Kellie Willey - Miniature Quilts for the Everyday Quilter
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Miniature Quilts for the Everyday Quilter
Kellie Willey - Miniature Quilt Maker - Alton, Iowa
Welcome to my world of Miniature Quilting! I love quilting and feel fortunate that I can share my craft with so many other people. No matter where I travel, I know I can find a friend at a local Quilt Shop or Guild. There is always something new and exciting to learn in quilting and I can't imagine ever running out of ideas for all the miniature quilts I want to make.
Why I make Miniature Quilts
Mostly because they are tiny! I have always been drawn to miniatures and collect several small items, including antique Wedding Cake Toppers, Liddle Kiddles and Schleich Farm animals. I recently moved to the tiny town of Alton, Iowa and live in a 100 year old home with my Husband, Steve and Hedgehog, Bobbin. My Stash fills the walk-in closet and I have several sewing machines, including a Brother Luminaire, a Pfaff Creative 3.0, and a Singer Featherweight. I love working in small scale and finishing lots of quilts every year instead of working for months on a large quilt. I have a short attention span and usually want to hurry up and start my next little quilt! The largest quilt I will make is a baby quilt or lap quilt but then only for someone very special!
How it all started......
My Quilting journey started in 2008 when I met my future Mother in law, Sally Willey. She was a quilter and asked me if I had every wanted to quilt. I casually said "Yes". A few months later, after I married her son, Sally gave me a vintage Kenmore sewing machine, a rotary cutter, cutting mat and rulers. She also invited me to share her stash and her friend's stash! I took a beginner quilting class and was hooked. At first I worked on lap-sized quilts. Then one day Auntie Chloe (Sally's sister) taught me to how to foundation piece and make a small Christmas quilt. This started my obsession with making tiny quilts.
My Family
Where I get my inspiration....
I love the traditional quilts of the past. Some of my favorite patterns are the Double Wedding Ring, Log Cabin and Crazy Quilts. It is challenging and fun to recreate old looks with a mini modern look. Over the years I have found inspiration in many great pattern books on miniature quilting. I find them in used book stores, at Thrift Stores, on Amazon and on the free table at my Guild meetings. Several of these books have been gifts from friends and family. Years ago Miniature Quilt Magazine was published and ran for several years. It is filled with great patterns and photos of miniature quilts and ways to display them. I have collected the past issues and have almost every one. I also love to go to quilt shows and be inspired by the beautiful quilts of today.
I feel fortunate that I have a craft that I love and get to enjoy almost every day. Quilting has given me lots of wonderful friends and hours of creativity and thank goodness I have a husband who understands (and supports) my quilty life!
Happy quilting,
Kellie Willey
I feel fortunate that I have a craft that I love and get to enjoy almost every day. Quilting has given me lots of wonderful friends and hours of creativity and thank goodness I have a husband who understands (and supports) my quilty life!
Happy quilting,
Kellie Willey