Alaskan Vacation

Today we're featuring the Northern Wilderness quilt, a "spectacular journey that leads you through the natural wonders of the northern country." Designed by Alaskans, Marie Noah, Mary Thompson, and Heather Griffin, it features 16 individual applique scenes that can be assembled into a quilted masterpiece.  Or, pick a single block for a smaller project. Enjoy these photos from a 2025 show!

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on jewelry and collectibles! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on X (Twitter) !  

Alaskan Vacation made and quilted by Athena Taylor  

Athena Taylor says that she saw this quilt pattern while on vacation in Alaska, and purchased all the fabric while on that trip; she called her finished quilt Alaskan Vacation.  Athena says, "One of my favorite techniques is applique over pieced blocks. So this was a really fun quilt to do!"  

The jagged border is made with Delectable Mountains blocks. Individual blocks include the lob cabin, flying geese, storm-at-sea, and more. We love the Bear Paw block, below, which combines an appliqued bear over a pieced block.

And here is a Storm-at-Sea block (one of our favorites!) with an appliqued whale:

Northern Wilderness, made by Rhonda Borders, quilted by Peg Collins.   

 Another beautiful version of the Northern Wildnerness quilt was made Rhonda Borders.  The darker colors remind us of the Northwest landscapes of Alaska. Rhonda Borders says, "Even on vacation to Alaska, we had to find the quilt stores! Rhonda notes that she did not get to see the Northern lights. (Northern lights happen rarely, and only a matter of luck if you see them while visiting the North!)

We love the log cabin block, below, which features a special kind of log cabin. LOL! 

 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show. 

Blooming Nine Patch: A Perennial Favorite

Did you ever construct a quilt which looked really challenging, but was incredibly fun to make? The blooming nine patch is one of those intriguing patterns. Each fabric square alternates with a nine-patch that uses the two adjacent fabrics, creating a subtle "color wash" transition from one fabric to the next. (For more blooming nine patch quilts, see our original post from 2011!)

Note: Please check out our eBay shop for great bargains on jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!

Kaffe Blooming Nine Patch by Pat Morris, quilted by Athena Taylor

The Blooming Nine Patch design was first published in 1996 by Blanche Young with her daughter, Dalene Young Stone, in their classic book Tradition With a Twist.   Another daughter, Helen Young Frost, arranged the design in concentric diamonds, much like the Amish Trip Around the World pattern.

Pat Morris says, "It's a fun quilt to make using alternating nine patches and plain squares. I used Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics assembled in a kit by All About Color Quilting.  It was machine quilted using edge-to-edge computerized quilting by Athena Taylor." (Can you see the nine patch blocks in this closeup photo?)

 The Blackhole, made and quilted by Debra Kaweske 

 Debra Kaweske says that this stunning quilt, made in beautiful batiks, was inspired by the photo of a black hole.  The photo made her want to create an original quilt which would transition from a bright inviting center to a vast outer space. The lovely details and quilting can be seen in the closeup below.

 

Note:  For those who love batiks, Robert Kaufman Fabrics has a free "Luminous Nine Patch" pattern for the Kasuri collection, shown below. To download the free PDF, CLICK HERE! 

Image credits: The original quilt photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show. 

Going Green

March is the month of St. Patrick's Day on the 17th and the Spring Equinox on the 20th. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's the month where trees and plants start to pop out new leaves. To honor the month, here are some beautiful green quilts.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns and collectible items! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter! 

Solstice, made and quilted by Ruth Suk

This quilt was beautifully pieced, with a giant star medallion highlighted in the center of a field of gold. Ruth Suk used freezer paper piecing to create the gorgeous green medallion.  "I am new to paper piecing and enjoyed the freezer paper piecing process."  Published design: Solstice by Bryan House Quilts.

Starget by Joyce Holley, quilted by Nancy Goans

Star lovers will love this design! Starget is a double circle of stars that bring light, medium and dark fabrics colors together to shine. Joyce Holley says that each block in this quilt is named after a rock & roll musician (star) including Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, and Johnny Cash. Starget is a pattern designed by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 Design.  

 Joyce Holley says, "The challenge of Starget is to maintain every point on each star.  Starget is a great quilt to challenge your skill. I enjoyed making this quilt."  Nancy Goans quilted and brought out the stars.

