Gift Sale coming up!

I've been working on some things for the upcoming Artisans Gift Sale right here in Santa Cruz.

Soft ornaments!

Button bracelets!

Button notecards!

Button magnet sets!

And much more!

This is a very fun event. I'll be there Saturday, December 2, the same day as the Holiday Downtown Parade. Come on by the Veterans Hall and shop for handmade gifts from a variety of artisans, nothing over $25! Check out the website for all the details. 

Happy holidays!

Kay

By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop

A Spin in the Garden

Bunnies in the garden!

These bunnies are very well behaved and only bring the cute factor to my garden wall quilt. 

I used raw-edge fusible machine appliqué, but of course for any appliqué pattern you can use whatever method you like! What suits you the best IS the best.

If this is your first time visiting Quilts and Button, welcome welcome! I have another blog, All About Appliqué, which you are also invited to visit if you like. It has tons of information about appliqué, all kinds.

Thank you Amy for hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

Going to Paducah!

In all my years as a traveling quilt-show vendor, I've always packed up my trusty Vibe and hit the highways and byways. I've never flown... until now. On Monday, I'm getting on a plane at the San Francisco airport and flying to Nashville. From there, I'll drive north to Paducah for the first-ever Fall Quiltweek!

The logistics of driving to a show and flying to a show are very different. But I *think* I've got it all figured out, fingers crossed! If you're going to Paducah next week for the show, please come by and say hello! I'm in Booth 3404 in the Convention Center upstairs.

Cheers,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop

The Pattern Pack and Just-A-Block series

Both my first Teapots book and my Baskets book are now out of print.

I'm not too sad, though, because the designs are still available! You can get a pattern pack that includes all the designs from each book, or you can get individual downloads of just the blocks you want! 

These options are available in my Etsy shop.  For the pattern packs, choose the section called Quilting Patterns. For the downloadable blocks, it's the section called Appliqué Blocks.

Happy teapots and baskets!

Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop

The Classic Dresden Plate

Twenty-five years ago when I took my beginning quilting class, one of the blocks we made was a Dresden Plate. We pieced the blades together and then tucked the edges under and appliquéd them to the background square. I told my teacher that it was my favorite block out of all the ones that we made, and she said, "You just might be an appliqué person." I don't know whether she shaped my destiny that day, but it turned out to be so true! And the Dresden Plate remains one of my favorite quilt blocks of all time.

I made this pattern so that it can be stitched either by hand or by machine. The tips included refer to hand appliqué, but there's also information on how to convert it to fusible.

The pattern's available in my Etsy shop, or on my website either one. The links are just below.

Happy stitching!
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop

This is how it all began!

In 2003, I set foot into the professional side of quilting when I published my first book, Dog Cabin and Others: A Fast Fun Theme-Quilt Project.

It's such a fun little book. It shows how you can use those novelty fabrics that you love, but haven't known quite what to do with. :)  The project is great for beginners, and the book gives lots of basic quiltmaking information. It's also an enjoyable romp for experienced quilters, one where you can turn off your left brain and let your right brain loose! Not to mention it's a great scrap buster.

I called the book Dog Cabin because the cover quilt has poodles in it. But you can use any novelty fabric in the center. Here's one I call Cherry Smash, which look very picnic-y!

Dog Cabin started me on a journey, and I haven't looked back. Since then I've published many more books, and have had three with Martingale. I've got a bunch of patterns in print. I've had a career as a traveling quilt-show vendor.  After all these adventures, I still have a soft spot in my heart for Dog Cabin.

There are still copies available, and I've put them at a discount from the original price. Dog Cabin is available from my Etsy shop or from my website. The links to both are at the bottom of this post.

Happy stitching!

Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop

Button notecards

I love making these button notecards. It's so much fun to source the buttons, choose the combinations, and see the whole thing come together.

The stems and leaves are laser-printed, then I carefully select the buttons apply them by hand. They're great for thank-you, birthday, keep-in-touch, anything! You can keep a supply on hand for when you need a card on the fly.

Each one is packaged individually in a cello sleeve, embellished with a tied-on button just as you see in the photos, so they can also be passed along as small gifts for your dear friends.

If mailing, these cards require extra postage, which is currently 21¢. You can write "Hand Cancel" on the envelope, and they're good to go!

I carry these on my website, kaymackenzie.com. If you have favorite colors, you can let me know in the notes and I will do my best to select them for your assortment!

These notecards are made with quality cover-stock paper and are blank inside. They're 4¼ x 5 ½ and the envelope is included.

Cheers,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop

Heffalumps

Sometimes, when I get an idea for a new pattern, the title and the layout jump into my head fully formed. So it was with the Heffalumps. I saw in my head what I wanted to do.

 

Once I got the heffalumps drawn, I thought about fabric choices. Aha! I had precious hand-dyes left over from a piecing project. I pulled them out, and it was full steam ahead.

 In choosing the colors, I did a primitive mockup on the design wall with chunks of fabric.

I think I changed one ear.

I'm mighty pleased with how the heffalumps came out, with a smile for A.A. Milne, and they've been a big hit so far. The pattern is available over on my website.

Cheers,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop

Framed mini-quilts!

It's fun to make a little bitty quilt and put it in an upcycled frame!

 

There's an article over on my appliqué blog on how to make framed mini-quilts. But, if you're in the mood for apples right now, this one can come and live at your house! It's one-of-a-kind, and currently available in my Etsy shop.



 

Scrabble Tile Bracelet for Quilters!

I made these bracelets for quilters who also love to play Scrabble!

I got the idea when my husband told me he saw our neighbor friend wearing a Scrabble tile necklace with her initial. The possibilities are endless of course, but naturally I had to make something to do with quilting!

It was super fun figuring out how to make these.

Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop

A Cat Tale

My hubby Dana helped me make a little video to introduce one of my patterns.



Sitting Pretty is available from my website or over in my Etsy Shop!

Cheers,
Kay
By Kay Mackenzie
Kay's Etsy Shop