August 2010
How can fall be here already? It seems as if the summer has passed by so fast. We spent many days at the baseball field this summer. Reid and the Walleye (Watford City American Legion Baseball Team) went to the State Tournaments this year. The first time Watford has gone in 50 years! They did not win, but I think they had a great time. I just got back from our annual quilting retreat with some of my oldest quilting friends. Mary has hosted us at their cabin in Red Lodge the past three years. What a great time we had. I won several blue ribbon at the County and State Fairs this summer. It seems I have lots of things in the middle of the quilting stage and need to get them finished! I have finished several things, including Reid's graduation quilt. My son and his family were here three times this summer from Helena so got to have lots of Grand-daughter time. My youngest sister had her first baby this month. A little girl named Syndey. I am waiting to meet her next weekend.
Things are changing at work also. Our large classroom site was sold so we had to move it back to our main building. I have been busy setting up the new classroom. It isn't as big but we can learn just as much in a small space as a large space. If you are in Williston, ND check out The Bent Pin at 222 Main Street.
Fall classes are starting to line up for me. I will be teaching in Lovell, Wyoming the first weekend in Oct., the Badlands Retreat in Medora, ND the second weekend of Oct. and at the Capitol Quiltfest in Bismarck, ND in November. I hope to see many of you along the way!
January 2010
It seems impossible that another year has passed. This one will be very full and busy with both family and quilting. Our youngest son Reid is a senior this year at Watford City High School. Right now we are in the middle of boys basketball season where Reid is a starting player for the Wolves. Watford City has made appearances the last two years in the ND State Class B Basketball Tournament and is hoping for another chance this year. If that happens, life will be crazy here!
I am one of the featured teachers this year at the Prairie Quilt Festival in Minot, ND, March 19 - 21, 2010. I have also agreed to judge this years show. Don't ask me why, they must have caught me at a weak moment. For more information on this show go to www.minotquilters.com
Then in June I will be traveling to St. Cloud, Minnesota to teach at Quilting in the Quarry the second weekend in June. Information on this event can be found at www.mnquilt.org
I am also keeping very busy working at The Bent Pin in Williston, ND, teaching there and other area classes, plus designing new quilts and patterns. I would love to hear from anyone who is interested in having me teach for your group.
Happy Quilting,
Kathy
Sept. 2009
I can't believe that we are back to the fall schedules of school and quilting classes. Time just seems to fly by. I again have a very busy fall schedule of classes set up and am looking forward to spending time with all my students. I brought Margaret Miller to Williston for a class and lecture this month and we had a really great time learning and being inspired by Margaret. At the Badlands Retreat in Medora next month we will be enjoying Louisa Smith and her wonderful talents.
Two exciting things to report here. First of all my Kool Kaliedoscope Quilt "Diamonds and Pearls" if off being photographed for Ricky Tim's book which will be released next fall. He asked for photos of Kaliedoscope quilts made with his techniques and chose 26 quilts for the book. I watched his instructions on www.thequiltshow.com and went right to my fabrics to give it a try. It is so fun! I have since bought his DVD and am teaching the class locally.
My second news flash is that I will be teaching at the Minnesota quilt show next summer in St. Cloud, MN. If you are interested in checking out information on the show and classes go to www.mnquilt.org
Happy Quilting Everyone,
Kathy
May 2009
Spring is trying to come to North Dakota. After a long and snowy winter it is taking a long time for nice weather to get here. We will probably be going right into summer. We had an exciting winter here with my son Reid playing in the State Class B Basketball Tournament. They ended up taking the Consolation Championship (5th) place. It was really fun. They week their baseball team is playing in their regional tournaments. So lots of ball games for us.
A group of us are planning our trip to Duluth, MN next month for the big quilt show. My two quilts I entered are Citrus Slices and Summer Time they were juried into the show. I also have gotten a letter on intent to teach at next years Minnesota show. That is a big deal for me! Scary but exciting. I am also teaching this fall at the Black Hills Quilt Guild Retreat in Rapid City, SD. I have also book at date for 2011! This is the first time I have booked 2 years in advance.
My quilt Jacobean Pineapple Star is included in the 2010 AQS Quilt Art Engagement calendar for the week starting April 26th. I have had a quilt in the calendar 3 out of the last 4 years.
I continue to be busy teaching, quilting and designing. I have finished a new pattern called Swizzle Sticks. I keep telling myself that I need to find a distributor and write that book but I don't know where to find the time. I also seem good at procrastinating on things like that. I would rather be sewing than on the computer writing I guess!
