koolkat's quilting blog

Art Nouveau Garden Block of the Month now released

2012-01-18T14:33:00.000-08:00

Imagine ....a lovely lady, sensuous trailing vines, luscious pumpkins, pretty nasturtiums and gorgeous poppies...it's all there for you to enjoy as you make this quilt. "The Art Nouveau Garden" is a brand new block of the month design released by Kathy Adams of KoolKat Quilting in 2012. Machine or hand applique techniques can be used throughout. Finished size: 48" x 60" (122 x 152 cm). Cost per month: $55 over 12 months (12 parts). Includes full size patterns, plus gorgeous Bali fabrics to make the quilt top. Month 12 includes an amazing full size pattern of the entire quilt assembly a breeze!

Go to www.koolkatquilting.com.au for details.

Kathy shakes up her studio

2012-01-15T17:23:00.000-08:00

Kathy has been getting the KoolKat studio ready for classes in 2012. She has adopted the "Shaker" approach to storing chairs - by putting a set of hooks into the picture rail, she has been able to hang 9 of her 10 chairs on the wall. This gives her more room to spread out when working on projects.

All over quilting on stitchery

2012-01-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

Edge-to-edge quilting on stitchery

All over or edge-to-edge quilting can be used on stitcheries and applique quilts. Here an open meander pattern has been used with a thread colour designed to blend in with the background fabric of the stitchery panel. This technique is a cost-effective alternative to more expensive custom quilting.

Art Nouveau Garden - Kathy's latest Block of the Month design

2012-01-05T21:23:00.000-08:00

Kathy's latest Art Nouveau design, Art Nouveau Garden, will be available in February as a Block of the Month. This design is inspired by an Alphonse Mucha poster.

Details can be found below:
http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/files/uploads/Art_Nouveau_Garden_Draft_A5_Ad_2012.pdf

Java Jumbles - latest pack of 40 pre-cut fabric strips assembled by KoolKat

2011-12-29T20:48:00.000-08:00

Java Jumbles - KoolKat fabric strip pack

Product Information
Java Jumbles - the latest range of bright batik fabrics straight from Arab Street in Singapore to you. Forty 2 1/2 inch strips featuring 20 colours from lime greens, bright red to luscious browns which can used to make many of Kathy's patterns designed with jelly rolls or Bali Pops in mind. These hand-chosen fabrics won't be repeated, so get in quick for this latest in the KoolKat range of fabric pre-cuts. Go to www.koolkatquilting.com.au for more information.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T17:27:00.000-08:00

We've had a quiet Christmas with family and these days with children grown up, moved away and getting on with lives (which do not yet include children of their own), the day no longer has the excitement of a tree, unwrappaing presents and so on. Perhaps at this stage of our lives when we really don't need anything (wants are another matter!), we are now more conscious of giving to others. For the past couple of years, we have donated a sewing machine via Care Australia, which goes to a needy woman in a developing country so that she start a business and supplement the household income. http://www.caregifts.org.au/Browse%20Gifts/Browse%20Gifts?productid=a2dfb34b3b032ff9

Bali Choc Mint cools Slices of Spice

2011-12-06T20:38:00.000-08:00

Marilyn from Aubigny just to the west of Toowoomba, sent us this photo of Kathy's Slices of Spice pattern made up using the KoolKat Bali Chocmint range of pre-cuts. Geoff says it reminds him of a side dish of Indian yoghurt with his favourite Rogan Josh from the Curry Walla in Siem Reap, Cambodia - cooling, but still spicy!

Goodies collected from our travels.

2011-12-05T20:30:00.000-08:00

Kathy during her visit to the International Quilt Market at Houston in November brought home a number of books and patterns of interest to her Thursday KoolKat Club and she thought she would like to share these with you. In between visiting temples of steel in Singapore and stone in Cambodia, Geoff also tried his hand at buying fabrics. Most of the Cambodian silk-cotton table-runners are gone, but there are some top quality hand-made Javanese batiks still available, as well as the new range of KoolKat pre-cut fabric strips "Malaysia". There is a new section on our website Travel Specials.

More information on the Malaysia! pack can be seen here

Girl Guides Quilt Show, Villanova College, Coorparoo, Brisbane

2011-12-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

KoolKat stand at end of quilt rows

If it's Friday, this must be Brisbane...the globetrotting KoolKats were off just down the road this time to Brisbane, for last weekend's inaugural Girl Guides Quilt show at Villanova College in Coorparoo. This should be our last show for 2011 and we hope to be giving our pawas a rest until next year. Next year's demonstration and workshop program is now available, and if you like to book a visit or workshop, please contact us - details below. Here are some photos:

Kathy & Geoff Adams, KoolKat Quilting

PH 07 4696 8746, International (617) 4696 8746.
Web: www.koolkatquilting.com.au
Mail: Reply Paid 18, PO Box 18, Harlaxton, Q 4350
Studio: 7 Crestview Crescent, Blue Mountain Heights, Toowoomba, Q 4350.
Quilters! - 7 day e2e machine quilting. Free delivery to and from KoolKat within Australia. Please use our Reply Paid address above to send quilts free of charge. Completed quilts returned free by Registered Post insured to value of quilting. Embroidered quilt labels, backings, wadding, original quilt patterns by Kathy Adams also available.

KoolKat stand showing Cambodian silk-cotton runners

KoolKat stand with Kathy taking a call

How well did Geoff choose fabrics for Kathy from KoolKat?

2011-11-29T20:18:00.000-08:00

You be the judge - here is the latest 40 strip fabric pack of KoolKat pre-cuts made up from a set of 20 fabrics Geoff bought on his recent overseas trip to Singapore and Cambodia.

To see more, go to http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=237

Geoff from KoolKat (left) bargaining for fabrics in Singapore

KoolKat workshop progam for 2012 and new fabrics

2011-11-29T15:49:00.000-08:00

It has been Geoff's turn to travel and he has just returned from Singapore and Cambodia, where apart from trying to find Lara Croft in the temples at Angkor (the movie was shot at Ta Prohm temple), and visiting old friends, he took time out to shop for fabrics at Singapore and Siem Reap markets. If you want to find out whether men can buy fabrics, our latest haul will be at the KoolKat stand at the Girl Guides Austral Quilt Show, Villanova College, Eight Avenue, Coorparoo this Friday, Saturday and Sunday 2-4th December. For more info about this event, contact Paula Dewar on 5463 5633.

We have just finalised our workshop program for 2012. If you are part of a group that would like to do a workshop at our studio, or have us come to you, go to the link below for details.

http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/files/uploads/KOOLKAT_QUILTING_WORKSHOPS_2012.pdf

Making silk by traditional methods in Cambodia

2011-11-27T00:44:00.000-08:00

Geoff has just returned from visiting Singapore and Cambodia - part business, part pleasure. While he's still unloading fabrics bought in both countries, here's some photos of an integrated silk farm/silk weaving factory in Cambodia.

More impressions of Houston and the US

2011-11-11T16:39:00.000-08:00

Canyons of glass & steel - Houston

HOUSTON - at a glance!

Cat in the Hat - costume
promoting fabric range at
Quilt Market

Colourful costume at the Quilt Show
"I don't dress like this to avoid attention"
the lady said when we asked to take this photo.

Part of 1 of our day tours

Shauna - my quilty travelling companion

Equine sculpture at gallery on our tour

Convention centre from Magnolia Hotel

We came, we saw and we ate

Two quilters meet a fowl end

Tiny part of the quilt market

Shauna and friend

A local beauty on the way to the ball

Delicious Tex-Mex meal with
Plantain Banana
crumbed fish - divine!

