Kathy Delaney Applique Quilts

Once upon a time I didn’t know what a quilt was.  I met my first quilt in 1991 and have been bound to the art ever since.

I lived in Michigan and belonged to a small band of 7 who met once a week to learn the art of quilt making.  Two of us actually had made quilts (I wasn’t one of them) and the rest were learning how.  I loved that group of women and hated to move away.

Since leaving what I consider to be my quilting roots, I have come a long way.  I think I’ve accomplished a lot – certainly more than I ever would have dreamed possible during that time of meeting once a week to learn how to make quilts.

Last week I went to Michigan to share my knowledge and my quilts and had THE best time!  I flew into Detroit and was met by Diane LaDue from the Great Lakes Heritage Quilters Guild.  She was to drive me north to be handed off to Judy Ettema of the Little Traverse Bay Quilt Guild.  From the time we entered the car it seemed like we’d known each other for years, even though I had only just met Diane.

The 4+ hour drive was rather enjoyable!  OK, yes, I was tired (I awoke at 4 a.m. out of fear I’d miss my plane!) but very happy.  We had a most delightful dinner at Judy’s beautiful home with her husband and mother and then Judy ferried me on to Charlevoix and a very much appreciated bed.

this is just before sunrise

My first morning in northern Michigan was remarkable.  First, I actually expected snow.  Now, mind you, I didn’t WANT snow, but I did expect it.  And as it happened, they had snow on the ground the week prior to my visit!  But while I was there the temperature was in the mid to upper 60′s and the sky was blue!  It was in the morning that I was able to see where I was!  The condo I was staying in was right on the Bay and the scenery was breathtaking!  (I wasted way too much time out on the balcony admiring all there was to see!)

this is from the left side of the balcony

the view straight out the balcony

to the right of the balcony - downtown Charlevoix

During the day I taught an appliqué workshop to a very enthusiastic group.  They could not have been more pleasant to work with!  The workshop took place in a state-of-the-art library that had been an old school.  It was THE most beautiful library I have EVER seen!  Wow!  I could kick myself that I was so enthralled I forgot to take pictures!

That evening I met with the guild members at the meeting in Petosky to talk about color.  This is a very enthusiastic guild with lots of great ideas!

The next day Judy handed me off to Diane again and we headed

this is the ferry from Beaver Island - where Gwen Marsten lives

back south to Troy.  Here I met with the guild members to talk about my quilting journey.  They were so very complimentary about my quilts!  I’m not sure when my feet touched ground!

The following day I taught my Mariners’ Compass workshop to an equally enthusiastic group.  We had a great time!  Everyone was so generous and eager to learn!

Dinner was a wonderful restaurant and even more wonderful company!

My last day included another workshop (several of the same ladies came back again!) on appliqué, a quick lunch that included a local favorite called “Bump Cake” and the flight home.

I moved from Michigan to my present home in Kansas.  This trip made me remember just how much I enjoyed living in Michigan and how much I miss it.

I have had some adventures since I last posted. So, I’m here to catch up with everyone!
Baltimore on the Prairie was another success! I had a great time getting to know my roommate, Kriss Moulds. She’s a delightful, funny lady who makes wonderful broderie perse applique quilts. I had a great time getting to know her!

my roommate, Kriss Moulds

A spectacular beginning to a terrific appliqué day!

Wild turkeys invade the bird feeders!

making ribbon flowers

a small but mighty group of appliqué artists!

My classes went well. My Plus One class was a ribbon flower making extravaganza. I still have wired French ribbon and bias silk ribbon. Contact me for more information if you’re interested. I know it is sometimes hard to find.

The Colonial Needle Company has officially launched the Kathy Delaney Sampler needle pack. I have them listed on my website (on the needle page) if you’re interested!

I was introduced to a neat technique for machine applique. I love that it uses no fusible or glue! I’m calling it Back Basted Machine Appliqué and will be teaching a workshop at my local quilt shop after the new year. If you would like a class for your guild, contact me and I can give you more details. Soon, I hope to have the new workshop listed on my website.

Next week I’m off to Michigan! I’m going to teach for 2 different guilds up there. I’m busily getting ready for my trip and very much looking forward to it.

Are you going to be at Road to California in January? I’m set to go. I still have a few weeks to wait before I find out if my quilts were accepted or not. Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

Next spring I will be presenting at Nancy Ziemen’s Sewing Weekend. Anyone been? You’ll have to contact me and let me know all about it! I’m very excited.

