Quilt Insurance

By Kathy Kansier | Published June 2, 2010

I’m often asked if there is a special insurance that can be purchased for quilts. I know of a policy that many quilt owners have purchased and they are very happy with the policy. It covers antique or new quilts and the contents of your sewing room. Your quilts are covered while they are in your home, while they are being shipped and while they are at a show. You will need an appraisal or record of sales as proof of value in case there is a loss.

Although I have no affiliation with this company, I do recommend that you look into getting this insurance. The cost of the insurance is reasonable. The name of the insurance agent who handles this policy is Chris Johnston.

Chris can give tell you the specifics of the policy. Her telephone number is: 602-749-4282 or she can be reached through the main office number:  800-688-7472.  Her email is: chris.johnston@hubinternational.com.

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Cornish Pasty

By Kathy Kansier | Published June 1, 2010

David and I first had a Cornish Pasty in 1983 at a restaurant in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. When we went to England in 2009, we found a Cornish Pasty shop in Bath, England. Their  pasties came with all sorts of fillings. The pasty crust is flaky and the filling is a bit dry.  They are easy to hold and eat right out of your hand. They are great for picnics or school lunches. Cornish pasties are sometimes served with a thick and sweet chili sauce made with diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, vinegar and brown sugar.

Mineral Point is a historic town, 50 miles southwest of Madison, Wisconsin. Minerals and lead were discovered in the area in 1825 and the first “mineral rush” in the United States brought miners from as far away as Cornwall, England to the area. So many miners came that in 1830, Mineral Point had a larger population than Milwaukee and Chicago combined.

The Cornish miners brought their families and their knowledge of deep mining and hard rock skills. They built the quaint stone houses that still can be found in Mineral Point today. When the miners went into the lead mines, they took a warm Cornish Pasty, wrapped in a cloth, for their daily underground meal.

If you visit Mineral Point, you can have guided tours of nine original stone houses in an area of the city called Pendarvis. You will walk down Shake Rag Street and learn about the life and times of these Cornish mining families and visit the shops of local artists. This site is operated by the State Historical Society and well worth visiting. All of the area restaurants serve Cornish Pasties. My recipe makes four Cornish Pasties.

Crust for Four Pasties:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 ¾ cup lard
  • 1 beaten egg
  • 1 Tbls. apple cider vinegar
  • ½ c. water

 Mix the flour, salt and baking powder together. Cut the lard into the flour mixture with a fork or pastry knife. Blend together the egg, vinegar and water. Stir this into the flour to create the dough. Divide into 4 pieces. Roll each piece into an 8” circle.

Filling:

  • 4 medium potatoes, diced in ½” pieces or thinly sliced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 pound sirloin steak, cut in  ½” or 1” cubes
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • Optional addition: sliced carrots, rutabagas or turnips
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 Tbls. of milk

Mix the filling ingredients, divide into four equal portions. Place on half of each circle of crust. Dot with 2 Tbls. of  butter. Fold over to form a half circle. Seal tightly by neatly rolling the edges or crimping them with a fork or your fingers. Prick the top to allow steam to escape while baking. Combine the egg and milk and brush on the top of each pasty to create a shine. Bake on a greased cookie sheet in a pre-heated  400° oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350° and bake an additional 45 minutes.

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Calico Beans

By Kathy Kansier | Published April 28, 2010

This is another favorite family recipe.  I often make it for picnics but we also eat these during the winter months with corn bread and baked ham. When we have company, I double the recipe. The beans can be baked in a roasting pan in the oven for one hour or simmered on high for 4 hours in a crock pot. Serve these beans in soup bowls or large cups because they are soupy.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound bacon, diced in 1” pieces
  • 1 pound hamburger meat
  • 1 medium onion, diced in 1” pieces
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 2 Tbls. molasses
  • ½ tsp. dry mustard
  • 1 – 15 oz. can dark red kidney beans, drained
  • 1 – 15 oz. can large butter beans, drained
  • 1 – 15 oz. can green lima beans, drained
  • 1 – 15 oz.  can pinto beans, drained
  • 1 – 15 oz. can northern beans, drained
  • 1 – 15 oz. can pork and beans, not drained

 Directions:

  •  In a large frying pan, brown the diced bacon, hamburger and diced onion together. Drain slightly. Remove from the heat.
  •  Add all other ingredients and stir together. Pour into a large roasting pan or a crock pot.
  • Bake 1 hour in a roasting pan or 3-4 hours in a crock pot.
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Appliqué Under the Magnifying Glass

By Kathy Kansier | Published April 22, 2010

Entering a competitive show can be intimidating.  Understand the judging process and learning just what judges look for when evaluating appliqué can help to eliminate our fears and apprehensions. It is important to remember that each show differs in their entry rules. The process of judging also differs from show to show. Quilts may be judged flat on tables or hung for the show.  Judges evaluate each entry according to the rules of each specific show. The number of judges for each show varies and their training and experience in judging also varies.