My travel companion Shauna and I spent 10 days in the US attending the International Quilt Market at Houston. The Market commences with 3 days of the wholesale market (we missed the School House sessions prior to this, as these commence before the actual date of the market itself). Then there is a 2 day break, before the retail market. These photos include some of the day tours we did on our time off as well as street scenes, and different aspects of the Market. I haven't put my own quilt photos in here. Later maybe! Meanwhile, here is a link below to the winners on the official website

http://www.quilts.org/winners.html

Kathy at the International Quilt Market, Houston in October 2011

2011-11-10T15:01:00.000-08:00

Kathy has fulfilled one of her quilting ambitions by attending the International Quilt Market, at Houston, Texas last month. During the first three days when the wholesale market was held, Kathy spent time on the stand of Koolkat's pattern distributors in the US, The Pattern Peddlers. The Pattern Peddlers are agents for over 400 quilt pattern designers.

http://www.thepatternpeddlers.com/

Kathy at The Pattern Peddlers display

Kathy with her Gather Ye Rosebuds quilt

Rollin and Penel Jensen of The Pattern Peddlers

Kathy's Gather Ye Rosebuds and Bali All-Sorts quilts were featured on The Pattern Peddlers display.

Bev's Japanese Story

2011-11-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

This is Bev's Japanese Story quilt made using Kathy's pattern. Bev from St George in SW Queensland has made this quilt in Japanese fabrics with a brown background. This has made an interesting variation on Kathy's original. It is being quilted here on a Gammill Statler Supreme in the KoolKat Quilting studio.

http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=21

Vale Bert Jansch

2011-10-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

Renowned acoustic guitarist, English folk singer-songwriter Bert Jansch died on Wednesday aged 67. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009. He is probably best known, as a member of the British folk group The Pentangle. Geoff remembers discovering their album "Basket of Light" at the Forest Hill pub in the mid-70s. Publican Rae Jesberg's daughter owned the LP and generously lent it to some long-haired Queensland Agricultural College students. This opened up a new world of music for me, especially when I also later discovered Steeleye Span via some friends in Laurel Avenue, Graceville. Kathy and I saw Bert Jansch and Jacqui McShee play at Mayne Hall, UQ in the 80s.

Vale Bert - you have given us much listening pleasure down through the years.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/05/british-folk-guitarist-bert-jansch-dead-at-67.html

Nanango and Caloundra quilt club visits

2011-10-07T21:23:00.000-07:00

It was a case of "on the road again" for the Kool Kats last week. On Wednesday we were made welcome by Nanango Quilt Club at the Nanango Cultural Centre. Quilters also came from the group at Maidenwell.

On Friday after spending Thursday walking along the Caloundra beachfront, we met with Caloundra Quilt Club at the Caloundra Arts Centre. The Centre is a wonderful facility used by over 500 members of various craft clubs coming together to practise their craft under one roof.

Toowoomba Quilt Show Sept 2011

2011-09-18T01:22:00.000-07:00

KoolKat Quilting stand

Kathy;s Art Nouveau Garden quilt on show

Judy Frost with Japanese quilt and display concept.

Spring!

2011-09-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

We are not great gardeners, but it helps to live in the Garden City, Toowoomba, Queensland.

New products launched at Toowoomba Quilt Show

2011-09-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

Kathy has designed a new quilt "Rose Window" which will be available as a kit or pattern only at our stand at Toowoomba Quilt Show next week. This quilt uses Bali fabrics which be for sale off the roll. Toowoomba's annual quilt show is held during Carnival of Flowers week. It will be held at the same venue as last year - the Salo Centre at St Ursula's College, Rome Street, Toowoomba.

Kathy is also designing a second quilt - this time in the "Spice of Life" fabric range. This will also be in a kit and as a separate pattern. We have also prepared 20 of these fabrics as a 40 strip pack of 2 1/2" fabric strips in the KoolKat range of pre-cuts. All these items will go up on our website in the next day or so, but at the time of doing this post, they are still being completed. Hope to see you next week at the quilt show if you can make it.

Rosewood Quilt Show

2011-08-28T19:30:00.000-07:00

Kathy at the KoolKat stand at Rosewood Quilt Show

We spent the last weekend in August at Rosewood's Biennial Quilt Show. A very successful show held in the new show pavilion at Rosewood Show Grounds. An excellent facility that showcased the talent of this group of quilters.

Rosewood Quilt Club raffle quilt.

One of Kathy's last custom quilts - Rosewood Quilt Club raffle quilt

Accuquilt fabric cutters now available.

2011-08-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

The Accuquilt fabric cutters are a fantastic way to cut fabric accurately - every time! In 2011 KoolKat Quilting demonstrated the Accuquilt Studio cutter and now we are proud to bring you the less expensive Accuquilt GO! cutter and its small sibling, the Accuquilt GO! Baby. The cutters work by placing fabric on top of a die which is individual to the pattern being used (such as 2 inch finished strips). A perspex cutting mat is placed on top of the this and the resulting "Sandwich" is wound through pressure rollers which press the mate down onto the fabric which is then cut by the die. No computers, no motors - easy to use, and you will wonder how you ever did without it.

Just go to our website for more info.

http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=15

Solving the cat seating problem

2011-08-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

Another instalment in the Ginger Meggs (left) and Candy cat saga. These 2 cats will not share - Candy is the older of the two, and female - so what she decides rules (so what else is new?). Ginger has his own chair which he always occupies before Candy settles in for her night's viewing in front of the fireplace. However, everytime Kathy left her seat, up jumped Candy. This went on for several weeks before we solved the problem - her own chair. Now we have a chair each and everyone's happy - especially the felines. These two are going to find their way into a quilt or two - the artist's revenge!

Kathy wins a place at Brisbane quilt show

2011-08-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

Kathy's latest exhibition piece Art Nouveau Garden has won a third place award on its first showing in Brisbane this month. The quilt won third place in Class 5 Professional - Applique or Other Techniques. The judging was held at the annual Royal National Association exhibition in Brisbane, known locally as "The Ekka". Art Nouveau Garden will also be on show at Toowoomba Quilters Inc. annual exhibition in Toowoomba next month and again in Brisbane at the Queensland Quilters annual quilt show in October.

Complete Sushi on a Roll

2011-07-28T22:38:00.000-07:00

Brighten any room with this fabulous batik table runner from Kathy of KoolKat Quilting. Measuring 155cm by 66cm (61 x 26 inches), this project uses 24 fabric strips 2 1/2" by 40" and 1.7 m (1 7/8 yards) of backing fabric. Uses a simple "tube" technique of construction outlined in Kathy's pattern published in Australian Quilters Companion no. 50. This design features the "Colour Wheel" set of fabric strip in the Sushi Roll set of Princess Mirah 24 strip jelly rolls. Kit $54.50 includes magazine with pattern and Colour Roll plus postage within Australia (international customers please contact us for price delivered to your address).

Go to www.koolkatquilting.com.au for more information

Art Nouveau Garden set to bloom in Brisbane

2011-07-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peek of Kathy's latest Art Nouveau creation, the Art Nouveau Garden quilt. This design was inspired by an Alphonse Mucha poster, and many hours have gone into interpreting elements of the Mucha design into this piece of textile art. The quilt will be exhibited at the Royal National Association annual show in Brisbane next month, followed by Toowoomba Quilters Inc annual exhibition in September and Queensland Quilters Inc annual quilt show in Brisbane in October. A sigh of relief all round as the final stitch went into this quilt, and on with the next project - A Year in My Garden (or should that be Triennial Highlights in My Garden?)

