Quilt Fiesta! The annual Tucson Quilters Guild show (4)

 It's quilt show time!  The annual Quilt Fiesta, held by the Tucson Quilters Guild in Arizona, is an outstanding show. Here are more of our favorite photos.

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Will by Kathy Godbout, quilted by Wolf Quilting

Kathy Godbout says, "This quilt was created from a photo I took of my dog Will. The collage process was taught by Susan Carlson at a quilt retreat. The quilting was done by Kristy Wolf on top of an old piece of Japanese fabric."  This quilt was framed; it was entered in a new category called "Art - Rigid Finished."

Venus Galactic Explosion by Yvonne M. Flores, quilted by Quality Quilters

Venus Galactic Explosium was based on a Missouri Star Block-of-the-Month project. Yvonne Flores says, "This was a block-of-the-month project during [COVID-19] lockdown. The block pattern and fabric were mailed monthly. It was selected because of the design and warm colored fabrics. The sewing was a stress release."

Happy Trails by Gloria Magee & Carey Larue, quilted by Susan Gorder.

Happy Trails was awarded 1st place in the Group Quilt category. This lovely quilt was based on the ‘Happy Trails’ quilt pattern by Pearl Pereira. Gloria Magee says, "My daughter and I saw this pattern at a workshop we took from Pearl [Pereira]. We decided to make a wall hanging with the center block only. The branding irons represent the initials of my daughter’s five sons."

Mystery Reimagined by Penny Boese

Mystery Reimagined won First Place in its category (One Person Medium Pieced Machine Quilted.) It is a pattern redesign of Michelle Hiatt’s Holiday Sensation Mystery Quilt. Penny Boese says, “I learned I am not a mystery quilt person!"

Penny says, "I started off completing clues but I didn’t like the fabric placement nor blocks as the quilt came together. I left some elements in place, but really redesigned the quilt.” We admired the machine quilting designs and execution, which softens the angular lines of the blocks.

Desert Blossoms by Camille Salisbury, quilted by Brenda Smitley

This stunning applique quilt is a real standout. Camille Salisbury says that Desert Blossoms was based on Nancy Landon’s BOM Cactus Quilt [at the Cactus Quilt Shop.] “I loved choosing bright desert colors for this quilt. I enlarged the pattern to make it a king size quilt.”

3877 by Cherie Swanson, quilted by Quality Quilterz

Cherie Swanson based this fabulous quilt on 'Finger Lakes' in Judy Martin’s Log Cabin Quilt Book. Cherie says, “3877 is the number of pieces in the quilt. Or maybe that’s the number of hours it took to piece it?”Cherie's fabric choices and contrasts make this design sparkle.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2023 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

Desert Adventure: Quilt Arizona ! 2016

Warm sunny weather greeted us upon our desert adventure to Quilt Arizona !, the new name for the 2016 annual show of the Arizona Quilters Guild in Mesa, Arizona.  Here's part I of the highlights of the show, plus some of our personal favorites.

Two Sisters - Out To Lunch by Margot McDonnell

The turquoise ribbon you see on the upper right of this quilt is the Judges Special Choice Award, and the red ribbon is the Second Place award in the Art Quilts- Innovative category. Margot writes, " When wacko siblings lunch, what do they do?  Wear masquerade masks, of course, and act silly." Margot's work, with its brilliant colors, whimsical theme, and appliqued floral border done in the Broderie Perse technique garnered lots of compliments from the numerous viewers.

Margot's original design in fused, painted, and machine quilted. What fun to see the merriment on the faces of two sisters who are clearly each others best friends.

Dream Color by Janice Sanders, quilted by Sharon Brooks

Third Place award winner in the Medium Size Pieced Quilts category, Janice wanted a challenge and based her quilt on "Brilliant Beauties of Joy pattern by quilt artist Jacqueline de Jonge.  She enjoyed picking out each colorful fabric. Working on the quilt only part time, it took Janice eight months to complete the quilt.  

In the center of this block, a colorful sun overlooks a rainbow of spiky hues.

