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Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Quilter's Applique Workshop Blog Tour: Virtual trunk show

Yesterday I launched my new book The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop with a trunk show, book signing, and demo at the annual retreat held by my home guild, the Tuleburg Quilt Guild. After the relatively solitary process of putting the book together, it was a real treat to share the quilts with my friends and fellow quilters, and to hear what they made of them. So to kick off my blog tour, I thought I’d share a few pics from the event with you too.

Keep following the blog tour through the official publication date of February 28 to get more ideas for appliqué and hear more about The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop from these bloggers:
 Don’t forget to check out the grand-prize giveaway details at the end of this post!


Since my Fruit Market quilt got shipped to the publisher almost immediately after I got it back from the quilter, it was great to get it out into the light of day.


Speaking of the light of day, how’s this for dramatic lighting? The sun decided to act as a natural spotlight for Pineapple Rings.


Cover quilt Cobblestones got the spotlight treatment too.


Check out these treat boxes my super friend, cashier, and cheerleader Sandy made for the retreat using the Cobblestones blocks! Even better, they were filled with her homemade caramely, chocolatey shortbread.


My lovely assistants, Deborah and Sandy, with my Mod Flowers Table Runner. The runners were too small for them to hide their faces behind; I do believe there were some secrets whispered behind the larger quilts....



Counterbalance turned on its side reminded some audience members of snakes who’d gobbling up a rat, which I had to admit was a pretty fair assessment. So the quilt’s nickname will now be Well-Fed Snakes.


Garden Allotments was one of the crowd favorites—broderie perse is great with fairly large-scale prints like these florals.


Round the Block was another crowd pleaser, not that you’d know it from the faces we’re pulling.


Having a TED Talks moment.


One of our guild members is named Dessie. As I was unfurling this banner and only the left half was showing, one of our VPs was momentarily puzzled as to why I’d made a quilt that said “Feed Dessie”—was she hungry?? (The pattern for the full pieced alphabet is forthcoming, so you can spell out the name of whoever needs to be fed in your own guild.)


After lunch, I demonstrated needle-turn appliqué with freehand tree shapes as in the All Seasons Pillows peeking out to the left of me (a free pattern for the project is coming later in the blog tour). Not having a precise line to follow takes the stress out of needle-turning so you can focus instead on learning the process and hand movements. I was thrilled to see guild mates discovering (to their surprise) that the process was easy and fun! There’s really no need for all that “A-word” name-calling.

For the duration blog tour, enter to win the “grand prize” giveaway of a signed copy of the book, a stack of my other appliqué patterns, and my home-dec sewing DVD. Just tell me what intrigues you about appliqué in a comment on this post, whether you’re a beginner or an appliqué aficionado. Comments will be open through March 1, 11:59 pm Pacific Time, then a winner will be randomly chosen. (U.S. addresses only please; one entry per person.) Good luck, and make sure to check out all the other stops on the tour too! Thanks for your entries—the winner is announced here!

The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop
By Kevin Kosbab
Interweave/F+W Media; $26.99
bit.ly/JFVK4U
The Quilter's Appliqué Workshop

Thanks JD for taking the retreat photos!

91 comments:

Rhonda said...

I'm a beginner in the quilting realm so applique is new for me too. I love the way you think outside the box. Your quilts are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing and the chance to win!!

RMKonecki said...

I have a grand vision of a solar system quilt for my two year old son with the planets all made to scale, and I have a lot to learn about appliqué to make it happen. I am very much a beginner. So far I have completed one quilting project (a wall hanging for the nursery I made three years ago) with lots of advice from my mother in law.

Unknown said...

I am new to quilting and recently have been researching applique. Once, I thought I could never even attempt it. Now, I think I could actually do this!

Anonymous said...

What intrigues me? I'd have to say dimentionality and texture. Clearly it cannot be simply the juxtaposition of colors and patterns, because there are a jillion other ways to achieve that. I am currently intrigued by appliqué using felted wool fabric, which of course has the added benefit of not having to turn edges under. (But I don't mind turning under edges; it is slow, meditative, and workmanlike, encouraging one to feel that one is part of a tradition.)

Elizabeth said...

I'm a beginner at needleturn applique and most often use turned edge over freezer paper with machine applique. I want to do more handwork for the portability.

Terry@ a quilting blog said...

I'm a beginner but love the look of appliqué and would definitely love to learn different techniques.
BTW, your quilts are amazing!!
Thanks for the chance :)

Nita said...

What intrigues me...i am a very amateur needle turner, and I am intrigued to know how others do such intricate needle turning. I know there must be some tips and tricks that don't involve using fusible interfacing. Just needle skills. . :)

Lisa England said...