Crafty day at Crows Nest

2011-07-27T01:23:00.000-07:00

Quilters busily cutting fabrics inspired by Kathy's sample quilts

This week saw us returning to Crow's Nest, Queensland, 40km north of the KoolKat studio at Blue Mountain Heights. This time we were guests of the Craft Nest Sewing Group, where 11 quilters took part in a "Scrap Happy" workshop. A perfect winter day, warm in the sun, no wind, and a great time for the KoolKats to be out and about. Kathy liked Crow's Nest so much she spent more than a few minutes quizzing locals about house prices and things to do in the town. It really is a crafty little community, with a cooperative artists gallery and many other attractions.

Kathy preparing the KoolKat display in St Matthew's Hall, Crow's Nest.

Highfields quilters become happy scrappers

2011-07-19T16:43:00.000-07:00

Kathy discussing possible quilting projects using the strip cutter

The KoolKats made a 10 minute trip up the road to Highfields to hold a Scrap Happy workshop with the Darling Downs Quilters Guild. Around 16 ladies participated in the workshop, and the most popular activity was cutting fabric stashes into 2 1/2" strips. Kathy gave a presentation of her quilts made with jelly rolls or fabric pack strips, and various blocks and other shapes made possible with dies from the Accuquilt Studio cutter.

While the winter wind swept across the open Highfields plateau on the day of the workshop, we were pleased it wasn't held the following day, overcast, westerly winds, and thoroughly miserable weather!

Preparing the 2.5" strip cutter die for the Accuquilt Studio cutter

Highfields Quilters with their completed Art Nouveau Iris projects from Kathy's June workshop

Kathy's patterns in 2 quilting magazines.

2011-07-16T00:02:00.000-07:00

Sushi on a Roll - Quilters Companion

Bali Magic - Australian Patchwork and Quilting

Kathy has been published in two Australian quilting magazines recently. Her "Bali Magic" pattern, a king size quilt made using two of KoolKat's "My Bali Rainbow" 40 strip fabric packs, was featured in the current issue of Australian Patchwork and Quilting. The "My Bali Rainbow" packs have now sold out, but the same quilt can be made using KoolKat's "Bali Chocmint" or any of the Bali Pop packs listed on our website. We can supply different coloured border fabrics as appropriate. Also appearing this month in Quilter's Companion isssue no. 50, is "Sushi on a Roll", a table runner pattern made using the Colour Wheel pack in the 24 fabric strip Sushi Roll range of Bali fabrics. Currently we have 3 Colour Wheel packs in stock.

Fabric kits for these patterns available from KoolKat Quilting. A $50 e2e machine quilting voucher is provided with every fabric kit for "Bali Magic". Details in the June issue of Australian Patchwork and Quilting and July issue of Quilter's Companion magazines. Check with your local newsagent for copies.

www.koolkatquilting.com.au

phone orders

07 4696 8746

kookatquilting@optusnet.com.au

Gail's quilt from Goondiwindi Scrap Happy Workshop

2011-07-15T21:59:00.000-07:00

This is Gail's quilt made using a combination of her own hand-dyed fabrics and fabric from KoolKat Quilting. Gail cut her fabric strips using KoolKat's Accuquilt studio cutter at the Scrap Happy workshop held in Goondiwindi during KoolKat's south-west Queensland trek.

Cooroy Quilters workshop an a frosty day

2011-07-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Esk in the Brisbane Valley at dawn, white with frost

Yesterday we set out at 6am on a frosty winter morning for the 3 hour drive to Cooroy on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Esk in the Brisbane Valley was white with frost, and fog was lifting from Lake Somerset, one of the water storages for Queensland's capital city Brisbane. Around 40 quilters greeted us at the Cooroy CWA Hall where Kathy gave her 'Scrap Happy' workshop. Thanks Sharyn and all concerned for making us welcome. Many yards of fabric were stripped, cut into Apple Core blocks, applique blocks and 3" and 6" blocks. Many said they were inspired by Kathy's quilts and designs.

Sunrise over Lake Somerset, part of Brisbane's water supply

Cooroy quilters at CWA Hall, Cooroy

Aussie ABC quilt pattern comes to life

2011-07-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

Kathy is always thrilled to see her patterns come to life as quilts. This quilt from Shirley in Queensland's Lockyer Valley was purchased as a kit from KoolKat Quilting. Shirley took advantage of the $50 e2e machine quilting voucher that is enclosed with every Aussie ABC kit and it is shown here being quilted on the KoolKat Gammill Optimum.

Jandowae Scrap Happy Workshop in May

2011-07-06T22:48:00.000-07:00

Just received - photos from our workshop with the Jandowae Cottage Group in May. Geoff forgot his camera, so the club kindly sent us these shots. We're currently quilting their charity quilt on behalf of the oncology unit of St Andrews Hospital in Toowoomba. The club used their $100 machine quilting voucher which KoolKat gives to every quilt group that hosts one of Kathy's workshops.

Art Nouveau Garden starts to bloom

2011-07-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some steps in the production process as Kathy's latest Art Nouveau-inspired design, Art Nouveau Garden based on an Alphonse Mucha design, takes shape. Kathy's new quilt will bloom for the first time at Brisbane Royal National Association Exhibition quilt show in August, followed by further flowerings at Toowoomba Quilters Inc. exhibiton in September and Queensland Quilters Inc. State Exhibition in Brisbane in October.

KoolKat trek across the south west

2011-06-23T15:03:00.000-07:00

Lake Wyara, Currawinya National Park

Bollon quilters

Trivia night for Eulo State School

Goondiwindi quilter Annette makes Kathy's Quick-set Bali pattern

Kathy demonstrates Accuquilt cutter at Eulo

Photographer's paradise - Ourimperee waterhole, Currawinya

Cutting fabric at St George

Bollon quilters

Sunrise, Ourimperee Waterhole, Currawinya NP

The KoolKats returned home yesterday tired but happy after a 2,000km trek that took in quilt clubs at Goondiwindi, St George, Bollon and Eulo in Queensland's south-west. We then went on to Currawinya National Park on the Qld/New South Wales border. This park features vast wetlands and birdlife flourishing after flooding rains in Queensland. Thank you quilters and organisers who made us welcome.

Rosebud spreads her bloom

2011-06-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

Kathy's Gather Ye Rosebuds quilt has been made by a quilting customer of long arm quilter Belinda Betts. Belinda first saw "Rosebud" at Salt Lake City(see previous post below). It's a small world....

http://eucalyptridgequilting.blogspot.com/2011/06/gather-ye-rosebuds.html

Gather Ye Rosebuds US tour

2011-06-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Gather Ye Rosebuds is presently on a working holiday in the US. Here she is adorning pattern distributors The Pattern Peddlers stand at Spring Market, Salt Lake City in May. However, she won't be the only one on tour, Kathy Adams, her designer, will catch up with "Rosebud" at The Pattern Peddlers stand at Fall Market in Houston in October. Kathy is thrilled to be making her first visit to a quilt market in the US, and will be taking part in "Schoolhouse Sessions" and other activities at the Houston Market.

Gather Ye Rosebuds is a 13 part pattern set which can be easily kitted out as a Block of the Month. Last year quilters who made their "Rosebud" quilts won prizes at two State quilt shows in Australia. Wholesale and retail inquiries welcome.

For more information, go to http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/ or The Pattern Peddlers via the quilting links page on the KoolKat Quilting website.

