Oh Glory, the debut book release by Kathy Flowers for Martingale/That Patchwork Place, was born of out of her gratitude for the men and women of the US Military. Her own father was a soldier in WWII, instilling in her a deep sense of patriotism. Kathy’s story is a personal one and we’re honored to share it here today.
The book is filled with reds, whites, and blues… a gorgeous lineup of patterns to help showcase your pride. Whether you’re looking to make a table runner for a holiday event, a quilt for a loved one, or a tribute piece for a veteran, Kathy’s book has exactly what you need! Her coordinating thread collection offers 12 Large spools of 50wt thread — perfect for piecing and quilting.
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
Oh Glory
12 Large Spools, 50wt (1422yds/spool), 100% Aurifil Cotton
1310 – 2725 – 2735 – 2745 – 2783 – 2230
2250 – 2255 – 2260 – 2000 – 2309 – 2314
To view this info on our website, click the images above. For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
THE BOOK
Oh Glory is available via Martingale and also on Kathy’s website.
THE INTERVIEW
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got started in the world of sewing and quilting?
I first began sewing while in high school during Home Economic class. There I learned to sew my own clothes; dresses and skirts. When my children were born I made many of their clothes, mostly shorts and long pants for my son and all my daughter’s dresses.
My sister then introduced me to quilting in 1976 and I made my daughter’s first doll quilt.
Do you remember the process of making your first quilt and how you felt once it was complete?
I have to laugh when remembering this! I actually cut up old clothes into little squares to make my daughter a doll quilt. (I used scissors, believe it or not! I didn’t want to invest in supplies until I was sure I would enjoy the entire process.) I then used yarn to tie the quilt sandwich together. It was scrappy to say the least. Needless to say, I fell in love with the entire process and no longer use scissors for cutting fabric.
Who or what has been your greatest creative inspiration?
I see design all around me, whether in color, in gardens, or sometimes just in the touch of a particular fabric. However, when it comes down to the design of a piece, it always seems to work itself backward to love or kindness. A particular color or fabric reminds me of someone special, love of nature or a place I felt safe and loved, or a genuine kindness shown to me or someone I loved usually defines the process and completed design. All my pieces start and end in the heart.
How did you first connect with Martingale and what do you love most about working with them?
My first connection with Martingale was simply purchasing quilting books at local quilt shops. When I first began designing my own quilts and was ready to submit to a publisher, I simply chose Martingale based on the number of books I had published by them. I loved the quality of their books and the consistent way they were written. My first collection of designs was rejected. I then began designing the quilts found in OH GLORY and submitted again to Martingale. This time the manuscript was accepted.
What inspired your book, Oh Glory, and what did it mean to you to put the whole thing together?
The inspiration for OH GLORY! came to me the night of May 28, 2004 as I watched my 78 year old father walk slowly across the stage of his high school to receive the high school diploma he left behind as a young man when he went left high school to go fight in WWII. I wasn’t aware at the time this image would forever be ingrained in my mind, or the thunderous sound of applause would forever echo in my heart. At the time I didn’t think that one more salute, or to hear, “thank you for your service to our county” would mean so much after so many years, but it did. My father was a humble man, never asking for much. He was just one man who did what he felt was his responsibility to protect our country. That night in 2004 left me to wonder what could I do to say thank you to all our military men and woman who give so much for our country. This book is my sincere thank you. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of OH GLORY will be donated to a military organization to help those veterans who still need our support.
Do you have a favorite project featured in the book?
I have two favorites…Long May She Wave is one of my favorites because it represents the flag and the other is Pappa Bear. I always felt safe and loved when I was growing up and my dad took me almost everywhere he went…he was my Pappa Bear.
What is your favorite thing to make?
I’m not sure I have a “favorite.” I truly enjoy wool applique as much as I enjoy traditional piecing and paper piecing. Since Aurifil’s introduction of their new 80 wt threads I am throughly enjoying English Paper Piecing as the threads melt right into the fabric so nicely.
When did you first discover Aurifil threads and what do you love most about them?
The first class I took at the local quilt shop I purchased Aurifil 50 wt threads. It was the only thread they carried. I fell in love with the quality and there was no looking back and they never run out of stock! When I started designing wool appliqué, I went to the same local shop and found they also carry Aurifil wool thread. Again, I tried it and never looked for another brand. Aurifil has been my go-to-thread for so many years now, I can’t image using anything else. I’ve found the quality and consistency of Aurifil is essential to me as a designer. I need a wool thread that doesn’t shred while hand sewing and is as consistently strong when used for machine appliqué. I feel the same when using Aurifil’s 50 wt cotton thread for traditional piecing. I also use it for top stitching and machine embroidery. I’m sure I will also be using the 80 wt for machine embroidery too. That’s the beauty of Aurifil threads, different weight threads provide the look I want to achieve and always deliver quality.
Do you have a favorite color/weight and why?
I use 50 wt color 2000 almost exclusively for piecing all reproduction fabrics. When piecing white fabrics I use 50 wt color 2021. With Aurifil’s large array of colors to chose from, I am allowed to play with my designs and either match fabric to thread when top stitching or create a contrast of threads and fabric to produce a totally different effect.
How did you go about selecting threads for your Aurifil Oh Glory collection?
Most all the quilts in this book were sent off to be quilted by Vonnie Johnson, long arm quilter and my dear friend. When I send her a quilt, I let her use own artistic voice. That being said, I chose the colors for this thread collection to allow those who do their own quilting on domestic machines, whether it be a simple stitch in the ditch to a more sophisticated design to blend or contrast their quilting with both reproduction and more modern fabrics.
Where can we find you this year?
It is probably easier to tell you where you won’t find me…and that is sitting still! I am currently touring doing book signings at quilt shops to promote both my book OH GLORY! and of course my coordinating thread box OH GLORY by Aurifil. I am scheduling with quilt guilds and am now booking into 2018. I will continue to design and submit my designs to magazines as I am currently working on another manuscript for submission to a publisher.
I can be reached at PODquilts@gmail.com. I have a couple of Facebook pages, Pieces of Dreams Quilt Designs and Kathy Flowers Designs. I am also on Instagram at piecesofdreamsquiltdesigns.
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win 1 Large Oh Glory Thread Collection and one copy of Oh Glory by Kathy Flowers for Martingale, click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page, or simply click on the image above. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 10! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Thursday, May 11. Good luck!
UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Teri C.!
For another chance to win, make sure to visit Stitch This! via Martingale/That Patchwork Place. They posted a wonderful feature for Kathy yesterday and have a separate giveaway running!
ABOUT KATHY
Website — Shop — Facebook — Instagram — Twitter
Kathy began selling her quilt patterns exclusively at a local quilt shop in 2008 and began publishing with McCall’s in 2012. Her first quilt with Primitive Quilts and Projects was published in their summer 2015 issue. Her first book, Oh Glory, was released with Martingale/That Patchwork Place in April of this year.
[Images courtesy of Kathy Flowers & Martingale/That Patchwork Place]