Applique with Kay: Book-A-Round Day

Today is my turn on Kay Mackenzie's Book-A-Round.

I am thrilled to be able to share Kay's new book with you.
MY GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED, BUT PLEASE STILL ENJOY MY POST!

This is Kay's second book {and second book-a-round!} I found Kay in blog land shortly before her first book was released. Actually, I think it was her posts about the process of getting her first book published that drew me into her blog.

I have been quilting since 1997 and have always admired applique. But I always wanted a quick finish and avoided the "A" word for many years - thinking it was too time consuming and precise for me. I love using bright colours and mixing contemporary fabrics with traditional block patterns. When I found Kay's first book I was finally ready to explore applique my way - with lots of colour!

The flowers in my banner this month are from Kay's first book.

I used them in this quilt that I made for one of my nieces. You can read about this quilt here.
I hope you'll take some time and explore my blog a bit. You can check out my tutorials here.

I asked Kay a couple of questions about colourful fabrics and applique. I also made a project with one of the blocks in the book. I hope you enjoy both!

How would you advise someone to shop for appliqué background fabrics if they've never done appliqué before? Is there a foolproof fabric?

KAY:

It actually all depends on the look you want for your project. I guess white or cream is pretty foolproof, especially for the old-timey blocks in this book. I use them a lot, especially cream. I enjoy subtle tone-on-tone prints but there's nothing wrong with solids. Toiles can work beautifully as backgrounds too. A black background is striking and dramatic. What you want in the end is contrast between your background and your appliqué motifs. That will set off your appliqué the most effectively.

{I picked my background fabric from this collection of fabrics}

I was wondering how you go about deciding on background fabrics. Do you find the background to match your appliqué shape colours or do you match your appliqué to the background?

It can work either way for me.
It just depends on what I've got in my stash,
the project, and the final look that I have for it in my mind's eye.

This is one of the sample projects in the book that caught MY eye!

Do you have any tips for scale of prints on fabrics for appliqué - specifically I guess for the Baltimore album 'look'? Is there a size you would recommend - or one that doesn't 'work' as well.

I don't think there's any right or wrong for that. You can't even tell a large-scale print is large-scale when you cut it into smaller pieces. Just go for what looks good to you. Tone prints work great, and you can work in plaids, stripes, polka dots, prints, whatever! A surprise when you look close is fun and can add a spark.

Here is my project: a distelfink pillow cover


Made with fabric scraps leftover from my Layer Cake of Prayer Flag by April Cornell
and a fat quarter of kona solid to go with my Layer Cake Quilt Along Quilt!

Kay's applique blocks are very simple and versatile.
Plus, she gives great advice and tips without making me feel like
I should know it all already!
She explains several different methods of applique and makes it,
well, hard to resist!

Plus, the CD makes it easy to print out accurate
{with NO enlarging required!}
block templates
for whatever method of applique you choose - in 5 different block sizes!

Here are my applique fabrics spread out on top of the template.
I even made notes around the edges of the template as I went.

LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF
INSPIRED BY TRADITION
BY KAY MACKENZIE
{donated by her publisher, That Patchwork Place}



OPEN TO U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY DUE TO SHIPPING COSTS

LEAVE A COMMENT BY 9 P.M. EST WEDNESDAY TO BE IN THE RANDOM DRAW
MY GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!
I WILL CONTACT THE WINNER AND ANNOUNCE ON MY BLOG SOON.
THANKS FOR COMMENTING:)
COME BACK TOMORROW FOR ONE MORE GIVEAWAY OPEN TO EVERYONE



A NEEDLEKEEPER MADE BY ME WITH ONE OF KAY'S BLOCKS ON THE FRONT

Thanks for visiting today! Remember there are more stops on the Book-a- Round. You can still go to Kay's blog for a guided tour.



With Joy,
Sarah Vee

p.s. Thank you for all of your kind comments! I am reading them all, but using my husband's work computer so I'm unable to take the time to reply to you. Normally, I do! And for sure, you will be receiving an email from me if you are the winner!!