Kristy's Quilt - Help Get It Started!

Are you looking for a heartwarming quilt-related gift for a child or grandchild in your family? Brandy Lynn Maslowski, the host of Canadian Quilt Talk, is constantly telling her listeners to share quilting with a younger generation on her talk show, her blog and everywhere she plays on social media. But she’s not just talking about it. She’s now making a move to get her children’s picture book, Kristy’s Quilt, published and in the hands and hearts of quilters and children everywhere.

 

Kristy's Quilt is a heartwarming quilt adventure based on a true story. This children's book features 10 year old Kristy, a spunky little quilter who blossoms at the In Stitches Quilting Retreat. A book for ages 2-92.

 Join Brandy Lynn, the Host of Canadian Quilt Talk on Feb. 14th for the launch of the Kristy’s Quilt Kickstarter campaign!

What’s Kickstarter? Supporters of the project (like you) fund the book in exchange for early bird copies and other fantastic rewards. Basically, if you back the project for $20 or more you’ll be one of the first people on earth to get a copy of the book in your hands this spring. You can choose any level of funding from $5 and up for all kinds of great rewards including bookmarks, softcover or hardcover copies, a doll quilt made by Brandy herself, and more. And most importantly, once the book is in your hands, you’ll be able to share your love of quilting with a child.

 

YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS HEARTWARMING PROJECT starting on Valentine’s Day and anytime from February 14th to March 14th by visiting to www.kickstarter.com and searching for Kristy’s Quilt. Thank you for sharing the heritage of quilting with a child.  

Here's the link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1295648186/a-spunky-little-quilter-blossoms-in-kristys-quilt?ref=live

Essentials Book List

Like I promised, I've reassessed my Essentials Book List and found a couple books I wanted to add and a couple that were either dated or had been replaced by newer or better works. So, print off a copy for handy reference!

Quilt Design

Piecing: Expanding the Basics by Ruth McDowell
Contemporary Quilts, and Creative Quilts by Sandra Meech
Digital Essentials by Gloria Hansen
Thread Work Unraveled by Sarah Ann Smith

Journey to Inspired Art Quilting by Jean Wells

Pattern Motifs-a Sourcebook by Graham Leslie McCallum

The Quilters Book of Design by Ann Johnston

Adventures in Design by Joen Wolfrom

Surface Design

Complex Cloth by Jane Dunnewold

Color by Accident and Color by Design by Ann Johnston

Finding Your Own Visual Language by Jane Dunnewold w/ Claire Benn and Leslie Morgan

Any books by Maggie Grey and/or Valerie Campbell-Harding

Surface Designers Handbook by Holly Brackman

Mixed Media Masterclass by Sherril Kahn

Soy Wax Inspirations by Susan Purney Mark (absolutely!)

Meet Cheryl Wall - Country Quilter

Cheryl Wall is a BC quilt designer and author and I'd like to introduce her by discussing her new book:
 “At Home with Country Quilts” features 13 new patterns I’ve designed.  My first book, “Country Comforts” also published by Martingale, sold very well and was such a fun experience, that I wanted to do it again.

Some of the props used in the pictures are my own so the book feels very personal.  My patterns typically use rich, warm country colours and aren’t terribly fussy or complicated to make.

Can you tell us about your background and interest in fabrics and quilts?

As I mention in the introduction to the book, I didn’t care much for sewing in high school so if anyone had told me back then that quilting would be my career choice, I’d never have believed them!  I made my first quilt in the mid-1980s, (before the invention of the rotary cutter—back in the stone age!)  and made another one a year or two later.  It took awhile for the passion and self-confidence to take hold.  The first quilts I made used templates and I stuck very close to the colours used in the patterns I bought.  Eventually I learned to trust my instincts in choosing fabrics and altering patterns to suit my personal taste.  It wasn’t until the late 1990s that a sister encouraged me to try designing a pattern myself, which I did.  At the time, I was working as an administrative assistant but wasn’t terribly happy in my job so I began to think about starting a pattern business, allowing me to quilt full-time and be my own boss.  In 2003, I quit my day job and started “Country Quilts”. 

What other designs do you work on?

Since starting my business, I’ve designed over 100 patterns, including a few BOMs.  My first BOM, “House Sampler” was published in 2003 and continues to be one of my best sellers.

Where else can we read more of your writing?

In addition to the two books published by Martingale, I wrote a book called “Welcome Home” published by Kansas City Star in 2011.  The main project is similar to my “House Sampler” BOM in that it’s made up of several sections.  I also self-published four pattern books and have had patterns published in several magazines, including McCall’s Quilting, Quick Quilts, Quiltmania, Quilters’ Connection, Canadian Quilter, Create and Decorate and Les Editions des Saxe (in France).  You can see all my patterns on my website, www.countryquilts.ca.

I also have a blog, www.cheryl-countryquilts.blogspot.ca, where I share photos of shows I attend, tutorials and free patterns, and other events in my life.  As soon as my book is released on June 12, I’ll be having a giveaway on my blog—so if you’d like a chance to win a copy, sign up as a follower and keep watching for updates!

Do you teach and/or lecture as well as write?

I’m a terrified public speaker so I much prefer to design and make quilts.  But, I have taught beginning quilting in my home to a few people at a time and have done some trunk shows for local guilds and book signings where I can talk with quilters one on one.  Much less scary for me!

How can quilters find out more about you?

Newsletters, contests, special offers for my readers etc. the interview and pictures will be posted to my blog which is linked to Facebook but will also be featured in my newsletter