The Best of Quilt Arizona ! day 1

Here are our favorite quilts from the recent Quilt Arizona show!  The annual exhibit by the Arizona Quilters Guild draws visitors from around the country - we even saw license plates from Alaska and most Canadian provinces.  The array of talent at this show is truly impressive!
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Navajo Star by Cindy Stohn

Cindy Stohn won Second Place in the Modern quilt category for this original design, inspired by the weavings of the Native Peoples.  Cindy created the feather star design with bold colors. The blue fabric is printed with black and white feathers consistent with the theme of the quilt.  Weaving elements also inspired the quilting designs.

Owl Katsina by Frances Murphy

Frances Murphy created Owl Katsina using fusible and machine applique with commercial and hand dyed fabrics.  According to Frances' website, the inspiration for the figure came from the modern-day Katsina carvings of Jerome Naquatewa, an artist living at the Zuni pueblo 150 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. An image of an owl was quilted into the background.  The Owl Katsina symbolizes intelligence, wisdom and the destroyer of the crop-threatening rodents.

A Country Journal by Caryl Yarmchuk, quilted by Debbie Barlow

Although this was Caryl Yarmchuk's first needle turn applique project... she won a blue ribbon!  The pattern was in her UFO box, and she first thought she would "do just one chicken....!"  The Country Journal patterns are by Maggie Walker.  Debbie Barlow's quilting can be seen in the closeup photo below.

On The Road 2015 by Christine Mahon

We really enjoyed this colorful travel quilt! Christine Mahon says that patterns for the "rows" were collected in each state visited on her travel in 2015.  Fabric choices, embellishments, embroidery and final arrangement make it uniquely hers.  the Idaho block, below, features swimming fish, while the Arizona block has coyotes, saguaro cactus, and mountains.

Dear Paula, With Sincere Thanks, by Karen G. Fisher

This stunning quilt won First Place in the Large Pieced quilt category, along with a special Award of Merit from the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (NACQJ).  A Paula Nadelstern workshop inspired Karen Fisher to design a nine pointed star.  Bilaterally symmetric fabrics created a true kaleidoscope.  Gold fabrics, buttons and beads added plenty of sparkle.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Critter and creature quilts

As animal lovers, we enjoyed seeing some of the fun "creatures and critters" quilts shown below. They were displayed at the April 2016 show of the Guild of Quilters of Contra Costa County, California.

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Le Chat, 9 x 10", by Phyllis Nishimori

Phyllis created "Le Chat Noir" in response to a quilt challenge in which the theme was Paris, France. When she thought of Paris, she thought of Art Nouveau painter Theophile Alexandre Steinlen and his "Le Chat Noir" ( the black cat) poster on her kitchen wall, which advertised a famous cabaret in Paris of the 1890's. Phyllis displays her beautiful hand quilting and embroidery on this sophisticated mini-quilt.

A Purrfect Day, 32 x 36", by Cindy Greco

Cindy explains, "This is a kit of 5 patterns called "Purrfectly Pieced". The kit included all the flannel fabric and buttons. I added the embroidery with my own floss and change he name of the finished quilt. I made this for my sister ( a cat lover) for Christmas 2015. It was fun to make and hardly took any time at all compared to my other two entries !"
Cats seem to love quilts and balls of yarn; and these playful kitties are no exception. The Purrfectly Pieced quilt pattern is by Bonnie Sullivan at All Through the Night.

Flowers, 42 x 58", by Leslie Finta

Leslie states, "This giraffe pattern is from Laura Heine of Fiberworks, Inc. I used Kaffe Fassett fabrics. It was a Christmas gift for my granddaughter, Ava."

In this close-up, you can see that even the eye of the giraffe is a flower. We admire Leslie's very creative use of this fabric.

Garden Critters, 57 x 57", by Jo Mathies

Jo writes, "Garden Critters" is an original design resulting from Marilyn Doheney's class in 2008 at Thimble Creek Quilt Shop in Concord, California. Lots of strip sets were made, cut, and sewed together to make flowers, animals, insects, etc."

Here's a close-up of the very cheerful bumblebee and  ladybugs that add whimsy to these vibrant flowers.

