Celebrating Green Quilts!

We're celebrating St. Patrick's Day, which honors the patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century A.D.  Here are some exemplary quilts that feature the color green!

Also please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry ! (For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !)

Crazy About Ireland by Linda Redwood-Martinez

Winner of Honorable Mention at the 2018 Quilt Arizona show, Linda Redwood-Martinez says, "Visiting this land of beauty, history, lovely beauty and fascinating fable inspired the design and creation of my first Crazy Quilt. Both were a delightful experience".  The nine blocks in this hand embroidered and embellished quilt are filled with charming details.

At her Desert Rose Quilt Company shop on Etsy,  Linda says, "Each square represents elements of Irish culture – from the legend of the Selkie Seal, to the music and camaraderie at the local pub, all the way to politics and religion." "Many of the figures in the quilt were designed, painted and hand embroidered as individual pieces then appliqued to the background block. Each block was then trimmed with laces, ribbon and other fibers, then hand embroidered with more detailed artwork. A great variety of embellishments were then added."

Scrappy Wedding, 38 x 38",  by Lorraine Woodruff-Long (San Francisco, California)

Scrappy Wedding is a twist on the formal, traditional structure of a classic double wedding ring pattern that is contrasted with the modern, improvisational green pieced fabric interiors, which range from yellow-green to forest green. The white "rings" provide a calm contrast to the multi-hued scraps.  This lovely quilt is machine pieced, appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Acer Macrophyllum, 34 x 44", by Lisa Jenni (Redmond, Washington)

Acer Macrophyllum was awarded a blue ribbon for Best Sewing Machine Workmanship at the 2017 Pacific International Quilt Festival. Lisa Jenni says, "This quilt is a small tribute to our native Northwestern big leaf maples, some of the most impressive cold-climate deciduous trees. In the more humid parts of its range, as in Olympic National Park, its bark is often covered thickly with epiphytic moss and fern species."

Mossy Radiation by Connie Myers

Mossy Radiation is based on a published design by Kaffe Fassett. Connie Myers says, "The challenge on piecing [this quilt] was to keep each section square. I quilted this on my Sweet Sixteen sit down quilting machine."  We really enjoyed Connie's selection of "mossy" fabrics, and her beautiful machine quilting!

Image credits:  Photos were taken at the 2018 Quilt Arizona show (Crazy About Ireland, Mossy Radiation) and the 2017 Pacific International Quilt Festival (Scrappy Wedding, Acer Macrophyllum).

St. Patrick's Day and Celtic Quilts

Next week is St. Patrick's Day, which honors the patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century A.D.  Here are some quilts we've admired featuring Celtic designs, symbols, and the color green!

Also please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry ! (For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter ! )   

Celtic Fox by Kathy McNeil (Washington, USA)

Celtic Fox won first place in the Art-Whimsical category at the 2017 Houston International Quilt Festival. The fox sits on a new moon, accompanied by an owl and hare.  Kathy's original design was created with hand applique and machine embroidery; cotton fabrics were used, along with velvet and commercial trims.

Kathy McNeil says "The Celtic Fox symbolizes a need to think quickly, to employ cleverness and wisdom.  Often described as cunning, that word comes from "kenning" meaning "to know and understand.  In Celtic mythology the fox takes on the role of a shape-shifter... associated with transformation and the need to take a new approach to our lives."

Medieval, 46 x 31", by Karen G. Fisher (Arizona)

Medieval was awarded first place in applique at the 2017 Quilt Arizona show, along with honorable mention at the Pacific International Quilt Festival.  Karen Fisher says, "I love medieval art, so I combined Celtic knots, dimensional pieced-work squares, and tile designs. 

This award-winning quilt is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted by Karen G. Fisher.

Emeralds and Lace by Karin Crawford (Utah)

Karin Crawford says, "Ireland is the Emerald Isle and I have loved traveling there and seeing all the green.  This Triple Irish Chain is every shade of green and white.  It makes me think of emeralds and lace."