The thing that fascinates me about applique is the nearly limitless possibilities of what can be made with the technique. In my opinion even a small amount of applique can elevate a pieced quilt to something extra special. I have done some applique but have plenty to learn and it looks like I could learn a lot from this book. Plus, the quilts you showed in the photos are wonderful!

Donna~~ said...

The way fussy cutting a different area of the fabric can completely change the look of the applique piece intrigues me. Congratulations on your book--looks like a good one!

Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts said...

In an complete newbie to appliqué, but I really want to move beyond square and triangles in my quilting. I want to learn how to do needle turned applique. Your projects look fabulous. So glad to have discovered you!

Penny said...

I'm amazed by appliqué. I thought it was so hard that I have only just begun to try it. And I'm having some success. Can't wait to read your book.

DebraKay Neiman said...

Working on my applique skills. Looks like a great skill builder book. Greetings from Oklahoma, USA crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

Sue H said...

I am quite new to quilting and have only machine appliqued a few pieces, I love the extra dimension applique adds to the quilt and would love to learn more techniques.

Diana Napier said...

The thing I love about applique is that I can take anything I can imagine or draw and turn it into a quilt block or quilt. It don't get better than that.

Margaret said...

I love to look at quilts and other things that have applique on them. I am not very good at it and keep working on it. I would love to have your book

Diane M said...

Congrats on your book release! I've become more intrigued by appliqué as I'm discovering that many of the quilt designs I like uses it in some form. I love your work and will be adding your book to my collection.

EllenB said...

It's amazing that, using applique (I needle-turn), my fabric scraps can become anything from intricate Baltimore Album blocks to funky, modern works of art, like yours. Great book!

Lesley said...

I am just starting to try some applique on my quilts. I like your bold designs. I am interested in learning more techniques.

Unknown said...

I'm new to Quilting. I love quilts with applique. It's like the meat in good stew; applique gives the quilt extra flavor.

Unknown said...

Can you recommend a good quality machine to buy for applique.

WeedyMama said...

Applique? I love that you can cut out a shape, turn under the edges, not worry about which way the grain line runs, attach it in any direction to the fabric below, embellish to your heart's content, and just play.

I use freezer paper on the top, pinch the turn-under away from me, and go to work. I think some of the prep work other methods use might turn people off.

I started my applique career with Hawaiian applique which gives you a good workout. There the goal is a smooth flowing line, and I think a good place to start.

Always In Stitches said...

I'm in. I have appliqued some. But your process intrigues me.

Unknown said...

I have done a little bit of applique, as I am a beginner quilter and excited about all the incredible techniques out there for me to try. I would love to know more about the different types of applique.

Catskill Quilter said...

Applique by hand still is a mystery to me, but it is certainly elegant! I would love to learn how to do it.

LynnK said...

I love applique - needle-turn is my favorite method, but I also do raw-edge, machine, and wool applique. I teach applique and one technique that I'm finding students love is back-basting. I like your modern designs - they are fresh and fun!

Unknown said...

I am a beginner and I love how beautiful and creative your quilts are!

Carrie P. said...

I love to do applique. What intrigues me about creating applique is that it is like painting which comes together little by little to make a gorgeous "painting." Congrats on your new book and thanks for a chance.

Janet M said...

I've done traditional applique but am so inspired by your modern style. Thanks for the chance to win your fabulous book!

pennykitz said...

I am just now trying appliqué. You are an amazing quilter. I really enjoyed looking at your quilts, outstanding! I think your book would be a great asset to me as I start this new journey of appliqué. I love how it looks and the effects it adds to the quilt. I'll be following you! 👀 👣

Unknown said...

I'm brand spanking new to everything sewing, but I love the way applique looks on the quilts, pillows and bags I've seen in library books and all of the bloggers and designers I've seen! I have pretty much fell in love with quilting and wonder where it's been all my life! I love your book, the pictures are so inspiring and I can't wait to be able to applique as well. Thanks for your giveaway! :)

tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

Sherrye said...

What intrigues me about applique is the sky is the limit! If I can dream it up, it can be put on my fabric...any color, any texture, any size! Love it!! I've done a couple of projects with a blanket stitch but have never tried needle turn. Think it's time I tried it! Thanks for the awesome giveaway.

Lisa said...

I am a beginner and have never tried needle turn but would love too! Your quilts are beautiful! Thank you for the giveaway! It would be great to win!

Cindy said...

I have done some applique--the heat and bond, blanket stitch way. I'm interested in needle turn, but nobody I know can do it.

CrochetnQuilt said...

I am intrigued with applique because of the intricate shapes that can be made. Thanks for sharing your talents!

BradsBest said...

I've yet to try appliqué as I always had a "granny quilt" image associated with the word, but your modern approach is inspiring! I'd like to get a taste of it through the tree pillow, just as soon as I knock out the other projects I'm working on...