And next June I’m going to Ireland and Scotland! I’m not teaching – just vacationing. I’m traveling with 3 other ladies (one a quilter) and it should be a wonderful time!

Meanwhile, I have lots of teaching scheduled. 2011 is shaping up to be a very busy year! What are your plans?

Until next time,
Kathy

The summer is just flying by and I feel like I’m missing it!

After the trip out west for the wedding, I was off to Knoxville, TN for the AQS Show. I judged the show and then taught every day. It was a LOT of work, but I sure did enjoy myself! My students were the best!

Do you compete your quilts? There were two things that were heart breakers for us judges. (There were three of us.) And we all agree on the heartbreaks!

We had finished judging one of the categories, ribbons had been selected and about to be awarded when it was noted that one of the potential winners was not quilted. It consisted of three layers, was indeed a sandwich and bound. While it was tacked in a couple of places, there was not a single quilting stitch. The rules for the contest say the quilt must actually be quilted, either by hand or machine. Consequently, no ribbon for the quilt.

Second heartbreak: The category was “machine made.” That meant the whole quilt had to be constructed by machine. The only hand work would have been the final stitching of the binding.

The quilt was absolutely beautiful! It was an elaborate appliqué quilt and was extremely well done.

“So, what was the problem?” you ask. The quilt was loaded with ruched roses and a variety of other dimensional flowers. Ruching cannot be done on the machine. The ruched flowers were done by hand. And while they were expertly executed, the quilt did not follow the rules so it had to be disqualified.

What we hated most was the fact that, had the quilt been entered into the correct category, it very likely would have won $10,000! Now, THAT’s a heart breaker!

So, my advice to you as you compete your quilts, read the rules of the contest carefully! Place your quilt in the proper category and make sure you cover all your bases. I would hate for you to have heartbreak for something so very simple.

Until next time…
Kathy

Well, I know its been awhile since I last posted.  So I have LOTS to share!

I began the Spring getting ready for our younger son’s wedding.  I made my “ensemble” for the wedding, a quilt for the couple, and the ring pillow (you already know about that one).  And, of course, I procrastinated WAY too long so it was all a big push to get it all done!

This is what I wore to the wedding.

The wedding was in Phoenix.  Someone seemed to be looking out for us because up until the day before the wedding the temperature had hovered at about 110 degrees.  But the day before it had cooled off quite a bit so the rehearsal dinner out on the patio was quite wonderful!  And the day of the wedding was to have a high of 89 degrees.  So it was perfect!

The newly married Mr. and Mrs. Ian Delaney

Everyone seemed to have a great time and I think it is fair to say they make a wonderful couple!

They seemed to like the quilt I gave them.  You should have seen my son inspecting all the intersections!  He knows what to look for!  I was glad I had accomplished my very best piecing yet!

The couple and their quilt.

After the wedding, my husband and I visited the Grand Canyon.  The temperature up there was, again, very mild.  It was lovely!  (Have you noticed the theme here?  I’m not very fond of hot weather!)

A peak at the Grand Canyon!

Now I’m getting myself for the AQS show in Knoxville next month.  There are still openings in some of the classes!  I hope to see you there!  They’ve also asked me to help judge the quilts!  This is very exciting for me!

And once I get home from Knoxville, it will almost be time to get ready for the Baltimore on the Prairie Appliqué Conference  in September in Nebraska.  I’d love it if you could join me there for a relaxing time!  By September, I think I’ll need to relax!  And by then I’ll know what I’m teaching in September 2011 for Baltimore on the Prairie!  (No rest for me!  I have to have the stitching done by this September!)

Baltimore Roses class sample

I know there’s still space in my conference class – Baltimore Roses.   So come and join us!  You can contact Tresa Jones through the website at www. baltimoreontheprairie.tresajones.com.   She’ll get you all registered.  It’s NOT too late!

And my final bit of news is the Kathy Delaney Sampler from Colonial Needles.  I went to Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis in May to “debut” the needle sampler pack.  I had a wonderful time showing off the needles!  This is a collection of 4 needles each of 4 styles.  I got to choose anything I wanted and so I chose the Colonial #11 Straw for appliquéing most fabrics.  It is a very fine needle – I even think its finer than the #11 John James which is finer than the #11 Richard Hemming!  I also chose the #11 John James Gold’n Glide Straw for working with Batiks.  The Gold ‘n Glide just makes Batik fabrics seam like a much looser woven.  It just glides right through!  I also chose the #11 John James Quilting Between for hand quilting and the #11 John James Gold ‘n Glide Between for hand quilting Batik!  I love the idea of the sampler.  It lets one try the needles at a lower cost ($6.95) than having to purchase 4 packages of different needles that could cost about $20.