Happy Quilting,
Kathy
December 2008
Can't believe another year has almost gone by. It has been a very busy one for me. I seem to be teaching more and more and further afield! In the coming year I have already got several dates on my calendar for out of the area teach assignments so I will be putting on the miles again in the new year.
As a Christmas gift and Thank you, I have included the following pages for my Frosty's Many Hats applique patterns. I hope that you enjoy them.
Cut a 10 1/2" X 45" strip of fabric for the background of a tablerunner. Fold it in half the long way and use your 45 dregree line on your ruler to make a pointed end. Applique the snowmen as desired. Cut 4 - 2 1/2" strips and add around the outside edges of the tablerunner. Quilt as desired and bind.
August 8, 2008
Where does the time go? I can't believe I haven't updated this since April. Oh well, I guess I have been busy.
In May I became grandma to grand-daughter #2. Ben and Jackie had another little girl, Irelynn. She is just growing like a weed. We went and visited for a week after she was born and then they all came to visit here for two weeks. It was hard to see Payge and Irelynn go, but they keep us posted with phone calls and photos.
June was very good to me and my quilting life. I entered two quilts at the Black Hills Guild show in Rapid City, SD. I won two first place ribbons and the judges choice award. The quilts were my Citrus Slices Quilt which won the Judge's Choice and Fluer et Oies was the other one I entered. For the first time ever I entered quilts in the NQA show held in Ohio. I was thrilled to win ribbons on two of the three quilts I entered. I got a third place ribbon in the Appliqued Bed Quilts for my Heartland Album and a second place ribbon for my Indian Orange Peel in the pieced wall quilt division. It was also chosen to be considered for the Excellence in Piecing award. At the Minnesota Quilters Guild show I won first place for High Gear in the non-traditional wall-hanging category and Judge's Choice for my Jacobean Pineapple Star quilt. My husband, sister and her boyfriend made the trip to Rochester, MN for the show and had a really fun weekend.
I also traveled to Brookings, SD to teach a weekend workshop for my Circling Geese pattern. I had 20 gals on Friday and 17 others on Sat. My trunk show was attended by around 80 ladies. I had a great time and I think my students enjoyed themselves also.
I also taught a 2 day class on Judy Martin's Log Cabin Quilts for my guild in Watford City, ND. As always we had an enjoyable event! Some great log cabin quilts were started in class that I can't wait to see finished.
I had two graduation quilts to complete this year for my nieces that graduated. Right now I am working on a baby quilt for another niece and my baby sister's wedding quilt. Colleen is getting married Oct. 25th. I am the oldest and she is the youngest in my family. There are 26 years seperating us so when I say baby sister, I mean baby sister!
I am also busy working on project for my fall classes. First is the Indian Summer Quilt Show and conference in Fargo, then the Badlands retreat in Medora and finally the Capital Quiltfest in Bismarck. Plus lots of local classes going on. So it looks like things are not slowing done any time soon.
Happy Quilting,
Kathy
April 26, 2008
Well, I took the plunge and went to the International Quilt Show in Chicago to visit my quilt! 22 hours on the train one way was an adventure, but I met some really interesting people along the way.
The quilt show was marvelous of course. So many quilts to admire and so many vendors to visit. My suitcase was definetly heavier coming home that when I went! I bought some wonderful hand-dyed fabrics to start a Ricky Tims Rhapsody quilt. Who knows when I will have the time, but at least it is there when I want to start on it!
The 2009 AQS Quilt Art Engagement Calendars are out and my quilt High Gear is there for the week of Oct. 19th.
I have been very busy this last month traveling and teaching. I was gone the last 5 weekends. I am ready to stay home for a while. Now I need to start getting ready to do family travel with 2 nieces graduating in May and a new Grand-daughter due the 28th. So maybe my life won't be slowing down a little bit after all!
I finally took some time this past week and got two new patterns written up and printed. My Stacked Circles and Moonlight Leaves Patterns are now ready and available at The Bent Pin in Williston, ND or by contacting me.
I have sent in my photos to see if any of my quilts will be accepted into the Minnesota show. I printed off a few entry forms from other shows, thinking I need to get more active in entering show farther afield. The only problem with that is that you need to be organized and get things sent by deadlines! The entry form for the Rapid City show is filled out and ready to mail also, so hopefully my quilts will be traveling this summer.
Take care and take time to quilt!
Kathy
Feb. 11, 2008
I got the exciting news this past week that three of my quilts have been juried into the Traditional Treasures V special exhibit at the big Chicago show. Thirty quilts were selected for the exhibit so I am very honored to have two of mine included. Here is the info on the exhibit. I wish I could make a trip to Chicago but I don't think I will be able to make it.
