Kathy's Spring newsletter.
Spring at Last!
I do hope it is Spring at your house too. Do your bones really stay colder as you age? It seems like my fingers and toes never really warm up anymore. But hey, I can still dance with the grands, quilt all hours of the night and pull those suitcases wherever I go. With her short little legs, Piper still leaps into my arms every time we get back. Life is good!
We have had some pretty wonderful trips already this year. Twice to AZ and once to CA to soak up some sun. Boulder CO was gorgeous and Indiana Heritage was great fun. I love the opportunity to judge as it allows me to get my nose right up close to those beautiful quilts. The diversity of styles, techniques, color combos, quilting designs is pretty remarkable in our wonderful playground. Researchers have found that a reduced diversity of characteristics, abilities, and talents threaten a species towards extinction. We have that covered in the quilting community.
Now ,I just have to embrace that thought when I find myself annoyed that Bruce can name every teacher he has had since kindergarten, but can't remember what I told him this morning. He has great long term memory skills and I have good short term memory skills. I have absolutely no clue who my third grade teacher was. Thankfully though, he is incredibly good with numbers and my brain snaps shut by the very mention of them. I'm pretty darn good at colors though!!
What's up next?
MQX New England. Sold out classes except for a few spots. 100 people coming to fun night to make my Octopus Garden party pattern.
All In stitches Quilt Show in Everett, WA. I am teaching a one day landscape class - April 27th.
http://www.allinstitcheswa.org/2018
Then a summer (August 19th), cruise from Seward Alaska down the inside passage. Don't put off seeing Glacier Bay too long. It's a world wonder to get close to a glacier and watch it calving. I will be teaching two days of classes on this cruise. In one we will make Sea Otters and in the other Puffins. A bucket list adventure for sure.
t
cru
ises.co
http://www.quiltcruises.com/cruises/Alaska-Cruisetour-2018/
Awesome Resources for fabrics.
I recently discovered ice dyed fabrics. These make wonderful background fabrics. (Photo 1) Just the right amount of variation behind collaged vegetation.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/534695110/hand-dyed-fabric-ice-dyed-cotton-quilt
Marbled prints (photo 2) are great when you need swirls or feathers.
https://marbled-arts.com
Spoonflower has a wide variety of ombre and novelty prints. (photo 3). Ombre prints make wonderful inside small matting borders around your quilt. They come in a lot of colors.
https://www.spoonflower.com/shop?type=fabric&view=designs&shop=fabric&t=ombre&commit=Search
Consider supporting these independent fabric artists when looking for your specialty print. 
Apliquick has added a new light grey logo along the edge of its interfacing. There simply is no other interfacing as light weight with such a crisp edge. They wanted you to know the you are getting the Apliquick product so added the logo. Good News!! The rolls are bigger - So the individually cut units are bigger at the same price. 36 x 21 " Click here to go to my shop and stock up. https://www.kathymcneilquilts.com/shop/Apliquick-tools--supplies/p/1-unit-Apliquick-interfacing-x24905304.htm
Hugs to all. Thank you for being such supportive friends.
Kathy