Sandy R's Round Robin by Sandy Rauperstrauch, quilted by Sandy Strunk

Sandy states, "The 25-inch center was made by me. Each friend added a six inch border of her choice, with the color to coordinate with the center. Black and red hues dominate." The beige colored inner border is decorated with pink and green squares of chenille fabric, which gives a very interesting texture to this piece.

Close-up, Sandy R's Round Robin

Fake fur adorns the butterfly's body while its antennae of yarn is carefully couch-stitched into a curved design.

Sherry's Quilt by Reni Dieball, quilted by Diane Pitchford

Winner of the Founder's Award for Exemplary Workmanship and second place winner for Group-Sewn Quilts, Reni explains, "The top was started by Sherry Erway in 2001 and finished by 2003. This wonderful hexagon top was given to me by Sherry upon my leaving Arizona in 2013. I made additional hexagons to fill the dips and valleys and added the borders in 2015."

Reni's pattern is based on the lovely vintage "Grandmother's Flower Garden" design and the English paper piecing technique. An  innovative zebra-striped fabric comprises the inner border and provides intriguing contrast.

Sewing in Circles by Pam McMahon, quilted by Jessica Gamez

Best of Show Award winner, Pam notes, " The stars were designed by Judy Martin and were pieced traditionally. The "Flying Geese" triangles and circular triangles were paper pieced.  The quilt center layout design was by Linda Peck of Oregon, and the outside borders were designed by myself."

Elegant, traditional, very precise longarm quilting by Jessica Gamez highlights each individual block, as well as the large feathered star design in the center.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Quilt Show catch up: Part 3

One of the things we love about quilt shows is the chance to see a broad range of quilt styles and techniques, from traditional to modern.  For our impromptu Summer Quilt Show, here are some more intriguing quilts in a variety of styles! 

Autumn Wonders by Carolyn Morris

Autumn Wonders was created by Carolyn Morris to focus on the salmon. She says: Autumn is a favorite time with salmon spawning, larch trees, and colors”.  The quilt was embellished with real stone and fuzzy yarn to represent the river bed.  This quilt won honorable mention in its category at the 2013 Arizona Quilters Guild show.

close up, Autumn Wonders by Carolyn Morris

In the close up photo you can see the detail of the cutwork salmon, which were raw-edge appliqued with a straight stitch.  The batik diamonds create a perfect watery background for the fish.

Jo and Friends in the "Heartland" by Sue Maitre, quilted by Linda Hrcka

Sue Maitre is a lifelong quilter who has been featured in the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame.  She says: “Wanting to learn to applique small pieces, I took a four-day workshop from Pearl Pereira. After four months, this is the final result.” The pattern is the American Sampler Quilt by Pearl Pereira. Sue won 1st place and a blue ribbon in her category, plus the Mayor's Award!  Details of several of the 12 blocks are shown below.

close up, Jo and Friends in the Heartland by Sue Maitre

Our favorite block was this charming gray cat.  He has an embroidered face and is surrounded by flowers and vines.

close up, Jo and Friends in the Heartland by Sue Maitre

Each of the blocks was quilted differently, but all of them featured some form of feathers. In addition, Linda Hrcka quilted in the ditch around each of the applique pieces.  Here is a lovely fruit basket with a pineapple, pears, oranges and cherries.

close up, Jo and Friends in the Heartland by Sue Maitre

Pearl Pereira is renowned for her Baltimore album-inspired quilts, and this heart-shaped block with two birds represents a lovely classical design.

close up, Jo and Friends in the Heartland by Sue Maitre

The border was particularly lovely; it was quilted with feathers that next under the scalloped banners.

Stars Over the Rockies by Lolly Platt, quilted by Sherry Jack

The greens and blues of this quilt, and the triangle design, really drew us in.  Lolly Platt says:  "This Judy Martin pattern is packed with interest, especially in the borders."

close up,  Stars Over the Rockies by Lolly Platt, quilted by Sherry Jack

Lolly Platt says that she made this quilt for her grandson, who was born in a Rocky Mountain state.  The pattern is "Mountain Vistas" as featured on page 42 of Judy Martin's 1994 Pieced Borders book.