International Quilt Festival/Chicago plans to showcase
traditional quilters and their quilts in a special exhibit, Traditional
Treasures V. This exhibit will be one of the highlights of Festival, April
11 - April 13, 2008 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont,
Illinois. This exhibit is open to U.S. residents currently residing in
Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Manitoba and Ontario,
Canada. You must reside in one of the above states or Canadian provinces to
be eligible for this exhibit.
Feb. 4, 2008
Where does the time go? Here it is Feb. already and a month of 2008 has gone by in a flash!
I am busy as usual teaching and trying to finish up some of my personal projects. I have at least two I am trying to finish up for the Minot show the end of March. www.minotquilters.com
I have been really enjoying Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims site www.thequiltshow.com In fact I started a member blog on the site a few days ago. If you are interested in checking it out you can click on the following address.
http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/myblog.php/member_no/1005621
If you haven't checked out this site it is really fun. Every two weeks there is a new web show from Ricky and Alex with wonderful guests, tips and ideas. There is also fun stuff, like chatting, blogging, quilt gallery, video classes and a new Block of The Month.
I hope the new year brings lots of quilting time for everyone!
Happy Quilting,
Kathy
Oct. 29, 2007
It has been a busy and exciting fall for me. I have been teaching on the road a lot and having a great time. At the Indian Summer Quilt Show and Conference in Fargo I taught full classes for my Circling Geese and French Braid classes. I won several ribbons at the quilt show including a first place for High Gear in the Original Design catagory, the Excellence in Applique award for my Garden Sampler sponsored by Prairie Rose Quilt Shop of Minot, ND and the Design and Workmanship award sponsored by J&R Sewing Centers for Circling South.
We had a great time at the Badlands Retreat in Dickinson, ND. I took Susan Cleveland's Piping Hot Binding class and am now an official "piping hottie"! Friday night was another fun evening with my Mystery Class. It was wonderful to see Sharon Malec's inspiring work at her lecture. Of course our T-shirts say "What Happens at Retreat Stays at Retreat" so there are lots of things I don't dare tell you about! LOL
I had a wonderful trip to Mayville, ND to teach for Faye's Henhouse Quilts. I taught Free-Form Curves from Louisa Smith's book A New Twist on Strips and Curves and a machine quilting class. Mayville has a great quilter's retreat house that I stayed in with several of my students. It was great fun.
My quilt High Gear took a trip to Paducah and was photographed for possible inclusion in the AQS Quilt Art Calendar for 2009. They photograph 60 and choose 56 from there for the calendar so I have my fingers crossed. My quilt Heartland Sampler took a trip to Colorado for Harriet Hargrave's Machine Quilting Celebration and hung in the show there.
I got my copy of Cheryl Phillips new book Drunkard's Path Stepping Beyond the other day. It is a great book just loaded with ideas for making Drunkard's Path blocks using Cheryl's Cut A Round tool. Two of my quilts are pictured in the book, Celtic Geese and Circling South. Cheryl and I are talking about publishing a book with my Circling Geese patterns! I am excited and nervous at the same time!
I hope everyone takes advantage of all the quilting opportunities offered in your area. This is a great time of year to start that new project to keep you busy in the upcoming winter months.
Happy Quilting, Kathy
August 2007
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. It has been hot here in North Dakota this summer but it just makes more quilting time for me. I want to be in the house with the air-conditioner on sewing instead of out in the heat. I am a wimp and just don't like it when it is too hot.
The Prairie Rose Quilters in Watford City had Jane Spolar from Quilt Poetry come and teach for us in July. We had a wonderful weekend with Jane. I actually got my Floral Meditation wall-hanging finished the week following the class and I just love it. Check out Jane's site at www.quiltpoetry.com
I have entered a few shows this summer and had success. At the Minnesota show I got an honorable mention award for my Heartland Album quilt and a 2nd place award for my Celtic Geese. In Rapid City at the Black Hills Quilt Show I won a first place ribbon on my Circling South quilt. At the North Dakota State fair I won Best of Show and Best Original Design for my quilt High Gear. Garden Sampler won Best of Class.
High Gear
I am gearing up for fall classes and will need to get my new schedule up soon so look for that in the near future. Hope to see you along the way!