Kathy published in 2 magazines this month

2011-06-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

Kathy has two quilt designs appearing in Australian quilting magazines this month. Bali Magic, a king size quilt pattern using 2 of KoolKat's My Bali Rainbow 40 strip fabric packs, is in the June issue of Australian Patchwork and Quilting. Also this month, Quilter's Companion has published Sushi on a Roll, a table-runner pattern featuring the Colour Wheel pack in the Sushi Roll range of 24 strip fabric packs. Pattern details in both magazines, and fabric kits available from KoolKat Quilting. Phone 07 4696 8746 or email koolkatquilting@optusnet.com.au

Bali All-Sorts - delicious pattern and kit from KoolKat

2011-06-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

Not only is Kathy a fan of Bali fabrics, she also likes licorice all-sorts. With that, plus a dash of Amish quilt inspiration, Kathy has designed this latest 84 inch square quilt pattern in the KoolKat Quilting range. It uses a Bali Pop, KoolKat fabric pack such as My Bali Rainbow or Bali Chocmint, plus 5 yards (4.5m) of black fabric. Also available two choices of kit - pattern & fabric strips, or pattern with the lot. Check http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/ for details.

Art Nouveau Iris at Highfields

2011-05-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

What a busy month May has been! On the last day of the month, Kathy gave her second of a two day workshop with Highfields Quilters, just up the road from us here at Blue Mountain Heights. They made Kathy's Art Nouveau Iris pattern using a kit supplied by KoolKat Quilting. Here are some photos of near-completed irises.

More Bali Butterfly quilts from Wandoan

2011-05-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 more quilts made by Liane from Wandoan using Kathy's Bali Butterfly pattern. Liane says there are more to come, and readers of this blog will have seen others Liane has already made.

Happy Scrappers across the region

2011-05-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jandowae, Helensvale and Wandoan quilt clubs who made us welcome this month. We've seen metres and metres of fabric turned into strips, blocks, triangles etc, and the best part - the beginnings of new quilt projects. Here are some photos from Wandoan.

Kathy's Studio Daze begin with APQ

2011-05-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

Kathy has had the first of a series of occasional articles published in this month's Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazine (Vol 20 No 5 pp112-3). Under the theme of "Studio Daze - A Quilter's Meanderings", Kathy's first article tackles the question "What comes first - the journal or the quilt?" Here you can see how Kathy's 2010 prize-winning quilt The Sky is Blue, the Sea is Blue was designed and became a finished quilt. APQ is now on the newsagents' stand in Australia and is also distributed internationally. Check www.apqmagazine.com.au for details.

Bali Butterfly with KoolKat Bali Chocmint fabric pack

2011-05-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

Kaye from the Thursday KoolKat club made this quilt using the KoolKat Bali Chocmint pack of 40 2 1/2 inch fabric strips into Kathy's Bali Butterfly quilt pattern. More details on the fabric and the pattern at http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/

Latest Bali Pop 3 range of pre-cuts now available

2011-05-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Bali Pop 3 range has just arrived! It's been a long wait but worth it. Just have a look at the fabulous new colours. As with the previous colours, these are packs of pre-cut fabric strip 44 x 2 1/2 inches in 40 fabulous colours. There are six different colour ranges - Sangria (russet and pale blue tones), Mango Margarita (bright limes, oranges and blues), Grasshopper (soft greens and purples), Pink Lemonade (pinks and lilacs), Blue Hawaiian (darker greens, blues and purples), and Zinfandel (lilacs and purples).

Kathy's verdict when she opened the box - "much nicer than the last series." Stock is limited, and re-orders can be problematic. We also find the colour ranges seem to change about every 12 months and stock from a previous range is all but impossible to get. Go to the home page of our website for look at the new colours.

www.koolkatquilting.com.au

Bali Rainbow quilts

2011-04-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

Lyn's quilt

Annette's quilt

Lyn and Annette have been busy making quilts using Kathy's My Bali Rainbow pack of 40 pre-cut 2 1/2 inch fabric strips. Lyn and Annette are part of the Thursday at KoolKat's club who meet each week in Kathy's studio. Both quilts have been finished with an edge-to-edge quilting pattern by Geoff on a Gammill Statler long arm quilting machine.

Cool Cats by the fireside

2011-04-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

Ginger Meggs - a 6 month old male named after an Australian cartoon character who ways always in trouble.

Meet the latest additions to our household - Ginger Meggs and Candy. Their staff, Geoff and Kathy, were slaving in the quilt room to keep them in cat biscuits when these shots were taken. They occasionally complain when the fire dies down, or when we are too late serving dinner.

Candy, a 4 year old female and Ginger Meggs living the life to which they have become accustomed.

Cora's King Size bali quilt

2011-04-04T23:32:00.000-07:00

This is a section of Cora's king size quilt using Kathy's Bali Magic pattern and 2 packs of Hoffmans Bali Pops - 2 1/2 inch strips (40 per pack). Cora added some of her own border fabrics to produce a stunning quilt. KoolKat's latest fabric pack - Bali Chocmint, has several fabric strips with similar colours. Go to http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/ for details of this latest fabric pack.

No rest for busy vendors at Quilters Rest

2011-04-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

Kathy at the KoolKat stand at Quilter's Rest

Around 120 quilters flocked to Quilter's Rest Open Day at Kingaroy on Saturday April 2nd. The quilters were rested but the vendors and our hosts, Alan and Marion Lees, were kept very busy. A great day had by all and it is always rewarding to meet customers new and old. As someone said to us "it is good to put a face to the name."

Kathy and Neitta with a quilt for a special person at Condamine, a Darling Downs township that was flooded and evacuated twice earlier this year.

Quilt pinning competition

Kathy giving her demonstration at Quilter's Rest Open Day

Glenrock Quilters "Eskapade

2011-03-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

Glenrock Quilters escaped to the Anglican Church hall in Esk to slice and dice their fabric with KoolKat's Accuquilt Studio Cutter. Kathy demonstrated various quilting projects possible with her collection of dies for use with the fabric cutting machine.

Rosebud goes to Salt Lake City

2011-03-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Gather Ye Rosebuds, Kathy's Block of the Month design that has a recent prize-winner on the Australian show circuit, packed her bags recently for the US. She will appear on The Pattern Peddlers stand, booth nos. 2529, 31 & 33. So if you're lucky enough to be able to attend the Spring Market at Salt Lake City on May 13-15, drop in and say hello.

Crow's Nest quilters turn scraps into strips

2011-03-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

Crow's Nest (Queensland) quilters gathered at the local State School for one of Kathy's "Scrap Happy" workshops earlier this month (March 2011). They quickly got the hang of using the Accuquilt Studio cutter to turn their fabric collections into an array of 2 1/2 inch strips, Dresden Plate blocks, squares and various other blocks using KoolKat's set of dies for the cutter. Another great time was had by all, and there will soon be a batch of great quilt projects underway at Crow's Nest.

Heard this one while we were out and about......

2011-03-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

Parts of the Darling Downs in southern and SW Queensland were flooded two or more times in recent months. One quilter has her quilt room downstairs in a separate building to the family high-set dwelling. When the first flood arrived husband and son dutifully carried boxes and equipment up the long set of stairs and stored the quilting valuables up on top of cupboards and so on. All the said items were then carted downstairs after the flood receded. When the flood came the second time, the males complained about shifting all the quilting gear a second time.

"Just leave it," said the quilter, "I don't care." "Are you sure," she was asked. "Yes, if anything gets damaged, I'll just have to replace it."

DH swiftly replied, "Don't you worry love, come on son, we'll get this moved in no time..."

