Baskets to Appliqué - by Kay Mackenzie

Recently published, Baskets to Appliqué is the sixth and newest of Kay's books.

The baskets she has designed are lovely and charming. You will want to make them all! They are all so endearingly attractive it makes choosing favourites an almost impossible task. Her egg basket (what timely fun to make them all Easter Eggs!) is delightful, as is the basket full of yarn, knitting needles and cat. There's a very special, fabric-filled basket for quilters. There are also floral baskets and fruit-filled baskets, every one more irresistible than the next!

Kay's book has everything we have come to expect from her: attractive, original projects shown in full colour; beautifully done, full-sized appliqué patterns; 10 pages of Kay's hand appliqué tips (you can, of course, use your favourite appliqué method) directions to make the delightful Sixteen Baskets, a quilt using each of the basket patterns.

Endless Chain is the sequel to Wedding Ring which I reviewed in our January Newsletter.

New characters enter the lives of the people we met in the first book and we get to know Sam Kinkade, their minister, much better. Challenging issues must be faced and overcome by several people and a generations old love story is told.

The warm stories of quilts and quilters threads through the book, making it a very enjoyable read for all of us who love quilts, quilting, and quilters.

Although I have not had the opportunity to see it, a companion book is also available, Quilt Along with Emilie Richards - Endless Chain

I realize this book seems out of place here. It's not about quilting and much too early for Christmas (although it is only 276 days away as I type). However, so many of us quilters enjoy other forms of needlework that I couldn't resist including it. Besides, Christmas stories at any time of the year are enjoyable.

This is the eighth in a series (to date) of ten needlecraft mysteries by the author.

The main character is Betsy Devonshire who runs a needlework shop in a small town in Minnesota. She has a talent for sleuthing and is always in the middle of solving a crime.

This time she's attending a Needlework Convention in Nashville which is reminiscent of our quilt shows and therefore will sound very familiar to quilters who have been to the International Quilt Markets and the Quilt Festivals in Houston, or read about them.

If you enjoy needlework and mysteries, you are sure to enjoy relaxing with this one.

Questions and Answers

Questions are answered by our quilting team of Edna, Elaine, Hancey, and Maria. We sometimes call on other well-known experts as well.

Q: Could you please send my Mom the newsletter by mail? She loves quilting but does not have a computer.  Alice Williams

A: My apologies for not being able to do so. The cost would be too high for subscribers, especially since some of our newsletters would print out to more than 10 pages. However, readers with printers are welcome to print our newsletter pages themselves, as long as they are left intact and all copyright information and web site links remain intact.

Q: I am asking this question on behalf of an elderly gentleman in New York city who has about 20 sewing machines that he used when he had a shop to make leather jackets. He needs to find good homes for them and would like to sell them, but I don't know who can help him with this. If you have any ideas, I would very much appreciate it.

A: I asked the people who still sew with and collect vintage sewing machines and found someone in Texas who is very interested in them, but who needs the makes and model numbers to be sure. What follows is the rest of the information I was able to find for you.

1. Places to try to sell these machines:

http://www.rummageads.com/rummage/
http://www.ebay.com/
http://www.auction-usa.com/
http://newyork.craigslist.org/

2. Find someone willing to take them on consignment. However, that is suggested with caution as there are obvious pitfalls to this method.

3. Phone sewing machine stores in your area. You may find someone to give you information on what to do with them and where to go for help.

4. Try vintage or antique sites like these for more information or to find buyers:

http://www.patented-antiques.com/
http://sewingmachine221sale.bizland.com/store/page1.html
http://www.dincum.com/index.html

I hope this information is of some help to you.

Q: I found your website on Google and I am interested in talking to you about appraising some 100 year old quilts that my father is hoping to sell.  They are in great shape and have been passed down from my Great-Great Grandmother.  We live in Ontatio and know nothing about quilts!  Your services would be greatly appreciated. - Carol. C.

A: How wonderful and exciting to have 100 year old quilts in your family! I am sure textile museums would love  the opportunity to look at them.

I'm sorry, but I am not a qualified quilt appraiser. However, I do have a list of appraisers for you.

Carol Telfer is is an extremely knowledgeable collector and dealer in quilts, hooked rugs and other textiles. You can contact her through her website.  

Rita Rottman - Ontario - rita.rottman@sympatico.ca