Happy Quilting,
Kathy
June 2007
I just got back from a wonderful trip to South Dakota, spent with old friends. The four of us had not all gotten together for something like this for 17 years! I hope we don't wait 17 more before we do it again! We worked on projects at a cabin in Deadwood. Checked out the shopping at the Quilt Corral in Hill City. We made a side trip to the winery next door and purchased some beverages! Next we went to Rapid City to the Black Hills Quilters quilt show. I won a first place and a fifth place ribbon at the show. We checked out the vendors and three of us ended up buying furniture! These neat chests for storing and displaying quilts. We went to the banquet at the show and Robbi Joy Eklow's trunk show. I love the looks of her quilts. The only down thing about the weekend was that I got a phone call and my husband Robert had to have his appendix out while I was gone. Good thing the nurses were there to take care of him!!
Here is the chest that I bought, full of some of my quilts.
Spring 2007
- I was excited to be the Featured Quilter at the Glendive, MT show on April 27 and 28. I spent two great days talking to quilters from across the region. I was honored to be there!
- I published a new pattern this spring called Prairie Trails. It is a fun quilt using just squares and rectangles where you can feature a favorite fabric. Check out my pattern page for a photo of the quilt. The photo used on the cover is being used as a raffle quilt for the Badlands Quilters Guild to help with our quilt retreat in Dickinson, ND in Oct. The drawing with be at the retreat on Oct. 14, 2007. http://www.geocities.com/badlands
- I am working feverishly on several things. I have started a new Circling Geese Quilt that I am going to do some applique on. I am having so much fun developing patterns with this design! I am also trying to finish up a quilt for an Art Quilt Show put on by Kim Madson and Kim Baird at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, ND. It will open Oct. 27, 2007.
- The blocks I designed for the new Cotton Spice BOM are up. The name of the new BOM is Exuberance. Check out their site at www.cottonspice.com
- I am planning on going to Rapid City, SD for their quilt show June 8, 9 and 10, 2007. I entered three quilts in the show - 4th of July, Circling South and Garden Sampler.
- Two of my quilts - Heartland Sampler and Celtic Geese - were juried into the Minnesota quilt show June 14 - 16 in St. Paul, MN.
- Louisa L. Smith's new book A New Twist on Strips and Curves in now in your quilt stores. My quilt Hooray for the Red, White and Blue is pictured on page 23. Check out Louisa site at http://www.quiltescapes.com/.
Hooray for the Red, White and Blue
Winter 2006/2007
- "Kathleen Moorhead Johnson is the Featured Artist at the Long X Trading Post
Visitor Center and Pioneer Museum in Watford City. She has a quilt display
in the traveling exhibit room, now through March 12th, and it is Very
Impressive to view!!!!! There is going to be an Open House and Artist
Reception for Kathleen on Thursday, February 8th from 3pm to 6pm at the Long
X Trading Post Visitor Center in Watford City and we would invite any of you
to attend. We are all very proud of Kathleen's achievements and very
impressed with her wonderful exhibit.
Quilting is truly a wonderful art form and it is nice when that is
recognized.
Hope you can stop by....Jody Renbarger" - My quilt "American Pie ala Moda" will be on display at International Quilt Festival/Chicago, April 13 - 15.
- I will be the featured artist at the Patches on the Prairie Quilt show in Glendive, MT. The dates for the show are April 26 - 28 and is held at the EPEC building.
- I am signed up to design two more blocks for the next Cotton Spice Magazine BOM, Exuberance. They will appear in May on their website, www.cottonspice.com
- I have been having a very good summer. First of all, my quilt Garden Party won a viewer's choice award from Cathy Wierzbicki at the Minnesota Quilt Show. My quilt Flamboyant (pattern by Cheryl Wittmayer www.sew-be-it.biz ) won 1st place in the appliqued wallhanging category.
- My quilt American Pie ala Moda is in the 2007 AQS Quilt Art Engagement Calendar.
American Pie ala Moda
- American Pie ala Moda also won Honorable Mention in the Do You EQ? contest sponsored by Electric Quilt and Quilter's Newsletter Magazine. It will be hanging in Houston at the International Quilt Festival in their special exhibit. It will travel to different venues for the next year. This is the perfect excuse, so I am heading for Houston during the festival! The winners of the contest will be published in the Jan/Feb issue of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine.
- The people at Quilter's Newsletter saw my Garden Party quilt at the Minnesota Quilt Show and wrote to me to have my quilt photographed for possible inclusion in their magazine at a later date.
- My quilt Hooray for the Red, White and Blue has been photographed for Lousia Smith's next book, Beyond Strips n' Curves. I have not heard of a release date for this book yet.
- I am signed up to design a block for the new magazine Cotton Spice.It is for their block of the month. Cotton Spice publishes four magazines a year, four online magazines and four newsletters. Right now they have two BOM projects going with another in the works. Check out their site at www.cottonspice.com .