Anonymous said...

I'm a beginner in the applique arena, but I find it rather exhilirating to see what others are making. Thanks for the chance to delve further into this beautiful work!

Linda F. said...

Looks like an amazing book! Congratulations.

Nancy Page said...

An amazing book! The designs are simple and elegant! Congratulations on the book! Thank you for this great giveaway.

Have a super great sewing and stitching day!

Missenota aka Kristin S. said...

Wow! Love your photos and quilts but I'll admit -- It's the banner letters that have me totally enthralled! I will buy that pattern.

As for appliqué, raw-edge is my go-to but I think needle-turn is in my future. I certainly admire it on other people's quilts!

Pam said...

I love applique because of all the designs you can do with a quilt.

endless posibilities.

Worshipper said...

i love applique because for machine applique I can have designs very quickly and uniquely - vs. embroidery.
For hand applique - I love the peace of the needle movement and the challenge to get smooth, even lines. Thank you for this big opportunity. I love your stlye.

Nancy said...

What intrigues me is how to applique the v spot in a piece. I can do a corner, but the inverted corner is beyond me.

Lori C in Canton MI said...

I have recently returned to sewing. Quilting has always been on my wish list. I am so happy to discover so much information available on line. Thanks for sharing...

Esch House Quilts said...

I love the freedom to design practically anything that applique provides. Congratulations on the book! It looks amazing. A must have addition to my library!

MaryJane said...

I'm just beginning to get back into appliqué ! You book sounds amazing! Can't wait yo see it!

kimberj said...

Applique gives me freedom to create shapes that would be beyond my piecing skills. My hands are damaged from arthritis so intricate piecing is very difficult. Applique ROCKS!!!
Add anything mid century to quilting and I'm sold :)

lbdoherty said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I'd love to win your book. And if not, I'll promptly buy it. Win/win for you and me!

Casey York said...

Congratulations on your new book! I've been waiting for this one to release for a while, and I'm so so glad to see applique becoming more well-known and widespread in the modern quilting community! I love that you're covering multiple applique techniques--the diversity of techniques, and the possibilities that they each open up for design, is the thing that I love most about this type of quilting!

Lisa said...

Congratulations! I think applique is so interesting because you can make such beautiful designs with it... Would love to win!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

I need to learn machine quilting, but I love applique

Dear Faye said...

Needle turn is a challenge, but I have done a lot of machine applique.Such varity in your quilts.
Jackie

LorY Aymond said...

I have made a couple of applique quilts previously but have always been intrigued by the Baltimore Album type of quilts. I have all the fabric picked out and a pattern to do one, I just need to feel confident that I can accomplish it. It's one of two quilts that I have always wanted to make over the 30 or so years I've been quilting. The other is a Mariner's Compass, which I have started on, the one that I am doing appliques the compass on to a backing square.

Unknown said...

WOW I love the Cobblestones and Counterbalance quilts - right up my street - there could be a lovely hand dyed NT applique project lurking in the WIP bag that needs adapting - a potential evening snuggle up on the sofa project ... thanks for the new vision

Barbara said...

applique allows me the choice of creating my own vision

Anonymous said...

What intrigues me about applique is that the artistic possibilities with applique are limitless. -- soparkaveataoldotcom

Karen in Breezy Point said...

I love applique!Looks like a fun book--congratulations!

Kris said...

I think the cool thing about applique is that you can do whatever shape you want just by cutting it out. Enhance with thread or other embellishments and you have a work of art.

Unknown said...

I'm in love with your design for the Paper Shredder quilt so I'm sure I'll love everything in the new book.

Keep doing what you're doing, Kevin. Your talent is amazing and I'm so grateful that you're sharing it with us.

Unknown said...

I have been wanting to do qn applique project and your book would jump start me. Thanks.
Janet

Quilter Beth said...

I am totally intrigued by applique. I'm not very good at needleturn and hope I might get some good pointers should I be lucky enough to win this great prize. I love hand work; it gives my mind a place to rest. It soothes me.

Beki said...

I'd like to do more handwork again since it's portable and easy to grab in the smaller time-windows I have at the moment for sewing fun. I love the bright colors in your work - glad to have read about you on GenQ - hope the book does super great!

Sweet Dreams Quilting said...

Love your quilt counterbalance! The colors are fantastic!

Lisa E said...

I rarely do applique but would like to. I love the fact that more designs are possible if you're not scared to tackle applique. Your book looks wonderful!

Anonymous said...

I appreciate that applique can be anything from a leaf,to shades of skin in a portrait. I don't do much, because I'm not too good at it. But I'm not too good at it because I don't do it much. Rather like a 'Catch 22.' I think it is a beautiful way to express onesself in fabric.

Cecelia said...

I love appliqué but have so much to learn. Love your quilts & can't wait to see your book!