Available to YOUR quilt shop!

Here I am at the Colonial booth in Spring Market!

So, until next time, keep stitching!

Hope to see you in Knoxville and in Nebraska!

Kathy

Well, since we last visited together, I’ve been to Paducah to see the quilts juried into the AQS show.  It was great!  I didn’t win any ribbons, but then, I never expect to.  My win is to get my quilt juried into the show!

I had a discussion with my mom about winning at the show.  I’m not sure I want to even go the route of working at strictly making a winning quilt.  I know there are quilters out there who do just that.  They make a quilt for the sole purpose of trying to win.  I think if I attempted that, several things would happen.

First, I would be setting myself up for quite a disappointment.  I’m not sure I have it in me to make the kind of quilts that win.  I think I make some nice quilts and they are quilts people enjoy seeing.  But a winner?

Second, sometimes the quilter who sets out to making a winning quilt does nothing else.  I heard a rumor that a recent Best-of-Show winner at Paducah spent 2 years, 8 hours a day, working on her winning quilt.  Sure, she won a purchase award of $20,000.  But when you realize, $20,000 for a solid 2 year’s work – THAT’S not even minimum wage!  Would that really be worth it to me?  I’m thinking not.

I enjoy the process too much.  I enjoy making my quilts and every once in awhile I am proud enough of what I did that I want to share it and exhibit at the quilt show in Paducah.  But actually worry about winning?  No, that would take away from my pleasure in making the quilt.  So, again, getting a quilt juried into the show is my win.

dimensional with pearls and seed beads

I finally finished the ring pillow for our younger son’s wedding next month.  I’m rather pleased with it. Its different, anyway.  I sewed 18 pearls onto it.  My daughter-in-law-to-be loves pearls.  It occurs to me that after the wedding she can have the pearls made into a bracelet.

Here’s a close-up.  I just hope the kids like it.  I’d hate to have spent all that time and then find that my son and his fiance are totally underwhelmed!

Have you registered for Baltimore on the Prairie yet?  September will be here before we know it!  This is the block I’ll be teaching for the main conference.

I’d love to see you there!  You can find all the details as well as photos of the other classes, including the one-day Plus One classes, at www.baltimoreontheprairie.tresajones.com.  There are some wonderful activities planned.  Tresa’s lining up a bus to take you to the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln and some wonderful quilt shops.  You won’t want to miss it!

This coming week I will be off to Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis.  I will be demonstrating the Kathy Delaney Sampler package of hand sewing needles.  My sampler package includes my favorite quilting and appliqué needles.  I’m very excited!

After I get back from Phoenix, I’ll be turning my attentions toward my July adventure.  I’ll be off to Knoxville where I’ll be teaching classes at the AQS show!  That should be lots of fun.  Besides teaching, I’ll be one of the judges!  It will be a very busy week!  Have you made plans to go?

Until next time…

Kathy

Look what arrived from AQS!  Quite awhile ago, Ann contacted me and asked if I’d like to submit a recipe and a quilt for her next project, a recipe book for quilters.  (She also included me in her 100 Tips from Award Winning Quilters.)  I have to tell you, I totally forgot all about it!  Well, the book is out and here it is!  What a delightful project!  100 quilters contributed simple quilty-wonderful recipes and the pages are enhanced with quilts as well!  Get your copy soon!  You won’t want to miss out!

Thanks, Ann, for including me!

How many of you have the best intentions when you begin but put it aside only to get side tracked?  I KNOW you know what I’m talking about!  Just think about your works-in-progress and all the quilt projects you have organized with fabrics, pattern and thread, all ready to go.  We ALL have them!

Well, that’s what’s happened with this blog!  Mostly I’m afraid I wont have anything of interest to you to write about!  But for those of you interested in what I’ve been up to…

Two of my quilts have been juried into the AQS Show in Paduch this month!  And they have been mailed.  I’m planning on going to go to the show.   My mom and I go every year and enjoy the quilts.  I get rejuvenated and  my creative juices get stimulated.

Birds 'n Urns by Kathy Delaney, quilted by Kelly Ashton

Papercuts and Toile by Kathy Delaney, quilted by Kelly Ashton

I’m excited about going to Market in May, too.  I will be hanging out in the Colonial Needle booth where I will be demonstrating the needles in the Kathy Delaney Needle Sampler Pack.  How ’bout THAT!  The pack included 4 kinds of needles – my favorite needles for all my hand work.