Black & White & Green all over by Christine Nelson, quilted by Athena Taylor

Lime green strips really stand out against the graphic black prints in this quilt, creating a woven look. The pattern is by Carolyn Forster, published in Today's Quilter magazine (Cariad Mawr, a Welsh Frame Quilt, in Today’s Quilter issue 87 Page 67(2022).  Christine Nelson says, "I saw a quilt in Today's Quilter magazine and had to make it... I chose black and white with touches of green to make the unusual quilt design stand out."

The original pattern, by Carolyn Forster, was itself inspired by a project in the book The Quilts of the British Isles by Janet Rae (1987).  The book featured a scrap quilt made in Wales around 1910.  It looks like it would be fun to make - although keeping everything in line would be a challenge!

For more Quilt Inspiration, please check out our Free Pattern Day for Green Quilts (CLICK HERE!)

 

Image credits: Original quilt photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show (Starget, and Black & White & Green All Over) and the 2025 Arizona Quilters Guild show (Solstice).

 

Inspired by Red & White

Red & white are classic quilt colors! This stunning combination brings to mind friendship, love, and tradition. Join us as we take a look at some red and white quilts which celebrate a fun time of the year!

Note: Please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on patterns, jewelry, and collectibles. You also can follow us on X/Twitter!

Red Starburst, made and quilted by Pamela Golliet 

Spiky New York Beauty blocks nestle between the points of the lone star on this wall-size quilt. Pattern source: Judy Niemeyer's "Twinkle Star" pattern. Pamela Golliet says, "[This was] my first Judy Niemeyer paper pieced pattern, I used fabrics from my stash. I love the big star!"

Rose Colored Glasses, made and quilted by Athena Taylor

This beautiful lone star quilt is made from 250 paper pieced diamonds ranging from pink to red! The center star was a design by Tula Pink. Athena Taylor designed the surrounding layout, placing a red and pink butterfly in each of the four corners! Additional blocks were made with piecing, raw edge applique and needle turned applique. We spy a bee, umbrella, strawberries, and a cheerful frog.

 

Athena Taylor's lovely quilting can be seen in this closeup photo of the center star.

New York Beauty by Sara Quigley

This elegant paper-pieced quilt is made with a variety of red fabrics.  The background is a single white fabric. Sara Quigley says, "This was one of my first New York Beauty patterns and I made this about 15 years ago." It was beautifully hand quilted by ladies at the Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon. 

 If you enjoyed this post, you might be interested in FREE PATTERNS for Red & White Quilts. To download the free quilt patterns shown below: CLICK for Part 1 and CLICK for Part 2.

 

Image credits: Original quilt photos were taken at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild Show (New York Beauty by Sara Quigley) and the 2024 Tucson Quilters Guild show (Red Starburst and Rose Colored Glasses.)

Welcome to the Quilt Fiesta! (2)

We attended the 2025 Quilt Fiesta in Tucson, Arizona, and had a wonderful time.  This show is produced by the Tucson Quilters Guild, and there were so many beautiful quilts to admire. We hope you enjoy our photos of the show! Here is part 2.

Note: Please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on patterns, jewelry, and collectibles. You also can follow us on Twitter!

We Chose Arizona by Maine-ly Quilting Sisters (Karen Chrisman, Betty Jordan, Mary Lucas, Katherine Kenwood & Susan Baxter); quilted by Betty Jordan & Katherine Kenwood.

This incredible landscape quilt was constructed in parts, then assembled.  Each part was made with Seminole piecing. The description says, "Our group began practicing Seminole piecing together. Betty, Katherine & Mary are from Maine; Susan is from Oregon and Karen is from Arizona. We live in this beautiful state by choice. The work shows our skills and our bond as quilters."

 Queen of the Night by Trish Hastings-Sargent  

This is a framed work of art, representing a relatively new category called Rigid Finished Art Quilts (RFAQ).  They are supported by a frame, stretcher bars or other means rather than a sleeve.  When art quilts are stretched onto a rigid frame, or matted and put into a decorative frame, they resemble a fine-art piece.

We were captivated by the translucent quality of these flower petals and the embroidery representing the pistil and stamen in the center. Trish Hastings-Sargent says, "Once a year in June, the night-blooming Cereus (cactus) turns into a stunning display of fragrant white blossoms! The show begins just after dusk and is usually over by midnight. By morning, the blooms are all gone."

Tucson Five-O by the Tucson Quilters Guild Quilt Fiesta Committee, quilted by Athena Taylor.  