Emeralds and Lace was quilted by Kim Peterson, whose outstanding work particularly shines in the border elements.

Celtic Dreams by Nanette Sturgill (Utah)

The large central panel of this stunning quilt is a piece of hand dyed cloth.  The central applique design is taken from a copper bowl uncovered in Italy dating from circa 200 BC; they are zoomorphic representations of birds.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2017 Arizona Quilters Guild show (Medieval), the 2017 Springville (Utah) quilt show (Emeralds and Lace, Celtic Dreams) and the 2017 Houston International Quilt Festival (Celtic Fox).

Green, green

March is the month of St. Patrick's Day on the 17th and the Spring/Autumnal Equinox on the 21st. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's the month where the trees and plants of the earth start to grow new leaves. In honor of March, here are quilts from around the world in beautiful shades of green.

Tree Full of Life, 34 x 34", by Susan Cronenwett, Oregon, USA

Third place winner in the Wall Quilts category at the 2014 Pacific International Quilt Festival, Susan writes, "From the earth and back again, the tree represents all of life and its continuous journey." The leaves and trunk of this tree are designed as a beautiful , eternally looping Celtic knot, without beginning or end. 

Close up, Tree Full of Life by Susan Cronenwett

You can see that a Celtic knot is even quilted into the background of Susan's  intriguing and eye-catching work. 

Growth, 52 x 49", by Marijke van Welzen ,Germany

Marijke notes that the inspiration for her quilt is small city gardens, which make the city a better place to live. Done in a traditional barn-raising pattern with green and blue shadows, this quilt looks like an assortment of vegetable plants taking root in the early spring soil.

Growth by Marijke van Welzen, Germany

To create her original design, Marijke used machine piecing, textile paint, machine applique, and free motion machine quilting. Look at the interesting three-dimensional green leaves which hang off the right hand border. It almost appears as if a magical vine is growing on the side of the quilt.

Ephemeral Nature by Sandra Lange, Brazil

Sandra explains, "The passion for the tree at the entrance of a friend's house was immediate. I used to walk under it, stopping to admire its trunk and canopy, which against the sky, seemed to me was made of a green lace. It was a giant Guapuruvu tree. Someone that has had the opportunity to be under one of those can imagine my indignation when I stopped by to admire it and faced a severed wonder, drastically trimmed without a fair reason. I was there, paralyzed, astonished, trying to understand what had happened...And, that image never left my mind ever since. " 

Close up, Ephemeral Nature by Sandra Lange,  Brazil

Ephemeral Nature was exhibited in the special SAQA Brazil Trunk Show at the World Quilt Show in Florida. This was the first time that this show has traveled outside Brazil for presentation. Sandra has created this feathery, wispy tree using transparent fabrics and thread painting, so that light and shadows can be seen shining through the back of the quilt.

Spring is Here, 62 x 50", by Gisha Wogier, Israel

Gisha notes, "The inspiration for this work is flowering in the spring. Blossoming flowers in many colors. Poppies in red, cyclamen in pink, groundset in yellow, iris in blue and purple, anemones in blue, purple and pink."

Close-up  Spring is Here by Gisha Wogier ,Israel

Gisha's work has a bright, scrappy, very cheerful look to it, almost like a field bursting with wildflowers. Her work is machine pieced and machine quilted. Gisha adds, "[This is] a feast for the eyes and heart."

A Forest's Crowning Glory, 45 x 61",  by Tanya McRae, Australia

Tanya constructed this spectacular quilt to symbolize a beautiful  landscape scene from her homeland. She notes, " A recent trip throughout our own "high country" of Victoria (Australia) inspired this interpretation of Eileen Wright's bargello quilt 'Island Surprise.' The beautiful green palette was singing against the crown of snow-clad heights. I felt I needed to express this in fabric to create a lasting memory."
The Island Sunrise pattern is in More Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts by Eileen Wright.

Close- up,  A Forest's Crowning Glory by Tanya McRae

Tanya continues, "The glorious winter green of ferns, mosses, lichens, brackens, and gum trees in hidden places are fed by creeks and waterfalls, crowned by... snowy [mountain] peaks."