Chinchilla strips their stashes

2011-03-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

Chinchilla quilters met at the Arts and Crafts Hall where they quickly got down to work stripping stashes into bundles of 2 1/2 inch strips as well as cutting tumbler blocks, squares, applique blocks and other fabric pieces using KoolKat's Accuquilt Studio Cutter. Kathy demonstrated her quilt samples making various fabric pieces from the cutter as well as her quilt designs such as Bali Butterfly, Circles of Oz, Would You Like Zig with Your Zag, Quick-set Bali and Aussie ABC.

Dalby turns scraps into quilts

2011-03-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

Despite 5 inches of rain in the previous 24 hours and Myall Creek virtually lapping under the bridge in Dalby, 14 quilters arrived at the upstairs room of Anthony's fabric store in Dalby determined to make the most of their day. Kathy gave her presentation on the use of the Accuquilt Studio Cutter and various dies to make a range of quick easy quilts from fabric pieces. The photos tell the story.

Butterflies invade Julia Creek

2011-03-02T13:25:00.000-08:00

We received the following from Julia Holpen of Isa Creative Fabrics in Mount Isa, NW Queensland. She held a workshop in Julia Creek where particpants made Kathy's Bali Butterfly pattern.

"Hi Cathy, its Julia Holpen here from Mount Isa. Here is some photos i promised from our quilting week end in Julia Creek where I taught them to make your Bali Butterfly quilt. A great time was had by all, when I first walked in they said they had know idea how it was all going to happen, but by half way through first day everyone was feeling a lot more confident. Were all amazed at how it really looked like a butterfly especially when u see it in the photos. Thank you for allowing us to make your beautiful creation."

Sushi for Tea

2011-02-25T11:49:00.000-08:00

What to make for dinner? Hmm ... eternal question. Sushi is always a favourite. In our recent travels we've been introducing the new Sushi Roll packs of 24 delicious cut strips of bali fabrics. But what do we do with them? Here's one suggestion - Kathy's new Sushi for Tea placemat set. Make a tablerunner with six placemats with this latest design in the KoolKat Quilting collection. Pattern is free with any Sushi Roll purchase. For more details, go to:

http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=150

Gatton "Happy Scrappers"

2011-02-19T13:40:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone who has made us welcome in the past week - from Charleville in the west to Gatton in the east, Kathy has been presenting her "Scrap Happy" workshop. Participants have been turning fabrics from their quilt "stashes" into blocks and strips using KoolKat's Accuquilt Studio cutter and gaining ideas for new quilt projects from Kathy's quilt pattern designs. Photos to come.

Charleville, Mitchell and Roma, south-west Queensland quilt clubs visit

2011-02-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Where else can you find fabric shop that is like the tip of an iceberg - 9/10 of the fabrics are stored away in shipping containers, former residences, etc? or where can you find a shop that combines a love of opalls with Janome sewing machines? Plus the bonus of an artesian spa to soak away the effects of a long drive... Here are some photos from Kathy's "Scrap Happy" workshops. Participants used Kathy's Accuquilt Studio cutter to trun "sraps" into blocks and strips and were inspired by kathy's easy-to-make designs.

My Bali Rainbow

2011-02-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy month with Kathy starting her studio classes and Geoff quilting over 2 dozen charity quilts for flood victims on behalf of Toowoomba quilt club and local fabric shop The Quilter's Angel. But there's been time for new products.

We've just received a delivery of long awaited Bali fabrics that Kathy has made up into pre-cuts of 40 strips 2 1/2 inches by 40 inches. These pack teamed with background or border fabrics make up many of Kathy's designs. See http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=149 for more information.

We're about to head off out to Charleville, Mitchell and Roma on the start of our extensive program of visiting quilting groups in the region this year. Kathy will be presenting her "Scrap Happy" workshop where she will show you how to turn the bits and pieces in your stash into pieced quilts. We will be bringing our fabric cutter which can make apple cores, robbing Peter to pay Paul and and many other cut pieces to create instant easy-to-make projects. If you are part of a quilting group and aren't already on our visiting schedule, please contact us, we'd love to come and meet you.

First quilting group meeting at Kathy's studio

2011-01-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

The sun has come out after a fortnight's grey skies and torrential rain. The first gathering of quilters for an informal sewing/quilting session took place today in Kathy's new studio. Kathy is holding these meetings every Thursday and all are welcome. There will be a morning, afternoon and evening group. Booking is essential as space is limited and there will be a couple of Thursdays this year when there will be no meeting as KoolKat will be visiting quilt groups in southern and western Queensland. Phone 07 4696 8746 or email koolkatquilting@optusnet.com.au for details.

Green intruders

2011-01-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

Amidst the devastation of this weeks floods in Toowoomba and south-east Queensland, there are signs of life. We awoke this morning to chorus of frogs as well as the usual birds in our garden. This particular frog wasn't taking no for an answer as he (she?) crawled up the screen mesh on the outside of one of the windows of Kathy's new studio. One can tell from the expression on its face that it has break and enter on its mind. An electrician friend of ours also has a tale to tell of the evil intent of green frogs. Apparently they love crawling into the inverters of split system air-conditioners. When they find a nice warm spot, preferably stretched across the circuit boards, they cause the electronics to be fried when the air-conditioner is switched on. The electrician had recently had three call-outs for faulty air-conditioners. Perhaps the frogs are doing their bit to slow global warming by their kamikazi action to take out the rising number of air-con. units across the nation.

Our thoughts go out to all those affected by flooding - for some of the communities where our customers live on the Darling Downs, it is for the 2nd or 3rd time in as many weeks. There are many sad stories, several tragic, like the one I read of this morning where a lady living at the bottom of the Toowoomba range, went back into her house as flood waters were rising to rescue her family photos. Minutes later the whole house was swept away.

Toowoomba flash flood

2011-01-10T14:01:00.000-08:00

Lives were lost in downtown Toowoomba, Qld on Monday Jan 10 when a 2 metre wall of water crashed through the CBD following saturating rain over the past few days. We live outside of town, on the escarpment, but on a sloping block. We had some minor leaking of water into our work areas, and were lucky not to get it entering the house. Here is the view from our dining room window after frantically digging drains on the upper part of the slope.

After Tasmania, back in the quilt room

2011-01-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

We had an interesting time driving our little yellow Hyundai Getz 1900km (excluding the Bass Strait Ferry) to Tasmania where we had Christmas with our daughter at South Arm at the mouth of Derwent River. While we were there the yachts from the Sydney-Hobart race came in and Geoff managed to get this shot of the line honours winner Wild Oats XI. We flew back to Brisbane leaving the car for our student daughter, and are now back at work in Toowoomba. We've started our free delivery offer for machine-quilting anywhere in Australia. Hope you had an enjoyable break where possible - our thoughts are with those battling freezing conditions or floods which seem to have ushered in 2011.

Meanwhile, we have specials on our website

KoolKat visits Indian territoy

2010-11-10T21:05:00.000-08:00

Kathy and Geoff of KoolKat Quilting went deep into Indian territory recently. Kathy outlined her machine quilting service and had a showing of her quilts and patterns. Apatchy Quilting at Clayfield, Brisbane, has dedicated day and evening groups and are hosted by the hard-working Kaye Sauer. You can see more of Kaye's fabrics and other goodies at http://www.apatchyquilting.com.au/

Art Nouveau Garden

2010-11-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

This is Kathy's latest Art Nouveau design she is working on currently. Titled Art Nouveau Garden, it is based on an illustration by Alphonse Mucha, the French artist of the late 19th/early 20th century. Kathy's intending to finish the project by the end of the year - at least that's the deadline!