Spirits of the Southwest by Judy Peters

"Spirits of the Southwest" features machine appliqued batik animals with metallic thread.  Judy Peters incorporated ultra suede material and embellished the quilt with copper nuggets and buttons from her collection.  She received honorable mention in her category at the 2013 Arizona quilt show.

close up, Spirits of the Southwest by Judy Peters

We recognize these animals as a variation of the Native Flair designs by Sindy Rodenmayer at Fat Cat Quilting. Judy Peters has created an authentic Southwestern wall hanging with her choice of colors, fabrics, quilting and embellishments.

Image credits: All photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2013 Arizona Quilters Guild show. 

Best of the 2012 Arizona Quilt Show: Part 6

We can't get enough of beautiful quilts ! That's the entire purpose of this blog. What pride these quilters must have felt in seeing their outstanding work displayed at the Arizona Quilter's Guild 2012 show. We were impressed by all these quilts: and we'd love to read your comments about which quilt impressed you the most.

Jerome I by Margot McDonnell

Up in the beautiful foothills of north central Arizona, the old western town of Jerome is well-known throughout the state for honoring its heritage. Margot McDonnell's outstanding use of  all neutral hues shows great detail and flawless perspective in depicting this vintage house standing proudly against the elements of winter. Blue-ribbon winner for Pictorial Quilts, Margot's work is hand appliqued, hand embroidered, and machine quilted.

The Poseidon Adventure by Monika Hancock, quilted by Debbie Stanton

Blue ribbon winner in the category of Large Pieced Quilts, artist Monica Hancock writes,  " (Longarm quilter) Debbie Stanton picked this pattern from Judy Martin's "Stellar Quilts", hinting that I needed more challenging projects.....she was right ! It took time and thinking about the process." The modern Greek Key design using a range of lovely blue batiks, interspersed with traditional Ohio Star blocks really caught our eye in this king-sized quilt.

Close-up, The Poseidon Adventure, quilted by Debbie Stanton

In addition to the blue ribbon for piecing, "The Poseidon Adventure" also won the turquoise ribbon Exemplary Award for machine quilting with a track mounted machine. Debbie Stanton's beautiful swirled quilting pattern provides a perfect contrast to the geometric, angular design of the blocks.

Magical Midnight Garden by Judith Ritner and Designing Women members, quilted by Cindy Phare

First place winner for Best Quilt by a Group, Judith Ritner says,  "An original design created and executed by Designing Women group members. (This quilt was)  paper pieced, regular pieced, and hand appliqued." These gorgeous colors and the sprightly art nouveau style flowers interspersed with modern Mariner's Compass blocks remind us of a glowing, lit-from-behind Tiffany stained glass window.

A Baltimore Album by Barbara Klink, quilted by Sharon Brooks

Barbara Klink notes, "I machine embroidered this Baltimore Album quilt taught by Claudia Dinnell ( who digitized the patterns)." Machine embroidery patterns and designs have burgeoned in the past two decades, and in the hands of skilled artists like Barbara Klink and Claudia Dinnell, stunning quilts like the one above have been created. This is a great example of new technology being used to create time-honored and well-loved quilt blocks.

Simply Quilts Quilt, round robin, Lorraine Owen, Cindy Phare and Charlotte York.  Quilted by Lorraine Owen.

Lorraine Owen states,  "This was a Round Robin with some friends. The center was made by me, the butterflies (in the corners) were made by Cindy Phare, and the moustaches (at the sides) were made by Charlotte York." Red and white quilts are always so cheerful, and this delightful pattern is no exception. Look closely at the center of the quilt, and you can see how the pattern appears to "spin around " with dynamic energy.

Close-up of Simply Quilts Quilt

This is a quilt after the circa 1900 Vortex quilt in the American Folk Art Museum, which we posted in our Infinite Variety in Two Colors: Red and White feature.  There is also a link to a reproduction vortex quilt pattern in our Free Pattern Day - Red & White Quilts. We love this pattern and the fascinating optical illusions created by it.