanks a million, Verona, for providing the inspiration for me to branch out! I love our joint project.
Until next time,
Kay
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Mar
13
The last quilt I showed you from Teapots 2 to Appliqué was by Shannon (see the March 4 post). Now here’s one from her mom, Janet.
Janet and Shannon are mother-and-daughter quilters from Hollister, California.
I put these two quilts together on a page in Teapots 2 because I just loved how each piece reflected the quiltmaker’s own style. Not to mention their respective stashes!
Janet drew from her collection of Civil-War reproduction fabrics and used Thangles™ to make the half-square triangles for the pinwheels. Janet carries Thangles on her website.
Until next time,
Kay
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Mar
9
Blue Willow was my mother’s china pattern. Whenever I see it, it brings back warm memories of childhood. Imagine my delight when Reeze Hanson of Ottawa, Kansas, sent me pictures of a whole collection of Blue Willow teapots!
Here’s the story behind the quilts. As you’ll see, Reeze’s mother and mine shared an affinity for Blue Willow.
“I teach classes at Quilting Bits & Pieces in Eudora, Kansas (where I bought the first teapots book) and planned to make some small quilts using the patterns and a bolt of blue willow fabric I had recently purchased. My mother was a Blue Willow China collector and antique dealer, and our house was filled with (literally) thousands of pieces of blue willow china.
My mother was an active member of the International Willow Collector’s Society (which she helped establish many years ago) and very active in the local Ohio chapter for many years. She attending many of their annual meetings, until she passed away in 1993. My sister inherited most of the willow and has generously spread it around to all the grandchildren, friends and family that we knew would all want a few cherished pieces in memory of mother. Much was sold, and many pieces are still in the family.
My sister continued to attend the annual Willow Society conventions and later I joined her. Immediately I thought of your teapot patterns, as teapots were my mother’s favorite BW item to collect and she had dozens of them. So I designed and made each of the little quilts, and many more!
It was so fun. I only made one of each kind, no two were alike, and never even wrote down the patterns I designed. But I loved making these and plan to make more with the new book.
Thanks so much for your interest in my quilts! They really were a labor of love, done in honor of my mother.”
Here’s to mothers everywhere, and the cherished memories they leave us with.
Until next time,
Kay
Filed Under Appliqué, Teapots 2 to Appliqué, Teapots to Appliqué | Leave a Comment