The plan is to exhibit the quilt in Sydney and Brisbane next year. It is suitable for a Block of the Month format.

Dorrie with her last quilt, more on the way

2010-11-07T23:17:00.000-08:00

This is Dorrie, 95 years young, from south-east Queensland, with her latest quilt. Her friend June, another quilter, brings Dorrie's quilts to us. With this quilt, we did an all-over meander pattern and Kathy did the binding. While we were told that there might not be any more quilts, we now learn Dorrie is busy making another quilt.

Kathy a winner at Queensland Quilt Show

2010-10-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

Kathy has won Category 16 - Machine System Quilter with her quilt "The Sky is Blue, The Sea is Blue" at the 2010 Queensland Quilt Show held in October at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Here she is (right) accepting her prize from Queensland Quilters Inc. executive member Lorraine Carthew at the awards ceremony on Wednesday 20th.

Read more here.

Below is Kathy's prize-winning quilt on display at Queensland Quilt Show. This quilt also won second place in the Viewer's Choice awards at the Toowoomba Quilt Show in September 2010.

Kathy's Gather Ye Rosebuds quilt pattern made by Audrey Foletta won first place in Category Four - First Time Entrant at the Queensland Quilt Show in 2010. Another Gather Ye Rosebuds quilt won third place in the Commercially Quilted section at Canberra Quilt Show in mid-2010. Gather Ye Rosebuds is a 13 part pattern set available from the KoolKat Quilting website, either as 13 separate patterns or a complete (discounted) set - see below:
http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=39
http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=40

Here is Audrey Foletta with her prize-winning Gather Ye Rosebuds quilt.

KoolKat Quilting was also one of the sponsors for the Commercially Quilted section at Queensland Quilt Show. Dao Borchardt won third place in Category 7 Non-Professional with her quilt "Barn Mai." Here she receives her prize from Kathy during the awards presentation on Wednesday October 20.

Viewers choose Sea and Sky

2010-10-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

Kathy's quilt "The Sky is Blue, The Sea is Blue" has won second place in the Viewer's Choice awards at Toowoomba Quilter's Inc. annual exhibition held last month.

The quilt is based on a photo taken of our daughter Michelle (below - left) and friend Matt taken at Fraser Island in 1987. Today Michelle is a Registered Nurse currently in her second year of studying for a Medical Degree, while Matt is an Honours Graduate working for a pharmaceutical company. If one were to take the same photo today, the chances are there would be other people and an army of four wheel drive vehicles in the picture. Fraser Island as the world's largest sand island, is a beautiful place, but in danger of being loved to death. Tempis Fugit!

Sushi rolls are here!

2010-09-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

Finally back home and sorted ourselves out after Toowomba Quilt Show. It was a great event with numbers up on last year. Go to their blog for photos and other details
http://toowoombaquiltersclub.blogspot.com/

Sushi Rolls have arrived! These are 24 different fabrics pre-cut into 2 1/2 inch strips. These are Princess Mirah designs and are the same fabrics many of you will have seen at our stand at craft fairs and during quilt club visits. To find out more, go to our website - they are featured on the latest arrivals section at the bottom of our home page.
http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php

Free pattern for Malaysian freedom

2010-09-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

This is Kathy's Malaysian Merdeka (means freedom) quilt - one of four quilts she was was inspired to make following a visit to Malaysia during the celebration of the first 50 years of nationhood in 2007. The quilts were shown in an exhibition in Toowoomba in 2009, and this one was also displayed at the 2009 Australian Machine Quilters Association display at the annual Quennsland Quilters Inc. exhibition in Brisbane. Kathy has been asked several times for the pattern and up until now she has answered these with a photo of the quilt and some basic instructions. She has now completed the pattern as one in the KoolKat Quilting range, and added it to her website as a free download.

http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=142

Bali Butterfly variations from Liane

2010-09-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

Recently Liane from Wandoan sent Kathy some photos of her latest variations on Kathy's Bali Butterfly pattern. Liane previously did a King Size quilt version of the Bali Butterfly.

"Hi Kathy, just a quick note to say I am still exploring the butterfly theme. A purple butterfly in a field of flowers is the latest. It is designed as a wrap or for the back of a couch rather than a bed. I have been asked how I can do the same pattern so many times. They are all different. Even the current pink one will be different enough to be interesting, although not what I would make for myself. For the purple (and pink) I used most of a Victorian Textiles "Rainbows" pack plus lots of other co-ordinating colours."

Gather Ye Rosebuds quilt design wins award at Canberra quilt show

2010-08-26T01:02:00.000-07:00

Gather Ye Rosebuds which is Kathy's Art Nouveau quilt pattern design inspired by a stained glass design by Alex Gascoyne, has won third place in the commercially quilted section at the 2010 Canberra Quilters Inc. annual exhibition. Congratulations to the quilt maker Jo Jesser and the machine quilter Helen Smith of Altogether Quilting. The quilt was hand-appliqued and took 13 months to make (thanks Leah for the extra info.). You can see more of the exhibition at
http://www.canberraquilters.org.au/exhibitions.html

Highfields Herald article on Kathy

2010-08-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

Our local paper the Highfields Herald did a story on Kathy and KoolKat Quilting recently. You can see the item by clicking on the link below.

http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/files/uploads/KoolKat_Expands.jpg

Creating quilts using Corel Draw - lesson two now available

2010-08-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

After many requests, Kathy has started a column with suggestions and instructions for using your computer to design quilts. Kathy is an avid user of Corel Draw and she has developed techniques for complex quilt designs. Click here for lesson one and here for lesson two. Watch this space!

Edge-to-edge quilting over applique

2010-08-09T21:54:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd put this photo up of a quilt that went through this week. Sometimes I'm asked to do stitch-in-the-ditch with applique quilts. Now, there are times when the quilt warrants that investment, but there also times when it doesn't. That's because stitch-in-the-ditch is actually custom quilting which is more labour-intensive than edge-to-edge or all-over quilting. This photo shows a meander pattern "Happy Times" being used on a quilt with some applique. It shows that e2e quilting over applique in this instance is appropriate - and more affordable for the customer!

Toowoomba Quilt Show

2010-08-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

This year's Toowoomba Quilters Club Inc. annual quilt show will be different for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it will be at new venue - The Salo Centre, St Ursula's College, Rome Street, Toowoomba. Secondly, it will be the first year Toowoomba Quilers will have merchant stalls. Other important details remain unchanged - it will be held during Toowoomba's annual Carnival of Flowers 18-24 September. Kathy will be at the KoolKat Quilting stall for the duration of the exhibition. Ring Angela 07 4635 7918 or Ruth 07 4630 9150 for details

Gather Ye Rosebuds goes to Brisbane Quilt Show!

2010-07-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

This is a big thrill for me! Audrey emailed me today to tell me she has completed my Gather Ye Rosebuds pattern and intends to enter it in the Brisbane Craft and Quilt Show in October. It is always gratifying to see my designs come to life and a special thrill to see this quilt entered into a State quilt competition. Gather Ye Rosebuds will always be a special quilt to me - I first did a version of this design in stained glass which is installed downstairs in a house we once owned in Brisbane, 20 years ago (The stained glass window version was based on the original design by Alex Gasocyne circa 1910). Now someone has thought enough of it to enter into a State quilt competition!

Audrey apologises that she couldn't fit all the quilt in the picture.

KoolKat in home business feature in Toowoomba Chronicle

2010-07-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

Readers of our local city newspaper The Chronicle in Toowoomba awoke on Saturday morning 10 July to see the grinning faces of two KoolKats on the front page of the This Weekend supplement. So, if you want to see what we look like (if you want to risk this revelation), just click on the link below.