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2014 PIQF show (Tree Full of Life) and the 2015 World Quilt Show. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to quilters everywhere!  Today, we celebrate the "wearing o' the green" in honor of the patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century A.D.

Irish Knots and Golden Coins by Jaynette Huff, Conway, Arkansas

Jaynette's quilt is a beautiful example of an unbroken interlaced design that is historically popular in the Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland, and the rest of the United Kingdom. Celtic knot designs are very old, and some of them date back to the mosaic floors of churches in the Roman Empire in the second and third centuries A.D.

Jaynette notes, "I love adding Celtic knotwork to my quilts, and the joy of (over 2,400) hand-beaded embellishments adds so much sparkle and light. "  Jaynette paper foundation-pieced these blocks and hand-appliqued the Celtic knotwork using cotton fabrics to create this fabulous quilt with its outstanding workmanship.

Close-up,Irish Knots and Golden Coins by Jaynette Huff

In this close-up, you can see the golden coins represented by over 225 circles which are hand-stuffed and appliqued. The golden coins are symbolic of the treasure which is said to be stored up by the little leprechauns, mythical Irish fairies, who each keep their own pots of gold.

On the dark border, you can see some of the very pretty metallic thread that Jaynette used for quilting her fantastic creation on her home sewing machine.  She  continues, "The use of metallic threads for machine quilting was a new technique and tool. ( Now......on to the next quilt!)"

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival.

Free pattern day: St. Patrick's Day

Many countries celebrate St. Patrick's Day with parades, green attire, and - occasionally - green beer. How about a green quilt? Here are free patterns for shamrocks, Irish chain and Celtic quilts, table runners and pillows. NOTE:  THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED; click here for the latest free patterns!

Image credits:  The montages shown on this page are derivative works that are copyrighted by Quilt Inspiration; please do not copy images without permission.   If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.

Green, green: Arizona Quilt Show 2012

Céad míle fáilte (in Gaelic: a hundred thousand welcomes)! This is Day 4 of The Best of the 2012 Arizona Quilt Show, and we've assembled a collection of some beautiful green quilts.  We always love your comments - so let us know your favorites!

Irish Spring by Carol Miller

Carol Miller says: "The quilt began with the monogram…. followed by 'I want to make it for Spring'. Then green swapped Churn Dash blocks came to mind and finally the name." The quilt won a third place ribbon in the Group Quilt category. Our photo was taken from the side due to the crowd of people nearby! We loved the celtic knot applique surrounding the initial 'M' (below).

Irish Spring, center medallion, by Carol Miller

Blue Birds of Happiness by Catherine Vaught

Folk art and wool applique have really taken off in the quilting world, and we were excited to see this lovely quilt! Catherine Vaught says:  "The pattern’s vibrant colors and folk art designs drew me in. Wool felt elements are hand appliqued (on a cotton background), embroidered, and embellished. All my favorite techniques." The design is by Gretchen Gibbons (info and link below). 

Blue Birds of Happiness - Center, by Catherine Vaught

This design is the subject of the book, Pennies from Heaven: Celebrated Quilt and Companion Projects by Gretchen Gibbons. At Gretchen's website, Celebration of Life Designs, you can obtain block-of-the-month kits, books and patterns.

Shannon, Irish chain, by Penny Dimick

Penny Dimick pieced and quilted this green-on-green Irish chain quilt as a high school graduation gift for her granddaughter; she used a cheerful shamrock fabric between the "chains". Penny says: "With an “Mc” last name, she had to have shamrocks and an Irish Chain."

Stars Within the Wonders by Caryl Spenny. Quilted by Janna Clark

Caryl Spenny writes that she really enjoys working with Stack-n-Whack and One Block Wonder techniques. Her stars and open cubes really stand out against the black space in this dazzling quilt!