There are two basic methods for judging quilt shows – the point system and the elimination system. In each method, judges look at one category at a time and each quilt is judged separately according to its own strengths and weaknesses. In the point system, the judges are given a list of items to review for each quilt. Points are assigned for each item on the list. Place settings awards are determined by the total points given to each quilt. The quilt with the highest points in the category wins the first place award.

In the elimination system, comments are given by the judges regarding the strengths and weaknesses of each entry. I often think of the Miss America Pageant when I think of this system of judging. A series of elimination rounds occur in which the quilts are compared with one another. One-by-one, quilts are eliminated until the top entries are left and place setting awards are determined.

Usually there is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place award in each category. Some shows also have honorable mention awards. They are the 4th place award. Some shows have one or two honorable mention awards per category. Other shows have a total set number of honorable mention awards and they leave it to the discretion of the judge to determine how many honorable mention awards will be given in a category. This seems to work better because sometimes a small category doesn’t have a 4th or 5th quilt that is worthy of an award while large categories in which the competition is stiff may have more than two quilts that deserve an honorable mention award.

Appliqué  quilts are generally put in their own category, separate from pieced quilts. Appliqué categories may further be sub-divided into smaller categories. These category titles often include machine appliqué, hand appliqué, appliqué quilts finished with hand quilting and those finished with machine quilting. There may also be separate categories for appliqué quilts made for a bed and appliqué quilts made for the wall. When entering any show, make sure you read the show rules carefully and enter your quilt in the correct category. When in doubt, call the show chairperson and ask which category your quilt should be entered.

You may be wondering if judges actually use a magnifying glass when looking at quilts. The answer is, “Yes, sometimes when they are comparing tiny details in appliqué and quilting stitches.”  When judges evaluate appliqué quilts, they often look at the following items and ask themselves the following questions.  This is by no means a comprehensive listing … just a basic list to help you to understand what questions are often asked under the careful inspection of today’s quilt show judges:

Overall Appearance

Is the quilt clean, free from odor and pet hairs? Does it lay flat? Are the blocks square? Are the sashing, border and edges straight or do they wobble? Are all threads clipped?

Design Elements

Are the elements of the quilt unified to create a visually pleasing quilt? Are the pieces in proportion to one another? Are there secondary designs that compliment the primary designs? Is the overall design balanced? Is the design original and creative? Does the quilt effectively represent a scene or theme?

Fabric & Color Choices

Do the colors and fabrics work well together and with the design? Is there a variety of color values used throughout the quilt? Do prints and patterns used for individual pieces add interest? Is there enough contrast between the appliqué pieces and the background?

Workmanship

Are the hand appliqué stitches uniform, small, tight, invisible and secure? Was matching thread used? Are the curves smooth and the inside and outside points sharp? Was care taken to prevent shadowing of darker fabrics behind light fabrics?  If the piece is machine appliquéd, how were the curves and points handled? Is there consistency in the machine stitching?

Quilting

Do the quilting designs compliment and enhance the appliqué elements and overall design?  Are parallel design lines consistent in width?  Are the stitches smooth, even and consistent (both front and back)? Is the amount of quilting balanced and evenly dispersed over the surface of the quilt? Is the choice of thread appropriate or does it cause a visual problem?

Finishing

Is the edge treatment well chosen for the piece? Are the corners precise? Are the stitches secure to hold the binding on the back? Is the back of the quilt smooth with straight seam lines?

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Blue Ribbon Zucchini Bread

By Kathy Kansier | Published April 22, 2010

(2 loaves)

I won a blue ribbon for this zucchini bread at the 1984 County Fair in Viroqua, Wisconsin. I had actually entered 10 different items in the food category that year and had to stay up all night to get everything made and to the fairgrounds by 9 am. Whatever was I thinking when I filled out all those entry forms? I also won a blue ribbon for my first large quilt. It was a hand quilted log cabin quilt for my son Joshua.