Toowoomba Chronicle 10 July 2010

Sydney Quilt Show and The Round Ball Game

2010-06-22T00:30:00.000-07:00

The quilts at Sydney Craft and Quilt Show were simply amazing. Sorry I can't show any of those without permission of the owners, but they are up on other sites such as the NSW Quilters Guild. We had a good show, but after 5 days on our feet and a 12 hour drive home, we are still recovering. Thanks to Linda Nicastri of Horsley Patch for helping out - we wouldn't have survived without you! One of our abiding memories is leaving Darling Harbour in the early morning rain and going past the FIFA area with the big screens for watching the World Cup. The handfull of people and the forlorn look of the site at 5am seemed to sum up Australia's chances. There's always New Zealand to follow this year. Better luck in 2014!

Too many quilts!

2010-06-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

I just haven't got room for all the quilt samples I have made for my quilt patterns. So I've decided to part with some. All are in perfect condition - having never ben washed or used on a bed. Go to http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/ for details.

See you in Sydney

2010-05-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

What's this photo got to do with Sydney? It's actually Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island off the Queensland coast, and the tot on the left is our daughter who is now nearly 30. (You can hear "Thanks, Mum!" in the background).

It's the photo Kathy used for her quilt which is to be exhibited at at Sydney Craft and Quilt Show, Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 June.

The Kool Kats will also be at Stand 27 Row I. Kathy is taking a daily class on making quick quilts using Bali fabric pre-cuts at 2.30pm at Workshop 3. Class participants will receive special offers from the KoolKat stand. We'll have other great specials at our stand. Hope to see you there!

World's Biggest Hexagon Quilt, Gatton Queensland

2010-05-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

The World's Biggest Hexagon Quilt went on show in Gatton, south-east Queensland during May 12-16. Pictured here is one of the many volunteers putting the finishing touches to this quilt which is as long as a football field. KoolKat had a stall at this event and Kathy enjoyed meeting the many quilting enthusiasts who came to see the quilt and the associated retrospective quilt show. After the show, the quilt will be made into smaller quilts and distributed to nursing homes and aged care facilities.

Crows Nest Show quilt winner

2010-05-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Crows Nest is an attractive little town north of Toowoomba with an enthusiastic local quilting group. Here is a prize-winning quilt from the Crows Nest Annual Show held May 7-8.

Baby Bali - new fabric kit and pattern

2010-05-10T00:53:00.000-07:00

Baby Bali is a bright cot quilt for groovy babies! This is an extra EEEEZY quilt, made in a weekend or less if you use this latest pre-cut kit from KoolKat Quilting. You can see this kit at the World's Biggest Hexagon Challenge and quilt market at Gatton, Queensland 13-16 May, or click here

You can also see us at Sydney Craft and Quilt Show 16-20 June at Row I, stand 27. Come and say hello and see what great show specials will be on offer!

Cat bewitched by Bali Magic

2010-04-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Kathy and Geoff attended the Quilter's Rest Open Day at Marion and Allan Lees' property at Kingaroy on Saturday April 10. Kathy gave a presentation on how to use Bali Pops and the new KoolKat pre-cuts fabric range to make quick and easy quilt projects. During the quiet moments on the KoolKat stall, Kathy finished the binding on Bali Magic, her latest king size quilt pattern. That night on our return from Kingaroay, Kathy presented the quilt to Geoff's sister Dianne, whose Siamese cat immediately took possession of the quilt. It appears to meet his exacting standards of satisfaction!

Even KoolKats get the blues

2010-04-07T23:12:00.001-07:00

Even KoolKats gets the blues -

at Bluesfest 2010 at Byron Bay this Easter. We had a great time and veteran US blues performer Buddy Guy got our vote as Best Showman. Best New Talent was the Blues Preacher, and naturally we had to buy their new album. It is titled "Dead Katz Can Bounce".

Kathy has just made a release of her own - a new pattern called Bali Magic. Go to the home page at www.koolkatquilting.com.au for details

Casino table installed at KoolKat studio

2010-03-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

A casino table was installed at my new studio today. Well, not quite - it is the former boardroom table from Casino Golf Club which I purchased through ebay. While it cost me more than the purchase price to have it delivered from Casino in northern NSW to Toowoomba in SE Queensland, I'm very happy with this solid maple table that looks as though it might have been made circa 1960s or 70s. In any case, it was made when real timber was still being used!

A quiz for you - how many quilters plus sewing machines can we fit around this table?

It's the Studio, not a glamour shot!

2010-03-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

Here's an unglamourous shot of the quilter surveying her new domain. While the work isn't yet finished, at least the trades-people have left and we can get on with the painting, putting up the picture rail (to hang quilts from, etc). This is our former 12 x 6 m steel shed - the bench at the back is a former workbench now converted to a lovely clean workspace. Similarly, the set of pine shelves on the RHS once were covered with Geoff's tools including a leaking grease-gun - they have been cleaned, painted with polyurethane, and covered with vinyl. We now know not to use too much glue, you can't rid of the air-bubbles.

This will be Kathy's new creative area - our smallest Statler will go in this space, along with a fabric cutter, embroidery machine and sewing machine. There will be room for visitors, but more of that later. We planned this project before Christmas, and by the time the trades-people arrived (mid-Feb) and the drought broke, we are still going a month and a half later. Still, its nearly done, and typically we've discovered muscles we'd forgotten we had, gained skills that we could perfect if only we could start again. And where did Geoff's stuff go? - into a much smaller space under a skillion roof attached to Kathy's studio.

Restock your pantry with Kathy's latest pattern

2010-03-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

Pantry Shelves is Kathy's latest pattern. This cute and colourful 34" x 52" (86 x 132cm) wall hanging-size quilt is an easy and fast pattern to make which makes use of your favourite "I Spy" fabrics. Make jars of whatever you fancy for your shelves! Looks great made up in "Farmer John" fabrics. You can see the quilt in the "fabric" at Quiltessentials, Eatons Hill, Brisbane http://www.quiltessentials.com.au/.
The pattern is available there or from us at KoolKat Quilting
http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?page=3&act=viewCat&catId=3

March Moda Madness!

2010-02-27T20:19:00.000-08:00

During March KoolKat Quilting is offering Moda Jelly Rolls and Sweet Rolls at cost. Steal a march on these and get in quick as stocks are limited. Go to the link below to see what's on offer, and while you're there, why not check out Kathy's range of Bali Pops, Bali and other fabric pieces.

http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?page=1&act=viewCat&catId=4

The Sky is Blue.....and so is the quilting!

2010-02-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

Darn it! I always get the order of the photos backwards! So, from the bottom to the top, this is what is happening: (Please start at the bottom of this post and work up to the top)

5. Blocking the quilt
Laid out on the floor of the shed (to become studio) here is me smoothing the wet quilt to flatten it. This is the first time I have ever blocked a quilt and I was amazed at how much some areas of the quilt wanted to shrink in relation to other areas. The tightly quilted areas really pulled in, while the less heavily quilted areas didn't. The result, once smoothed out was a wavy line on the border. For this art quilt, I did not pin the sides out, just letting it take its own shape. I will trim it straight once it is dry, in a couple of days. Then I covered it with a clean sheet (there is a clean one underneath as well) to let it dry. I know this quilt will hang really well now and I am really glad I had the courage to do it!

