I’m Designer, Author, Radio show host Pat Sloan.. Our September Designer is the wonderful and amazing Author, fabric designer and teacher Kathy Brown. Her company name is The Teachers Pet, and I imagine you have used her designs, rulers or fabric already!
The last time she was on my talk show was Feb 1, 2016 CLICK to Listen or subscribe by Itunes
Let’s get to know Kathy!
Where do you live and what is your favorite spot there?
I live in Baton Rouge, LA. I’ve lived here all my life,
and although there are many, many places that I love around town,my favorite is my back yard!
When was your FIRST quilt sighting?
My first quilt sighting was the quilts that my great aunt made. She lived in an old, lovely farmhouse across from the Mississippi River. When I would spend the night at her home, she would pile the old quilts on top of me to cover me when I slept. I love the comfort they brought.
Did you have a career prior this?
I was a first grade teacher many, many (too many) years ago. Post teaching, I worked as a senior designer in a chemical plant for 23 years. (I had a double major – education and architectural design) I retired from the chemical plant job to design in the quilt industry full time.
If you’ve always done art, did you do another type before quilt making?
Oh my gosh yes. I have done pen and ink architectural illustrations, china painting, cross stitch, ceramics, you name it. My hobbies now are wool applique, punchneedle and rug hooking.
Have you had a ‘light bulb’ moment in making?
My biggest “aha” moment was when I realized that pinning REALLY does make a difference. And not just pinning, but accurate pinning. It saves a whole heck of a lot of time that I used to spend unsewing!
What does your studio look like, and what would you change in it?
I recently reorganized my studio, and now have my happy place! I have aged barnwood floors (a huge improvement over carpet) and lots of white.
LOTS and LOTS of white. This way – any color that I use in quilting, rug hooking, wool applique, etc stands out against the white and makes a statement!
What makes your space special now?
I love to use vintage pieces that I find which will store just about anything.
They look good – and fill a useful purpose!
What are your 3 favorite colors of Aurifil thread?
Ummmm – that’s not fair. I love them all. So much in fact, I have the Aurifil suitcase that I replenish as a spool runs out !
What else is new for you?
I’m working on a wool applique book with Martingale right now! And I have a wool applique and punchneedle set of projects that is coming out in October in the Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine. I also have a new line of fabric with Red Rooster that will be out in the spring. I teach all over the US, and have most of 2017 booked with some openings in 2018!
What about blue inspired your block?
Anything and everything blue inspires me, and always has. Blue is my calming color. I have to say though that my favorite blue – the one that captured my heart more than any other color of blue I’ve ever seen was the crystal clear blue waters off the coast of Aruba. Absolutely stunning!
This is an amazing Scrap busting block!
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DOWNLOAD Kathy’s ‘Chip off the Old Block’ pattern
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And a few on the light side!
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Right handed or left handed.. and can you use the other at all? Right handed. I’m a ditz with my left hand.
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What is your Favorite childhood TV show? Fury of the Broken Wheel Ranch. I LOVED that horse!
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Are you a Dog or Cat person? Mostly dog (I have three) but I’m a sucker for homeless animals and have 7 rescued kitties as well.
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The snack you crave. Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate
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The Color you have always LOVED….. BLUE!!!!
Visit Kathy at.
- Website: http://www.the-teachers-pet.com
- Blog: www.theteacherspet.typepad.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kathy.brown.theteacherspet
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/theteacherspetkb
Each month when I pull out my fabric for these blocks I become excited about them again! They are turning out so great and I love having ‘just these colors’ to work with. I find that VERY creative and fun to do!
see my block & ENTER YOUR Challenge BLOCK HERE
Are you on Facebook? I have a fantastic quilt group with the most incredible show and tell going on! You should see it! JOIN me HERE … I’d love to meet you!
******* JOIN our Aurifil Family *******
EACH MONTH we will pick one random winner that has made a block.. that person will receive a special Aurifil thread prize! Winners are all contacted email
For more Aurifil project photos visit our FLICKR PAGE HERE
Our RANDOM picker this month selected Cheryl! She has WON a BOX of Aurifil thread! Such gorgeous blocks entered .. see all the great versions HERE
REMEMBER – The Photo entry is moved to my website where more people can enter, right HERE
- Sign up for the Aurifil Newsletter… scroll to the NEWSLETTER box
- Become a member of the AURlfil fan page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/aurifil.quilt.thread
- See more quilts using Aurifil thread at our Flickr page
I love the bright and muted colors of the fabric line. It would make a great picnic quilt or a favorite baby cuddle blanket.
I love the simplicity and cleverness of the new block. It could make up a whole quilt and still not be boring.
What a great designer really down to earth! Really love the October block of the Month! Someone should fix that – hint