Heidi Kaisand is a native Iowan, spending most of her childhood years in Northwood and graduating from Northwood-Kensett High School. At the age of 9 she became actively involved in 4-H. During her 10 years of active membership she entered quilts, crafts, food, and furniture projects in the fair. Her first full-size quilt was a Nine-Patch block, hand-pieced, and hand-tied as a sophomore in high school. It was sent on to the Iowa State Fair. Working demonstrations and presentations were an everyday part of her 4-H experience and have contributed to her love of speaking to large groups of people and sharing her passion for quilting with others. Leadership roles at the state level encouraged Heidi to strive for higher goals at a young age.

Heidi attended Iowa State University graduating in 1990 with a B.S. in Consumer Food Science-Food and Nutrition. Her goal was to develop recipes for cookbooks. She was fortunate to land a job at Meredith Corporation in the cookbook division where she wrote and edited several cookbooks, as well as children’s craft titles and cross-stitch books. In 1992 she had the opportunity to meet the woman who’s idea it was to create Better Homes & Gardens American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. Having been a quilter for years, it was exciting to Heidi to be able to translate her how-to writing skills to a new medium. Officially in 1993, Heidi joined the first American Patchwork & Quilting magazine staff. As she often said, she was just developing recipes for making quilts. Her passion for quilting helped her make great strides in taking American Patchwork & Quilting magazine to the top of the industry in just a few short years. In addition she helped create and produce many other quilting titles, including Quilt Sampler, Quilts and More, Quilt-Lovers’ Favorites, Complete Guide to Quilting, and a calendar.

In September 2007, Heidi took a new direction in the quilting world by taking the position of National Sales Manager at APQS. After years of getting people started quilting, now she is helping them finish their projects on a long-arm machine.

In her spare time, Heidi loves to spend time with her family. Her husband, Jeff, is a full-time veterinarian. When not working in the office, he spends his time farming and taking care of the cow-calf operation. Their children include Henry Jack, an energetic 5-year-old and Virigina Rose and Goldie Maurine, 2-year-old identical twins. The family loves antique tractors, fishing, golfing, and gardening. Heidi squeezes in sewing as often as possible, and has made her sewing room kid friendly so Henry can work beside her, coloring, cutting, and gluing. She looks forward to the day that Virginia and Goldie can sit up to the sewing machine. Teaching children to sew is a personal goal Heidi strives to meet every year. Neighborhood kids and family friends are encouraged and supported in learning to quilt.

None of her accomplishments in life would be possible without the full support of her parents, Robert and Sheri McNutt of St. Ansgar, Iowa. She also as a brother, Matt, who resides in Painted Post, New York, with his family, including a 10-year-old niece who loves to quilt already and a 6-year-old nephew.