4. Soaking the quilt prior to "blocking"

After three days of solid quilting, the quilt comes of the machine, and has a preliminary trim to get rid of unwanted fabric from the backing. Then I folded it and filled the laundry tub with cold water. It was amazing how much water it soaked up! A light spin in the machine, and then.....

3. Textural variation in the quilting

This can be a real challenge, I found. I was getting very settled with quilting the long flowing lines of the waves and sand and sky, so up close it was fun to work with lots of little circles to represent the sand at the feet of the children.

2. Using a spy glass to "see" the quilt from a distance

These are great! I raced out yesterday morning to buy one - I have been wanting one for ages. These are the things you have inserted into your front door to see who is on the other side. It gives you a sort of fish-eye view and when you look at your quilt it is as if you are a long, long way away. This is very reassuring for long arm quilters, who tend to look at everything as if it is under a magnifying glass. This quilt is not a traditional one, and it is meant to be seen from far away, and then closer, like a painting.

1. Quilting the Quilt

I used one of those "hospital" type trays on wheels so I could look at my visual diary while I was quilting the quilt. After a while I didn't really need it, but it helped me sort out in my mind the broad areas needing quilting. I placed a sheet of acetate over a photo of the quilt thus far, and drew some general quilting lines on it with a permanent marker. This was good to do, as once the quilt is on the machine it is easy to get get lost as so much of it remains unseen whilst working on a small area. The other page has a print from the original photo, for more detail.

Free table runner kit with any fabric kit from KoolKat

2010-01-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

February Frolics - This month if you buy any KoolKat fabric + pattern kit, we will give you a Honey Bee Table Runner kit free (worth $35). Limited stock of table runner kits, so get in quick for this offer. Click on the link below to see the fabulous KoolKat range of kits.

http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/index.php?act=viewCat&catId=2

Now for the Quilting! (The Skyis Blue, the Sea is Blue)

2010-01-27T16:53:00.001-08:00

Over the last week I have made a pieced backing for the quilt and have started the quilting process. The pieced backing was made of left over fabric from the quilt, plus some of the screen printed practise runs that I didn't use on the quilt top. It was fun making the backing as I didn't have to worry a great deal about how it would turn out, I just enjoyed using all the colours. I incorporated a detailed label which was printed on fabric in the ink jet printer. This means I won't have to add my name address etc to enter the quilt in a show. It's all on there, including the finishing date. How confident is that! Actually, I don't feel all that confident at the moment, because when I am quilting, it's like looking at the work with a magnifying glass! However, I am sure it will be fine in the end.

Too busy - but I can fix that!
Once I had quilted around the basic shapes, I hung it up again to have a good look. I'm glad I did this, as it made me realize that this piece needs a LOT of quilting. That is because, believe it or not, if you only do a little quilting, the background starts to look busy and I didn't want that. So when I do the next session, I will be infilling the areas I have createdand adding intense quilting. The further away the section is, the more quilting it will need to have. So there will be lots of tiny waves in the ocean, and heaps of cloud detail as well. The sand will be flat at the back, textured at the front. I think there will be about 20 hours of quilting still to go.......

Quilt label pieced into the backing, before quilting.

Overall view of the pieced backing, before quilting

Bits and pieces of screen printing, cut up to piece into the quilt backing.

The Sky is Blue The Sea is Blue

2010-01-19T15:56:00.000-08:00

This morning I did the final touches required before the quilt goes back onto the long arm quilting machine. I screen printed the short poem I wrote, and then I overprinted it to make the colours a little darker. I offset the print so it has a small drop shadow. I liked how that turned out, even though it was unexpected.
The quilting stitches will create blending of areas through the use of coloured threads. At this point I have decided I will add a new pieced back, including all the fabrics from the quilt, another copy of the screen print, and the story of the quilt. All of the quilting stitches hence will be visible on the back.

This is where I am up to today. The screen printing, shadow work, backgrounds, and sand in the boy's hand have all been added.

Yesday I hand basted the additional background pieces ready for stitching on the machine.

The sand in the boy's hand was created using some transparent organza. I have the orginal photo to compare as I cut the material freehand.

The overall result is quite minimalistic, which is what I wanted. There will be quite a lage space of sand on the right middle ground. This is where I hope the viewer might imagine themselves joining into and being a part of the picture.

What's on the long-arm today? - Jane's quilt!

2010-01-13T16:04:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of the latest custom quilt to come off the machine. The quilt was made by Jane from the Gold Coast. Jane's marvellous quilt is called "Indian Orange Peel". I can't imagaine how many hours it must have taken her to piece it!

I quilted it with the Statler Stitcher - some sections with the aid of the computer, and other sections are done freehand.

The Sky is Blue, the Sea is Blue

2010-01-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

Progress! The last few days have been spent pinning large areas of colour to form the background. I had no idea how I was going to do this, but it it going fine. Very rough cutting and checking with the chalk marking underneath allow me to place the pieces, overlapping as I go.

The image above shows a close up of the little girl. Some of the hair had to be covered up as the bits are too fine to trim around. What I will do is stitch from the back as I will be able to see the stitching lines, and then trim the excess baclground away. I should be able to just temporarily tack the quilt onto the quilt machine for this.

This is the latest image. You can see that there is now some layering in the sky, and distant bluff on the horizon is in place. I still have to work on the right hand side of the sky. Still very rough

Normally quite camera shy, I asked Geoff to take a photo of me as I pin some fabric on. This is just to show the scale of the quilt. Because it is so big, the detail is not really fine close up. I like that effect and hope to make more big projects this way.
My next task will be to finish the sky, then take it down and start to smooth over all the little wrinkles and rough cutting. I will have to hand baste these pieces down before returning the quilt to the quilting machine. Once it is there, the fun really starts!

Rosebud returns!

2010-01-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

Many people have asked us when Gather Ye Rosebuds will become available as a pattern set. We're pleased to announce that after having been featured as a Block of the Month in a Brisbane quilt shop, the Rosebud quilt has returned home to KoolKat. For more details on how you can obtain a set of patterns for this unique and beautiful wall hanging, just go to http://www.koolkatquilting.com.au/

Lantern Lights pattern

2009-12-29T18:12:00.001-08:00

Lantern Lights is another easy-peasy quilt design by Kathy Adams of KoolKat Quilting. This is a simple strippy quilt suitable for beginners, or super-quick for more advanced quilters. Finished size 56" by 94" (1.42 by 2.13 m). For more information go to www.koolkatquilting.com.au

The Sky is blue, the Sea is Blue

2009-12-25T16:42:00.001-08:00

Today I started auditioning fabrics for the background. Most of the colours are too dark, as I want a bleached beach look, so I am waiting for fabrics I have placed on order. However, I just wated to try out how it might start to look with more colour in the background. I don't think it will be a problem to apply large pieces of fabric and (thank goodness) the more fiddly and tedious parts are now done. I just have a little bit of detail to attend to around the girl's arm and some shadow details. I am pretty happy with how it is shaping up now!

I love to keep a quilt journal as I make a quilt. Here are a couple of pages from my journal for "The Sky is Blue, the Sea is Blue".

I like to use the A3 Visual Diaries the best. It is great to go over it and see how ideas developed. It's also an excellent place to keep information I need to keep. On one page I have pasted details of quilt show deadlines to remind me to get a move on!

After I washed out the Verona (soluble clear film) some areas were not stitched down well enough. I will simply baste these and attend to them once I start the more detailed, intense quilting on the final piece.

I love the look of the piece after washing out. I am especially pleased with the overall softness of the quilt. I didn't want the stiff result that comes when using fusible webbing. It is OK on stained glass, but not for this quilt. More soon...............