During this time of COVID, the shows, lectures, and workshops have all been canceled, but I still do business by mail order anywhere in the world. You can use Paypal to purchase from us online, or you can call an order in if you don't like using a credit card online.
I am Debora Konchinsky, the designer and founder of Critter Pattern Works, located in Southeastern Pennsylvania. I graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fabric Design from Philadelphia College of Art (now called University of the Arts), Philadelphia, PA, with an award for Outstanding Achievement. In 1977, I started quilting by taking a class in Overland Park KS. I began teaching quilting in 1978, in Dublin OH. That same year, I began to specialize in machine appliqué animal designs while I was a docent at the Columbus Ohio Zoo. It wasn't until I moved back to my home state of Pennsylvania in 1987, that I became aware that my style of quilting was so different. In 1989, I published my first pattern, with the help of Barbara Spittler, the owner of Grandmother's Patches, a now-defunct quilt shop in Eagle PA, and as they say, the rest is history...
In the years, that followed I published 80 + patterns. In 2010 I exhibited my first Felted Applique quilt, Crazy Sheep. It won many blue ribbons and the next Felted Applique pattern, Sheep Wannabees, did too. The focus of Critter Pattern Works shifted to wool because the resulting appliques are more realistic than cotton machine appliques.
My husband, Paul Konchinsky, was CPW's Marketing Mavin. He died in August 2020. He graduated from Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science, Philadelphia, PA (now called Philadelphia University) in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing and Management. He was the perfect compliment to my artistic skills. He took care of the production and inventory of all the patterns I created. He also lent his expertise in marketing our products. One ignorant woman at a show commented that Paul was a "kept man". Really! He fell off a short ladder after complaining he was dizzy, in 2017 hanging quilts at a show. His health went downwards from that time and finally, it got the better of him.
