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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nToday, as owner and operator of a Colorado Springs-based crafts business, Gaul shares her passion for the medium by offering unique dimensional wool appliqu\u00e9 art patterns to crafts-lovers. VS Sewing Machine Dealers<\/a> Through Meetinghouse Hill Designs LLC, Gaul provides kits with patterns, fabrics and threads, and produces punch-needle patterns, rug-hooking canvases and a sewing accessories line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meetinghouse Hill\nDesigns\u2019 wool appliqu\u00e9 art patterns focus on the same types of fabrics and\ntechniques used in 1800s penny rugs. This is the use of felted wool fabrics and\nembroidery stitches such as blanket and backstitch and French knots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaul singlehandedly\ncreates the design, writes instructions, and publishes and markets her patterns\nline. Her husband, Jerry, manages the business and graphic-design tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through her\nefforts, Gaul seeks to evoke an appreciation and love for manipulating wool and\nusing hand-dyed threads. She also wants her artwork and patterns to stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI want people to\ncreate something with these designs and experience the joy creativity brings,\u201d\nshe said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Leominster,\nMass., born-and-raised Gaul talked about how her aunt, Yvonne Auger, taught her\nto sew her first doll and encouraged her to pursue her love of crafts and\nsewing. \u201cShe greatly influenced my love of textiles,\u201d Gaul said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After earning a\nBachelor of Science degree in textiles and clothing from California Polytechnic\nState University, Pomona, Calif. in 1991, Gaul spent 10 years restoring antique\nquilts \u2014 a skill that continues to pay dividends. She launched her at-home\nbusiness in April 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several of Gaul\u2019s\ndesigns reflect a New England flavor because of the people, places and\nexperiences she recalls when seeking inspiration for a new design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her many framed\ndesigns scattered throughout her home reflect an early American d\u00e9cor that, for\nsome, evokes memories of autumn and of the scent of homemade apple pie wafting\nin the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying to\nelevate the craft to an art form which is why we frame Kathy\u2019s work,\u201d Jerry\nsaid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaul also draws\ninspiration from pieces created by other artists, she said. \u201cWe try to collect\nold pieces because I appreciate the inspiration and creativity behind them,\u201d\nshe said of a cabinet painted with a country scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaul\u2019s designs\ninclude two beak-to-beak cardinals, a lamb bearing the inscription \u201cPining for\nEwe,\u201d and a wool pinecone sporting six glitter snow-dusted evergreen branches\ntaking up residence atop a painted candle stand. With its 5-star bald eagle,\nthe patriotic \u201cCelebrate America\u201d is a favorite with clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the\ndesign, \u201cChildhood Friend: Early 1900s Rocking Horse on a Braided Rug\u201d remains\nGaul\u2019s personal favorite. \u201cThat was a fun design to make because it has lots of\ndimension,\u201d Gaul said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to\ncreating kits and patterns, Gaul is an author. Her self-published \u201cWool\nappliqu\u00e9 Essentials \u2014 Tools and Techniques for Success,\u201d complements her\npatterns and serves as a handy resource for wool-stitch aficionados.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meetinghouse Hill\nDesigns was nominated for the 2013 and 2014 Martha Stewart American Made award.\nGaul has taught at shops, quilt guilds, museums and events nationwide, and at\nthe renown Vermont Quilt Festival from 2015 to 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaul\u2019s recently\nredesigned style of soft-cover pattern books contain detailed written\ninstructions and 25-80 color procedural photos. Full-scale pattern layouts and\nindividually-drawn pattern pieces, stitching diagrams and information about\nworking with felted wool also are contained. The cost of Meetinghouse Hill\nDesign patterns range from $10 to $32, and kits containing full patterns, felt\nwool pieces and hand-dyed threads can fetch up to as much as $365.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaul shares the\nstory that inspired each design on the back cover of each book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2016, Meetinghouse Hill Designs won \u201cviewer\u2019s choice\u201d for \u201cbest-decorated booth\u201d during the 40th anniversary of the Vermont Quilt Festival in Essex Junction, Vt. https:\/\/vssewingmachine.in\/<\/a> The business also has participated at quilt shows and hook-ins nationwide including the American Quilter\u2019s Society Quilt Show in Paducah, Ky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaul was named a \u201cDirectory Artisan\u201d for Early American Life magazines\u2019 2019 Directory of Traditional American Crafts, scheduled for release in Decembers\u2019 Holiday Directory issue. She has been published in\u00a0ATHA\u00a0(Association of Traditional Hooking Artists) Magazine,\u00a0Rug Hooking Magazine\u00a0and National Quilting Association\u2019s \u201cThe Quilting Quarterly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She has conducted\ndimensional wool appliqu\u00e9 demonstrations in Phoenix, Ariz., and in Denver and\nLongmont. As a public speaker, Gaul seeks to draw community together in her\nlove for textiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaul\u2019s biggest\nchallenge is producing the work without hired assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s challenging\nto be a one-person show, to be able to do it all and do it well,\u201d Jerry said.\nHis wife agreed, adding that perseverance and treating others with respect\nalways prevails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are delighted\nto share our passion for wool with you, and look forward to inspiring your\njourney of stitching, hooking and punching,\u201d Gaul said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"