Making Quilts...the promise of joy...TODAY

....its early in the morning and I am up with a full head.  After 4 years of planning, making quilts, writing, photographing and stealing moments to dream, Making Quilts...the promise of joy is arriving today.   What will you find inside?  Well, I think hard about what quilting means to me every day.  Since the first time I stacked a pile of fabric up for a quilt I have always thought the same thing...what a promise of joy!  What a wonderful sense of anticipation, expectation and engagement we experience as we plan a project.

Inside it you will find 22 patterns.  Each quilt is defined in three ways.  First, fabric choices because lets face it, the original fabrics are generally no longer available.  Second, construction advice for the variety of methods used to achieve the effect.  Third, the story of the quilt...where the inspiration came from in the first place.  I hope that in these pages you find some answers to the questions I get asked most frequently about choices.  In addition to the template sheet in the book we also have designed a series of popular acrylic templates to accompany the patterns and available in store or on our website. 

The other thing about the book I need to mention is the essense of Australia found in the pages.  As an immigrant to this country I am wide eyed about the effect that it has had on my vision.  As I travel the world teaching I become more and more aware of the influence of the light, the vast spaces and the unique environment in which we live....not to mention how lucky we are to be here!  I am proud to say that this book reveals a very personal attachment I have for this country as I celebrate the 22nd anniversary of my arrival here...22 quilt patterns...one for each year of my life in Australia...coincidence? Yes, but a happy one!  Made all the more happy by bringing the images to life with my husband the photographer!

No matter where we go he opens my eyes to what I can see and captures that image.  Making the book with him was rewarding to say the least.

And while I am waffling on I also have to say thanks to Carol Veillon and her team of wonders at Quilt Mania for taking on the book.  It is always a pleasure to work with confident, talented, energetic women and I am proud to be one of her authors!

 
There are many people that go into making a book.  In this case we have translators who I suspect tore their hair out trying to figure out what I was doing.  I was lucky to meet Elizabeth and Sylvia and to thank them for making the patterns come to life in the book!  And it would also be fun for you to imagine Sandy, the graphic designer of the book.  Poor Sandy was new to Quilt Mania and had no idea what she was in for dealing with me so I thank her for her patience and persistence and the beautiful result!

It is with my sincere and heartfelt appreciation that I thank all of you planning to purchase this book.  We have all of your orders in a pile, shipping boxes are arriving this afternoon and soon the books will be winging their way around Australia and the world. I hope you find joy in the pages...k

Comments

[Pam]

OH BOY!!! Can't wait to get a copy of this!!! Congratulations Kathy!

[Tonya Ricucci]

congrats!!!! very exciting. I'd just been thinking I needed to make a Wheel of Fortune quilt but was dreading making templates.

[Bronwyn Ugonotti]

I'm with Pam can't wait and well done to you Kathy (and John) you are both an inspiration for us all.

[Mimi]

I thought the "time" would never get here... and yet you are shipping books... hard to decide if I buy now and pay more in shipping than the book....or wait until the book reaches the far far shores of Texas... great to see you having so much fun with this new tome.

[LoriD]

Congratulations! How exciting!! it is nice to see a photo of your other half too:)

[Sally]

Just ordered and I CAN'T wait for its arrival. I know it's going to be a gem! Congratulations!

[di]

Congratulation Kathy - so excited for you. The book looks gorgeous and can't wait to get my own copy. It's wonderful that you and John are able to work together on this project - very special.

[Bronwyn]

Hopped straight to your order page! I'm really looking forward to it!

[Susannah]

Congratulations Kathy!!! Am so excited and can't wait to get the new book!!!

[Barbara Craxton]

So excited! My postman is going to wonder why I'm greeting him at the door every day. Vancouver.. that's about 10 sleeps give or take.

[Thimbleanna]

How Exciting -- Congratulations Kathy! Is there any chance I'll see this book at quilt market next week? I LOVE those Wheel of Fortune blocks. Your book looks like a MUST have!

[Rachaeldaisy]

Yay!!! I've got my order in, I'll be checking my mailbox every day!

[Steffi]

Congratulations Kathy! I am sure this book will be one of my favourites and I hope it will be available in germany soon. Can´t wait to read it!:-)

[kathie]

Congrats Kathy! I am so looking forward to getting your new book
i know its been a labor of love , I know there are a few quilts I am excited about making . Hope the book is available in the USA very soon.....
Kathie

[Judy Murdoch]

Kathy,

What a wonderful day for you and your husband, congratulations to you both on the book, I'm excited too, I have one on order and I feel like jumping up and down with joy, I look forward very much to it's arrival. Wishing you super success with sales of your creative endeavour.

[Peggy Holt]

Kathy, congratulations on your book; what an exciting time. Having just gone through the process myself, I totally understand what you have been going through. I look forward to seeing your book here on the shelves in the USA

[Sue Sally]

Congratulations Kathy, just wondering where and when we will get it in Canada ? Can't wait to see it.
Sue Sally

[Marie]

Congratulations on your latest edition Kathy - no small feat! After I mentioned Material Obsession 2 on my blog one of my sisters and a friend had to add it to their collections and I have no doubt that this one will be the same. Can't wait to spend hours with it and see where your inspiration takes me.

[Connie]

Congratulations on 22 wonderful years with your husband. And to get to work with him on your new book. What a great thing. I can't wait to get the book. His photos of your trip to France were wonderful.

[Heleen]

congratulations Kathy! It looks wonderful. I look forward to catching up with you in Wellington soon; I'm enrolled in your hand-quilting class :)

[Kim McLean]

Well done Kathy!! Must have one! Kim Mclean

[Bricolos du Lundi]

I confirm ! This book is great ! I bought it at Nantes show and I keep dreaming on some patterns ...
Claire

[Jan]

I'll be adding it to my collection as well. I can't wait to see it.

[Lil]

I have the book and it's AMAZING, thanks for signing it in Nantes
Now all I have to do is saving money and bring the quilts I made to your place so that you can see them for real, anyway I promised to show up one day and then I stay for a whole while for classes, ;o))))

[Suzanne]

I received my book this morning- congratulations Kathy, very inspiring. I can't wait to get started on the quilts in this book. I especially love the country settings of the photos, this is truly a book about Aussie quilting!

[Meg]

Hi Kathy -- Cannot wait to see the book! I just want to tell you that I am waiting to order until we've got an address in Canada -- the timing is too tight and I'm afraid that if I order now, the book will miss me in Switzerland and I'll never get it. Congratulations! I'm sure it's absolutely fab:)

[Bonnie Flint]

Hi Kathy, Congratulations on your amazing new book. It is so inspiring! I received my copy on Friday and I love it!
Many thanks
Bonnie

[Deb R]

Congratulations, it looks wonderful, eagerly awaiting mine...hello Mr Postman :)

[Brandy M.]

I just purchased this book yesterday, and I'm IN LOVE!!! Congratulations on yet another wonderful book and on your 22+ years in Australia!

BLM :)