Sunday, October 10, 2010

Karen Kay Buckley

Good Sundy Morning!

I jumped out of bed early this Sunday morning to share with you our visit from Karen Kay Buckley.  She lives in PA and was our guest at the Brownstone Quilters on Friday and Saturday.  I thought about doing this post in 2 parts, but have decided you can't have enough Karen, so get a snack or something to drink and enjoy!

Karen is a world renown quilter who's quilts have graced the covers of  top quilting magazines - wait for it - 14 times.  She been awarded many, many top awards on the international quilting stage.

Her work will speak for itself and here it is what she shared with us on Friday during the 2 lectures that she presented for our 2 meetings.  The first was on borders and the other on design.

a few things about the photos:
1.  I am not a professional photogopher
2.  These are moving targets and I did my best
3.  Thank you Isabelle and Jan for holding these heavy quilts!


the back 

 Each stone needle turned appliqued. (yep, each stone)

Some flowers have fabric painting.

check it out - I can't wait to get back to mine.

No border, and it looks great this way




Blue border flowers appliqued on top of pieced log cabin blocks.


 I literally have no words.



 Love this one -

sorry its blurry!  maybe you've seen it on Simply Quilts.







I was so inspired on Friday, that I dreamed about quilting that night. Then I was so "enlightened" at the workshop I dreamed about quilt making last night too - weird.

Here are the pieces I made using Karen's prep method for hand applique'.  (sorry for the funky color - no light at 6:30am)


These are the new tools I purchased to help me make better quilts.  I don't have plans to use the beautiful pattern that we received.  If you'd like to have it just leave a comment and I'll pick a random winner.


Karen gets these needles from an Asian manufacturer.  It was like opening a piece of fancy gum.  Don't you love it - now I'll be "high class" using these ;0

If you ever get an opportunity to take a workshop with Karen, or see her quilts in person I urge you to do so.  Her work is incredible and her generousity in sharing her techniques is hard to find.

Thanks Karen!

33 comments:

Unknown said...

Yes, she came to our guild years ago and was truly inspiring! Her work is amazing and I so understand why you had dreams of quilting two nights in a row.

antique quilter said...

how exciting I am sorry I missed it
I love those perfect circles I use them all the time.
the scissors, what size are they? are they for embroidery is there a description on them?
oh I love my 1/4" bias tape maker wish I had a 3/8" inch one though sometimes you want it a tad bigger
so tell us what did you learn in the class??? will you be appliquéing differently now?
kathie

Jacqui said...

Thanks for sharing and her colours are fabulous! What have you found to be different with the needles?

Barbara said...

Many thanks for the photos - what beautiful quilts ! I am in awe of such talent

I would love to make that pattern -

Monica said...

Isn't she incredible?! I had the chance to hear her speak a couple years ago. It was worth the hour and a half drive to see her beautiful quilts.

Meredith said...

I have seen some of her quilts at quilt shows. She does great work. I am glad you got to take a class. Have fun with your applique. I do not need another pattern. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Wow love the eye candy thank you for sharing, are the needle good?

I have been meaning to order the circles templates from Piece O' Cake, looks like you had a great time

Christine

Marj said...

I will put taking a workshop from Karen on my bucket list. Thank you so much for sharing the experience of seeing the beautiful trunk show.

YankeeQuilter said...

Thanks for the photos...amazing quilts! Can see why you are inspired!

Frances Leate said...

What an inspirational feast of amazing quilts. WOW!

Ann Champion said...

Wow! No wonder why you dreamed quilting. Very inspiring work.

Your collection of applique tools look like fun..I love your practice piece!

Your Halloween Apple cores would look great done like Karen's? ;)

Karen said...

Isn't KKB amazing! And such a nice person to be in the presence of. Her pieces are to die for and your class piece is looking good. I too had the opportunity to take a class with her several years back at the Vermont Quilt Festival and she is a wealth of information.
Keep us up-to-date on your progress as you applique away :-)
Karen

Karen said...

I fell in love with the covered bridge quilt when I saw it several years ago. So creative. And the brick house is a good one too. Have not seen it before. Such talent.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

Wow she does amazing work. How lucky for you to be able to see her and learn from her. I got a sample of those needles at a quilt show, and they are wonderful needles.

Anonymous said...

OMG...WOWZERS! The work is truly wonderful and how fun you got to see it all in person up close and personal!!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh I know! I just loved the class I had with her! I need to finish my folk art fancy quilt I started in her class. I actually really liked it, but I did it in repro fabrics!

Crazy for Art said...

Karen is coming to my area in 2012.
I can't wait! I'd love to make this pattern!

Sherrill said...

That last quilt with the black background was in a mag a few years back and I was in AWE!! I contacted her to see if our guild could make it as a raffle quilt and she said YES!! It was beautiful and we did very well with it. I'll also be in her medallion class in Houston. She's AWESOME!!!

Vivian said...

Unbelievable quilts--such talent! I'm envious that you got to see them in person. Thank you for sharing their beauty and the inspiration.

Miriam said...

Wow!! Amazing quilts! The applique work is stunning! I don't know which one is my favourite, there are so many inspiring quilts there. Thank you for sharing!

QuiltSue said...

The quilts are just jaw-droppingly amazing. I wonder how long it takes her to complete one? In my case it would be at least one lifetime to do part of one!

Crispy said...

OMGosh I can't imagine ever making a quilt like hers. Anyone can work from a pattern but to dream these up on her own just boggles my mind!! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures with us. I keep going back to look at them :0)

Crispy

Thimbleanna said...

Wow! What a prolific quilter! That's a LOT of amazing work. Looks like you had a fun time!

Jill said...

What a wonderful couple days you had. I did take a 3 hour class from her and it was one of the best classes I ever attended. She is an excellent instructor. We did not make the pattern you made in your class. I would love a chance to win it. Thanks.

Debbie said...

I am obssessed with the work of Karen Kay Buckley. All those perfect circles, attention to detail and the rainbow of colour that she uses. I wish I lived in the States so i could take a class from her. you US girls are so lucky to have such inspiring teachers!!!!

Lori said...

WOW! I bet it was fantastic! Her quilts are over-the-top amazing!!!The pattern looks like something you could easily work up in wool and would be beautiful!

Rose Marie said...

I've admired .... no .... drooled over her quilts that appeared on the magazine covers. Lucky you to have seen those quilts close up. She is a very talented lady and I would love to have that pattern.

Marcia W. said...

These are awesome quilts! It blows me away that she individually needle turned those stones. My large hands don't work well on applique and J.'s are perfection. Please consider me for your extra pattern. I need all the assistance can get for quilting. Thanks for the show.

Sue-Anne said...

Wow!!!! those quilts are amazing! All of them are stunning. I can understand how you went to bed dreaming of quilts.

SueB said...

Oh I love Karens' stuff. Love the quilts.

Mary Lou Casada said...

HOW did I miss this post!? Today's mentioned the give-away, and I was stumped! Well, we are getting ready for a quilt show Friday and Saturday and I'm behind on my blog reading, so that might explain it. The quilts are STUNNING! :-) I'd love to go to one of Karen's workshops -- or even just a trunk show. If they are half as beautiful as you've photographed, well I'd just have to expire on the spot! LOL
Blessings,
Mary Lou

Shelley said...

Barb, I am blown away by the quilts this lady makes! I've never heard of her before so many thanks for the quilt show :) I would love to try my hand at one of her patterns!

Susan said...

It would be delightful to win one of her patterns.