Baltimore on the Prairie registration has opened.  I have redesigned my conference block .  I think this one will have more techniques to learn and will be more fun to make.  I’m calling it Baltimore Roses.  Techniques include needleturn appliqué (including sharp innies and outies, dimensional buds in one and two colors and reverse appliqué, to name a few.

Baltimore Roses - conference class at Baltimore on the Prairie

For more information about Baltimore on the Prairie, go to www.baltimoreontheprairie.tresajones.com/.

Our younger son is getting married June 12 in Phoenix.  So I’ve been busy getting ready.  I’ve been working on the ring pillow.

So now you know what I’ve been up to!  I hope you’re accomplishing all you start and that you’re keeping up!

Until next time…

entirely too quickly! It seems like it was just last week when I last posted. But instead I see it was a lot longer ago!

Since I posted last, I finished the sample for next September’s Baltimore on the Prairie.  You can see all the samples for the September conference at www.baltimoreontheprairie.tresajones.com.

machine quilting by Kelly Ashton, Overland Park, KS

I finished a new quilt I’m calling “Papercuts and Toile.” I’ve supmitted the quilt to AQS. If I’m lucky they will jury it into the show in Paducah this April. And since the quilt is being offered as a block-of-the-month this year at Prairie Point Quilts in Shawnee, KS, I began making the blocks all over again in the fabrics that will be available in the kits available at the shop. (www.prairiepoint.com)

I traveled to South Carolina for the Christmas holiday by way of Kentucky to see my mom. In South Carolina I had a chance to spend the holiday with our older son’s family, including the twin 3-yr old grandkids. It was a lovely time! I was able to photograph the “Papercuts and Toile” and last year’s block-of-the-month design,” Birds ‘n Urns,” so I could submit them to AQS for the show in Paducah. So cross your fingers for me! We had lovely weather and missed the Christmas Eve blizzard here at home.

machine quilting, Kelly Ashton, Overland Park,KS

Just into the new year I traveled to California for a week with our younger son. The morning I left it was -7 degrees outside! By the time I got to the Burbank airport, I was overheated in my sweater and slacks! I went to a bridal shower for our daughter-in-law-to-be in Santa Barbara. Oh, it was lovely! We were at a restaurant right on the beach – out on the deck! It was, indeed, a lovely day! The rest of the week was spent with Ian and included at day the Road to California quilt show. My “Pots de Fleurs” quilt was juried in and I just had to visit! And the weather all week was my perfect weather – low humidity, 68-75 degrees and sunny skies.

So its been nice to be home, even if it’s cold. Of course, I certainly appreciate missing all the rain that arrived right after I left California!

And what’s next on my agenda? I have some great opportunities to teach this year. I hope you take a look at the list on my website, www.kathydelaney.com. If I’m scheduled to be in your area and your guild would like me to come, I’d love to do it! I’m very excited to be on the list of teachers for the AQS show in Knoxville in July! Are you planning on going?

Until next time…

Kathy

Well, color me excited!  I just got confirmation that my “Pots de Fleurs” quilt has been juried into the Road to California show this January!  What a lovely thing to come home to after a terrific Thanksgiving trip!  So I have booked my flight to LA!  I’m very excited as this is my first quilt in this show!

I realize I’ve been a bit quiet lately.  I was busy finishing up a “prototype” for a new Block-of-the-Month project I’ve designed for Prairie Point Quilts.  I still have to put the finishing touches on my Baltimore on the Prairie class project but that’s not due for a whole 3 weeks!  So I’m good.

AND I’ve been doing a bit of traveling!  I went to Kentucky for Thanksgiving where I had a wonderful week with my husband, our two sons, a daughter-in-law, 2 grandkids, a daughter-in-law-to-be, my mother and two BIG dogs!  Yep, 9 people around the table for meals.  It was wonderful!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!  I am thankful for each of you for your interest in what I do.  I’m thankful for everyone who takes my classes, buys my books, makes my patterns or enjoys my quilts. What a wonderful industry we are in!

I still haven’t had much time to play with my new toy – the Bernina 830!  Just before I left for Kentucky I was able to pick it up from ICU.  It needed a little “adjustment” and now I think its all good.  So my next plan is to get back to it – after I mail “Pots de Fleurs” to California!

Until next time!

Kathy