Cross Stitch Patterns by designer Pamela Kellogg of Kitty And Me Designs

The Blog Of Cross Stitch Designer Pamela Kellogg
Kitty And Me Designs

Add This To

Kitty And Me Designs

Celebrating 35 years of Needlework!!!!

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Big Announcement!!!

If you're a crazy quilter, you are undoubtedly familiar with the beautiful work of Pat Winter.  And if you follow her blog and read her Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine, you are probably already aware that she has decided to retire as owner and publisher at the end of this year.


I am excited to announce that I am the new owner and publisher of Pat's beautiful magazine!!!  I'm honored, I'm thrilled and I'm bouncing off the walls!!!!

If you're new to my blog, I thought I'd share a little bit of background in my needlework career.  My mother and grandmother taught me to stitch when I was about 7 or 8 years old.  I'm 52 now and have been stitching ever since.  I caught the counted cross stitch bug back in the 80's and when I couldn't find a pattern suitable for a gift, I decided to chart out my own idea.  I liked doing it and decided to chart out a few more of my design ideas.  Back in those days, I worked on graph paper with colored pencils. 

I did a design with a snowman and an original poem that I wrote.  This was 1989 and my husband was quite taken with it.  He suggested that I send it to a magazine to see if they might publish it.  I took his advice, on a whim actually, and sent to Leisure Arts.  I was floored when they called me several weeks later with an offer to purchase my design.  What a rush that was for me!

I continued to create more designs, on graph paper with colored pencils and submitted them to other magazines.  One by one, they sold.  Eventually, my husband told me I needed a computer so in 1996, we went out and bought a computer and I started designing full time.

I worked with many needlework magazines both national and international.  I worked with manufacturers including The DMC Corporation, Zweigart, Charles Craft, Kreinik, Bucilla and others.  I published many of my own designs and sold them in my Etsy store.

In 2002, a friend of mine sent me a copy of Quilting Arts magazine and in that issue, I discovered the elegant art of Contemporary Crazy Quilting.  I was well aware of the history behind Crazy Quilting.  I frequent antique shops and flea markets and have seen many of the Victorian examples that still exist.  I was always drawn to them because of my love for needlework but when I discovered, that my collection of treasures, old lace, beads, buttons and vintage jewelry, could be sewn onto a crazy quilt, well....I was hooked.  And I loved the freedom, the "no rules" approach to crazy quilting.

I retired from designing counted cross stitch in 2009 to pursue my love of crazy quilting and to have more of a hands on experience.  I love to stitch!  I need to stitch!  I need to create so I redirected my Etsy shop from my cross stitch patterns to my stitched items, along with handmade things by my mom and my sister.

One aspect of crazy quilting that always eluded me was keeping my stitches even and straight.  I guess I was so used to working on a grid that when it came to doing free hand stitching, I was lost!  It occurred to me that I could apply my cross stitch skills to crazy quilting and decided to try using waste canvas for stitching my borders.  Well, this opened a whole new world of charting patterns so I went back to my cross stitch software and started charting out border designs.  Elegant Crazy Quilt Seam Treatments was born!  It was huge hit with other crazy quilters who struggled with keeping their stitches straight and even, so 2 more volumes came along. 

Then I did a couple of other instructional books and a 9 block class series called, Crazy Quilt Color & Composition.  All are published at Magcloud where Pat publishes her beautiful magazine.

When I read that Pat was going to retire, I inquired about taking over Crazy Quilt Gatherings.  It seems that the stars were in alignment for both of us.  I'm so excited!!!  But enough about me.  I just thought you'd like to know a little bit about my background.

I'll talk more about this exciting news tomorrow.  For now, a special thank you to Pat for entrusting her gorgeous magazine with me.  Please continue to submit your articles and eye candy photos to her for now.  She has 3 more issues to fill with your wonderful stitching and ideas!!!

17 comments:

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I saw this announcement on Pat's blog just a little while ago and I'm so excited for you Pam! I already know (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that the magazine will be in good hands! I'm so happy to know it will continue because I know there are a lot of people who really look forward to it. It's so great that there is a publication devoted strictly to what we love. Congrats, my friend!

Betty said...

Congratulations Pam!! I'm looking forward to your interpretation of the magazine. Best wishes, Betty

Di said...

Congratulations, Pam! Pat is leaving her wonderful magazine in great hands. We'll miss seeing her there, but look forward to seeing you!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Hi Pam
From the moment I read that Pat was "retiring" I thought that you are the logical person to continue the magazine. Congratulations!

Phillipa in NZ said...

Congratulations on your new venture.

Shawkl said...

Woot! Woot! I'm celebrating tonight too...the magazine will shift into creative hands for sure! I know that Pat is feeling good about this too...as it's hard to let go of a project that you've poured your heart into.
Hugs,
Kathy

Judy S. said...

Congrats, Pam! That is very exciting news, and I am sure Pat feels great about leaving her "baby" in your very capable hands.

Annie said...

Congratulations! I wondered who the new owner would be after Pat announced she was giving it up. I'm glad the mag ended up in such capable hands!

Sheila said...

Congratulations!!

Susan Studio Arts said...

Congratulations! I look forward as always to the publication.

NickiLee said...

Hi Pam!
What exciting news for all of us! I've have been a #1 fan of the Crazy Quilt Gatherings magazine and have enjoyed all the hard work Pat has put into it - I hope she enjoys some much needed free time. I know without a doubt you will rock as the new owner and we can all look forward to many more fabulous editions. Congratulations my friend!
Nicki Lee

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS! You'll be GREAT! Cris in MT

Anonymous said...

What a nice announcement, Pamela.
Congratulations with the new ownership.
That thera are many beautiful magazines are allowed,
Greetings , Maria Mulder

nelda said...

Congratulations! I'm looking forward to see what you do.

Cathy said...

Congratulations, Pam! I wish I could do crazy quilting but I don't have either the knack or access to the 'goodies'.

I have that original snowman in a magazine in my stash. I've de-stashed several times but I've always kept everything of yours.

Mary Pajak said...

Wonderful news! Congratulations!!

KreinikGirl said...

Congrats Pam! You are so talented! We all benefit from your knowledge and passion. Way to go :)

Related Posts with Thumbnails