Peek-A-Boo Monsters by Ann L. Petersen – First place, Mixed Techniques – Small

This is such an adorable quilt, and it won a blue ribbon too.  Ann Petersen says: “My daughter-in-law planned a nursery with cute monsters in black, white and green. This is the quilt I designed to hang on his wall”.  The top border reads: “Seventeen little green monsters” and the bottom border reads: “Waving, smiling, and saying ‘Boo!’” The detail photo below shows a toothless three-eyed monster in the shape of a saguaro cactus; he is carrying a flower in one "arm" and waving the other "arm" !

Arizona - My Fair Lady by Peggy Nehring - Second Place, Theme

To wrap up this post, here is a gorgeous ruffled Dresden done in the special Arizona Centennial Fabric. Peggy Nehring won a second place ribbon for the Theme category for this stunning quilt.  In the green areas of the quilt, you can see saguaro cacti which were quilted with copper thread.  The light blue areas surrounding the center Dresden plate were embellished with crystals.  The stack-n'-whack-style fans take full advantage of the Arizona Centennial "Southwest Beauties" fabric by Jason Yenter (shown below).  Can you see which motifs Peggy selected for the Dresden Plate?

Arizona-My Fair Lady, center plate by Peggy Nehring

Arizona Centennal Fabric, design by Jason Yenter, In The Beginning Fabrics

Knotty Celtic Knots

We're always excited when we come across a quilter who makes us think about traditional designs in an entirely new way. Thus you can imagine our delight when we saw the modern Celtic Knots of textile artist Raymond K. Houston.  In his artist's statement he explains: "Celtic knots fascinate me. Celtic knots are endless loops: they twist and turn; they weave over and under; and they end up where they began.  The pieces displayed here are large-scale Celtic knot appliques, a departure from the method usually used."

Circular Knot/II, 43" x 47", by Raymond K. Houston at Nacho Grandma's Quilts

If you read about the history of Celtic knots, you will see this description: "Celtic knots are complete loops with no end or beginning." In quilting, Celtic knots are typically made with a continuous strip of bias tape. Raymond observed that such knots only look good at close range: "You can only appreciate the “woven-ness” of the knot when you’re close enough to see it, and though the knot may increase in size, the width of the bias tape remains the same, resulting in what looks like a spiderweb." In contrast, Raymond's large-scale Celtic knots can be seen from across the room, as shown in the exhibit photo below.

Knotted Band/I, 24.5" by 59, by Raymond K. Houston at Nacho Grandma's Quilts

What is intriguing is that your eye sees what looks like a continuous braid that goes over and under itself until it returns to the beginning. However, the knot is an illusion: the results appear woven, but they are not! Individual straight, curved and corner pieces that are separated by gaps are used to depict the twists, turns, and weavings of the knot, as shown in the detail photo below.

A Matter of Scale, detail, by Raymond K. Houston at Nacho Grandma's Quilts

Sometimes Celtic knots are comprised of multiple strands. Raymond colors each strand differently to set it apart from the others and to highlight its relationship to the others. It is fascinating to observe how your eye follows the strands as if they were actually woven together, as in Knotted Band/II, below.

Knotted Band/II, 30″ by 60″, by Raymond K. Houston at Nacho Grandma's Quilts

Raymond K. Houston's career has been distinguished by his innovative approaches to many different aspects of quilting. As he explains: "I'm beginning to think my quilting has gone through three different "periods" (who can forget Picasso's "Blue Period"??): patchwork, tessellations, and now Celtic knots." At his Nacho Grandma's Quilts website you can read about his design inspirations, techniques and work-in-progress, and at Tessellation Nation you can read about the creation of a myriad of quilts based on a  tile of his own design.

Image credits: Images are shown with the generous permission of Raymond K. Houston. He gives lectures and design workshops to quilt guilds across the country and he has taught quilt design at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina and at Quilt University.  He also has been featured at Simply Quilts on HGTV. The work shown here appeared in an exhibit called "Piece By Piece: Fiber or Glass" at The Gallery of By Design in Alton Illinois, in October, 2011.