Garden Party, 62 x 32", by Cindy Greco

Cindy says, "Maggie Walker designed this quilt, and I chose to hand applique and hand quilt it. I originally saw this quilt at the "Quilting in the Garden" show at Alden Lane Nursery  (Livermore, California) about 5 years ago. I found the pattern online, started collecting batik fabrics for the chickens, and began work on my quilt a year ago. I used the starch method with freezer paper templates and had to make a vinyl overlay for each block to tell where to put the pieces. I enjoyed making the background quilting look kind of like chicken wire, but the quilting of the chickens was very difficult because of the applique layers. The chicken eyes were a challenge, but i am pleased with the result. "  We think Cindy did a lovely job with this creation, which involves a great deal of applique pieces.

Bugs, 48 x 74", by Jo Mathies

Jo notes, "Bugs" evolved from Amy Bradley's pattern Snugly Bugly. My son is "Bugs", so most blocks were changed to showcase his favorite activities: Baseball Bugs, Grad Bugs, Hockey Bugs, Roller Blade Bugs, Sports Bugs, Paraglider Bugs, and Ski Bugs."

We can't help but smile at this colorful bug on polka dot roller blades, with his silly face. Jo's quilt is a real day-brightener ! 


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2016 Contra Costa County Quilters Guild show.

The Best of Cat Quilts! Part Two

One of the things that has been so exciting about this Best of Cat Quilts series is the amazing range of  techniques and styles that these artists have brought to their works. We think that today's artists will knock your socks off with their sublime creations. All we can say is: Life (in quilting) is good! We hope you enjoy The Best of Cat Quilts - Part Two.

My Cats Garden, 52 x 50, by Maggie Walker, at Maggie Walker Design

"My Cats Garden", by Maggie Walker, is a wonder to behold. This dreamy album quilt features exotic cats and tropical orchids, set against a luminous backdrop. The quilt includes a striking Burmese, Birman Blue Point, American Tabby, Persian, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, British Tabby, and an Egyptian Mau (wow! Did you know that the Egyptian Mau is the only naturally spotted breed of domesticated cat? You can "spot" him in the lower left of the quilt.) The center medallion, shown below, features a Bombay and Siamese Lilac Point cat frolicking in an idyllic garden.

Many talented quilters have fallen in love with My Cats Garden: take a look at one fabulous rendition here (the related post is here.) For more information and the complete pattern, visit the My Cats Garden page. Cat fanciers and quilters should also look at Maggie's delightful House Cats. We're enthusiastic about so many of Maggie Walker's quilts that we could go on and on... instead, we'll simply invite you to browse all of the designs at Maggie Walker Design.

Jamie and Jessie, by Grace J. Errea, at Amazing Quilts by Grace

Amazing quilts by Grace....it's not only the name of a website, but an accurate description of the quilts of Grace J. Errea.  A contemporary fiber artist, designer and quilter (and cat owner), Grace J. Errea began quilting in 2000. Her exceptional work illustrates and has been recognized for its primary use of values, and secondary use of color. Her focus on value is fundamental to her inspiring botanicals, landscape scenes and portraits... you can clearly see how this approach works in practice by looking at this fascinating before-and-after picture of the cat shown above, from Grace's photo-inspired art quilt workshop (you'll be amazed !)  Also take a look at her brilliant - and fierce - Eagle.  You can see an entire list of inspiring classes on her workshop page. For a visual treat, visit Grace J. Errea's online galleries.

Kitty Corner, 89.5 x 89.5, by Janet Fogg, at Janet Fogg Quilts

We've admired Janet Fogg's quilts for a long time, and it perhaps goes without saying that Kitty Corner is magnificent. It is no surprise that this quilt has won three Viewers Choice awards, four first place awards, and one best of show award in the competitive quilt arena (for the entire list of awards, click on the above link). We can only imagine just how impressive this Kitty must be, considering the grand scale of this quilt (89.5" square) !  If you have not yet seen Janet Fogg's gallery, we promise that you will be mesmerized by her original, artistic creations (cat lovers and quilters: be sure to take a look at the regal kitty named Neferkiti). Recently, Janet announced the opening of her quilting design studio, which is housed in a restored 1917 colonial near Portland, Oregon; you can read about her studio and workshops on her design studio page.

Image credits: Images are shown with the generous permission of the artists; we sincerely thank them for their inspiring works.

Stay tuned! On Friday we'll post the third and final installment of The Best of Cat Quilts, featuring some very cool cats with a contemporary flair. As a friend of ours would say: Be there, or be □ !