SIMPLESEW said...

Its a weird I dont like to do the applique.. I am lazy, but I am a really good cross stitcher but I dont like to embroidery either, but love EPP..But I feel the same, they can play anything on TV and if I have thread in hand, I would be happy..

ittehgaps said...

Love hand work as well. Taught my sons and now working on teaching my grandbabies. Everyone should know how to hand sew whether for art or simply as a utilitarian skill. As you have said it can be quite soothing and therapeutic as well. Cindy

Cam said...

I love appliqué! It's so cool! I've always been a big fan of Balitmore Album Quilts! I agree with Kevin, if everyone would sew by hand we wouldn't need antidepressants or medications for anxiety!

Unknown said...

I'm extremely new at all things sewing/quilting but I fell in love with applique! I love what I've seen in your book so far and your quilts and other projects are amazing! Thanks for a chance and My fingers are crossed!

tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

Laura said...

I WANT IT!!

Please pick me. Only with the help if this book can I fulfill my quilterly dreams of a ginormous entertwined celtic knot quilt that reverses to a white print-on-white solid Dresden plate quilt.

Oh, who am I kidding. I'll probably just go buy this book tomorrow anyway. You really should pick someone else.

Farm Quilter said...

I have only done fusible applique that I nailed down with my longarm. I would love to have this book...maybe it would teach me to love applique!!! So far it terrifies me :)

quiltzyx said...

I've only done a little bit of hand applique - hand sewing makes my fingers tingle & go to sleep! But I do like fusible & machine applique & I like to use other-than-fabrics sometimes. Like the aluminum foil I used in an art quilt named after Jake Finch - "Where ya goin' Jake?".

Dolores said...

Applique is limitless. You can draw anything and translate it into a fabric picture.

Oops-Lah said...

Since I'm not very good a sewing straight lines on the machine, I always loved applique (needle turn, machine applique, all kinds really). I also love all the different ways applique can be used from practical quilts to proper art quilts/pictures. I look forward to getting your book, which I already pre ordered, but wouldn't mind to win another copy.

Sewbusy said...

Love your use of color and your design style! Would love to have the opportunity to win the book.

Beezus said...

I love all the options appliqué gives us. Want something kind of formal and traditional? Modern and fun? Fast finished or leisurely, appliqué makes an impression.

Mayleen said...

The ability to shape fabric into anything you like without the constraints of piecing is what intrigues me about applique. For the past ten years, I've been a piecer but am now enjoying both applique and piecing. Thanks for the opportunity to win your book!

Dorothy said...

I love to Appliqué. I think it's the connection one gets with the time spent picking fabrics,colours and shapes. I really like the freshness of your quilts.

Lisa PL said...

My modern quilt guild, here in Albuquerque, is just starting it's lending library. This would be an awesome addition! After I get done pawing through it of course! Thanks for the chance!

Sheri said...

The book looks amazing. Thanks for the chance!

Bev said...

I'm an applique freak and love it all. I'm just trying to figure out what your mom did that I didn't do. I love your book and it's on my bucket list. Wishing you much success and sending a cheery wave from Bev!

Dixie said...

After many months of reading and studying applique online, I finally tried it. Surprise! The intriguing part is that my first effort looked so good I can hardly wait to attach another piece.

Unknown said...

I learned traditional Hawaiian appliqué quilting as a child and loved appliqué ever since. Your book looks very interesting with great modern ideas.

sunny said...

I love how applique can take a rather plain quilt and turn it into an amazing piece of art. I haven't done much needle turn, but hope to learn some great tips from your book. Thanks for a chance to win. And I'm a huge fan of your Mom.

Longarm green said...

Kevin, this is the first time in a LONG time I've been so inspired... especially where applique is involved. I bout wet my pants just looking at your wonderful designs and style! Thanks for sharing and for the opportunity to win.

✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾ said...

I just saw your book on Generation Q. I know nothing about appliqué and would love to learn more, especially with a modern twist! Wish h could have been at your trunk show. Maybe you could come to the DCMQG when you are near DC. I am going to suggest it at our next meeting. Good luck with your new book:)

Anonymous said...

I love the endless possibilities of applique. The fact that your creation can be old and new at the same time is intriguing to me. I would love to see everything you've done in your new book. Thanks for the opportunity!

Lori said...

I love that the you are only limited by your imagination with applique. Love the cover of your book!!

EmmaTM said...

Looks like a great book! I had a great time making those little birds in rows....I totally love appliqué and your designs are so fun!!

Prissy said...

I absolutely love applique but have always been intimidated by it. However, the way you do it seems doable. Thanks.

Cissa K said...

I love to applique and have followed your mom's blog for a while. Congratulations on a great book. Thanks for the chance to win one. All the best.