Ingredients:

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 tsp. vanilla
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 cups grated zucchini
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)

Directions:

  • Mix the eggs, oil and vanilla by hand  until well blended. Set aside.
  • Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and then add them to the egg mixture. Blend together well.
  • Fold in the zucchini and nuts.
  • Grease and flour two bread pans (glass or metal).
  • Divide the batter into the two bread pans.
  • Bake at 325° for 50 – 60 minutes. Insert a toothpick in the center to make sure the bread is done. It will come out clean if the bread is done.
  • Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the bread pans and cool completely on a cooling rack.
  • This bread will have the consistency of banana bread. It will have green flecks in it from the skin of the zucchini.
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Microwave Caramel Corn

By Kathy Kansier | Published April 22, 2010

My husband thinks this is the best caramel corn he has ever had. Even the fresh caramel corn at the county fair doesn’t compare. You will need a large paper bag from a grocery store to make this recipe. Whenever I am in a grocery store that asks, “Do you want paper or plastic?” I always say, “Paper please.” That answer always brings a smile on my husband’s face because he knows he will soon have his favorite caramel corn for a snack.

Ingredients:

  • 12 cups popped corn (I use plain microwave popcorn)
  • 1 large brown paper bag from a grocery store
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup light Karo syrup
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • ½ tsp. baking soda

Directions:

  • Pop the corn. If using microwave popcorn, it usually takes 3 bags to make 12 cups. Do not add butter or salt. Place the popped corn in a large brown paper bag.
  • Place the brown sugar, Karo Syrup, butter and salt in a medium-sized microwave bowl. Do not cover. Microwave these ingredients together, on high, for 2 minutes.
  • Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the ingredients. Place back in the microwave and microwave on high for a total of 3 minutes, stopping and stirring the ingredients after each minute.
  • Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir in the vanilla and baking soda. The mixture will bubble up and become thick like caramel as you stir the ingredients together.
  • Pour the caramel over the popped corn in the bag. Close the bag by folding down the open end 2 times. Shake the closed bag for 15 seconds.
  • Place the closed bag of corn in the microwave. If your microwave has a turning plate, make sure the bag is closed enough so the bag can freely turn on the plate. Microwave on high for one minute. Remove the bag and shake it for 15 seconds.
  • Place the bag back in the microwave and microwave on high for another minute. Remove and shake the bag for another 15 seconds. Return it to the microwave and microwave for another 30 seconds. Remove and shake the bag one last time.
  • Pour the caramel corn onto two cookie sheets and spread it out to cool slightly. This caramel corn won’t last long but if you do happen to have any leftover, store it in a zip lock bag.
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2008 – Jewel Pearce Patterson Scholarship for Quilting Teachers

By Kathy Kansier | Published February 2, 2010

Click here to watch an interview with me by Jodie Davis of QNNTV

Jewel Pearce Patterson was one of the founders of Quilts, Inc. and the mother of Karey Bresenhan who is the current president of this organization. Quilts Inc. sponsors three major quilt festivals and two quilt markets each year. In 1990, this organization developed a schlarship for quilting teachers. Each year, one teacher is chosen for this prestigious award. Previous winners have included Pepper Cory, Jenny Raymond, Nancy Eha, Jackie Robinson and a list of other well-known quilting teachers.

I applied for this scholarship by sending in my resume which included a listing of the classes I teach, my teaching schedule for the past five years, photos of my quilts and quilts by my students. I also sent 42 letters of recommendation which were written on my behalf by students, fellow teachers and quilt-related organizations and businesses. Those letters were very uplifting to me and I will always cherish the copies that I have of them.

I was notified in February 2008 that I had been chosen as the 2008 recipient. I received my round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations and paid tuition for classes at the 2008 Quilt Market and Festival in Houston, Texas. My trip lasted 12 days and it really was a trip of a lifetime. I learned so much in my classes. I can’t thank Quilts, Inc. enough for this opportunity. I was introduced at each banquet and the two Bernina Fashion Shows and the awards ceremony.

This scholarship does have some strings attached. I am now required to develop new classes, based on my experience and what I learned in my classes. An exhibit of work by myself and my students will hang at the 2009 Houston Quilt Festival. This exhibit is a bit of a pressure. I hope we can finish the quilts by early fall so they can be shipped to Houston.

There is a nice article about me and the scholarship in the December/January 2009 issue of Quilters Newsletter. Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson put my photo and the scholarship on The Quilt Show web site and Jodie Davis of QNNTV has a 30 minute interview with me on their web site which you can watch.

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