 Pattern source: Inspiration from TQG opportunity quilt blocks over the years.  In 2026 the Tucson Quilters Guild will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. This quilt was created with this milestone in mind (hence the name, Five-O).  It will be the guild's 2026 opportunity quilt (wow!)  The quilt center showcases the stately saguaro cactus of the Sonoran desert, along with an ocotillo and prickly pear, highlighted against the mountains and the colorful sky.

Various local birds can be seen including an owl, hummingbird, and a Gambel's quail (below). 

Sonoran Baltimore by Judy Tenen, quilted by Linda Cote 

This gorgeous Baltimore album-style quilt was designed by Nancy Landon.  Judy Tenen says, "As always, I enjoy making quilts that Nancy Landon designed.  I modified her pattern slightly and enjoy the elements that represent Tucson while still being a traditional "album" style quilt.  Linda Cote furthered the desert theme with her custom quilting. Thanks to both Nancy and Linda!"

The historic San Xavier Del Bac mission is shown in the closeup photo above. Sitting just south of Tucson, the mission is not to be missed if you are visiting the area. It is Arizona’s oldest European structure and a masterpiece of Spanish Colonial architecture, completed in 1797.  

Beautiful applique work can be seen throughout this quilt, including the doves, squirrels, and vines in this photo.

Happiness by Sandra Schuster, quilted by Rick at Sunset Quilting

Sandra Schuster won a blue ribbon for her brightly colored beauty.  She says, "It pulses - from small to big, from thin to thick, with such saturated colors, and OH! Those feathers that are quilted on it! Brought together they equal happiness."  Pattern source: Prismatic by Gina at Gem Hill Quilts. 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

Welcome to the Quilt Fiesta! (1)

We just attended the 2025 Quilt Fiesta in Tucson, Arizona, and had a wonderful time.  This show is produced by the Tucson Quilters Guild, and there were so many beautiful quilts to see. We hope you enjoy our photos of the show! Here is part 1.

Note: Please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on patterns, jewelry, and collectibles. You also can follow us on Twitter!

Leo by Lynne Saul, quilted by Athena Taylor  

 Lynne Saul says, "This quilt is paper pieced. I chose to make him green for fun." Winner of Honorable mention in its category (two persons, primarily pieced, hand or machine quilted.)  The pattern source is the Legit Lion pattern by Legit Kits.  As shown in the closeup photo, the irises of Leo's eyes were enhanced with small, jet black faceted beads!

Civil War Bride by Dureen Berg, quilted by Becky Coykendall

Heavily appliquéd blocks of flowers & leaves, birds & butterflies, animals & fruit make up this heirloom quilt. Winner of Best of Show, and of 1st place - Two-Person Applique. The applique work is truly outstanding, with so many details to appreciate in every block! 

Dureen Berg says: "I had fun searching for the 126 fabrics used in this quilt.  Many are reproduction fabrics but I did not limit myself to their use. Becky Coykendall's talented quilting enhances and completes the design."  The Civil War Bride Pattern is by Corliss Searcey.  

Gilded Cathedral, made and quilted by Karen G. Fisher

This is a gorgeous cathedral windows quilt!  Karen G. Fisher says, "I made the  copper center of this quilt years ago.  To make it bigger, I used my Graduated Grid format with bigger blocks to grow it faster.  Four block sizes celebrate metallic fabrics, with lots of small-scale golden highlights."  Winner of a 2nd place ribbon; we hope you can see all the work that went into this intricate design! 

Go Ask Alice by Kathi Shunn, quilted by B'nae Pulve

This fabulous kaleidoscope quilt won 1st Place (Two Person, Medium Pieced category) and a special award for Exemplary Piecing. Kathi Shunn says, "[This] original pattern was designed by me for my company Darty Kite Pattern Co.  The design was inspired by my friend Alice. I used mostly fabrics by Odile Bailloeul and it is English paper pieced by hand."

 Beautiful colors, shapes, and patterned fabrics make this quilt a real standout.

 Basket Bonanza, made and quilted by Kathy Ann Barry

It was wonderful to see this Amish basket quilt! We love the colors and contrasts, and it was beautifully constructed with nine-patch blocks as cornerstones. Kathy Ann Barry says, "In 2024 my daughter, Amanda, won the Fiesta Basket Bonanza. The prize was wonderful baskets and fabrics. In the Tucson Quilters Guild library I was encouraged to take a magazine, where I found a beautiful quilt pattern.  Amanda shared the fabric and the Guild shared the magazine."

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Quilt Fiesta in Tucson, Arizona.