Helen's Angels
ARTISAN NAME: Kathleen Tullius
CREATIONS: Rag Quilts, Kitchen Towels
ARTIST’S STATEMENT: Helen’s Angels began with my brothers and sisters (there are 5 of us) and expanded to encompass the entire rather crafty family and was named Helen’s Angels in memory of my mother. My enthusiastic sisters and I love to knit, crochet, sew, quilt, bead and design with polymer clay! We have two distinct lines currently; Kathy’s Kitchen and Baby Steps that we are proud to bring to the Artisans Market!
Kathy started making her hanging kitchen towels at about 12 years old. Family and friends would get them throughout the year as gifts. Growing up, we always used the “flour sack” dish towels that my grandmother had used all her life and the traditional terry cloth towels. Grandma would bleach the sacks that her flour came in then hang them on the clothesline to allow the sun to bleach them more. Wanting them to be pretty, she began to trim her towels with fabric to “dress them up.” With a large family, she made them for our Christmas gifts each year often accompanied by a jar of jam or pickles.
I decorate flour sack towels and sew my hanging kitchen towels as they were always requested by family and friends who saw them - Helen’s Angels was the result. Soon after, the Baby Steps line was added to introduce the talented family members who created baby Afghans and Quilts over the years. Growing up with parents raised in the Depression era, we learned at a young age that re-use of items was a good thing and thrifted our way while growing up. Often adopting neglecting craft materials and collections – we always enjoy giving new life to items.
CONNECTION TO FABMO: When my twin sister Terri discovered FabMo – she eagerly shared her “Treasure Trove” of rescued items. From fabric to yarn to tiles – anything we can reuse has jumped into our purchase bags, ready to start a new life. This year we are very proud to introduce both rag quilts and kitchen towels to the Artisan Market – of course made with a minimum of 30% FabMo rescues, and some that are 100% FabMo!
