It's a Stained Glass Halloween

Designer and quilter, Cole Whitaker, was inspired to celebrate Halloween with this stunning original quilt.  The scene is framed in a Gothic-style stained glass window.  It's got a ghost, bats, jack-o-lantern, spiderweb quilting, and more.  A pattern is also available! Cole is also doing a fabulous Christmas quilt along... scroll down for more info.

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

Halloween by Cole Whitaker (Washington, USA)

In the photo above, can you see the bats at the upper right and left corners?  So clever!  The ghost that hovers over the scene, below, is paper pieced.  In the close-up photo you can see spiderweb quilting in some of the stained glass elements.

A smiling pumpkin greets isitors at the base of the walkway, below.

Please visit Cole's Quilts and check out his original quilts and patterns, including the fabulous 2025 Christmas quilt-along!

 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Houston International Quilt Festival.

Highlights of the Houston International Quilt Festival! (4)

We had a wonderful time at the Houston International Quilt Festival! We enjoyed seeing 1200 quilts from around the world, and are excited to share photos of our favorites... here is Part 3!

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

1st PLACE ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUES:  Motocat by Esther Tronchoni Simo (Spain) @esthertronchonisimo

Machine applique and quilting were combined with wool felting to create  Motocat, which won a blue ribbon (1st place) in the Alternative Techniques category!  Check out this kitty's realistic fuzzy wool felted face! 

MASTER AWARD for THREAD ARTISTRY: Family by Yoshiyuki Ishizaki (Japan)

The quantity, variety, and colors of the embroidery stitches can only be appreciated close up, including the details of the pets on the front porch! As the artist says: "The more effort that goes into it, the more gorgeous it becomes!"

This Land is Your Land by Elizabeth Bauman (USA)

Elizabeth Bauman is a quilt artist, teacher, and member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). Celebrating America's beauty, this quilt is named after a famous folk song from the 1960s: "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie. Solid color fabrics give it a cheerful vibe, echoing the travel posters of the 1930s. 

MASTER AWARD for INNOVATIVE ARTISTRY:  Painted Ponies on the Prairie (106" x 63") by Melissa Sobotka (USA)

Melissa Sobotka is an artist and teacher, specializing in photo-realistic techniques. This quilt has an interesting family history! A family photo depicts a traveling carnival and horse-powered merry-go-round on the plains of Nebraska and South Dakota during the early 1900s. It was professionally fabric printed, enhanced with ink and pencils, machine appliqued and quilted. 

 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Houston International Quilt Festival.

 

 

Highlights of the Houston International Quilt Festival! (3)

We had a wonderful time at the Houston International Quilt Festival! We enjoyed seeing 1200 quilts from around the world, and are excited to share photos of our favorites... here is Part 3!

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

Cuckoo Clock by Alethea Ballard @maverickquilts (USA) 

 

Gorgeous colors and imagery drew us into this brilliant quilt by Alethea Ballard. Read on for more details of the artist's inspiration.

  Arcane Snap by Kestrel Michaud (USA)

Winner of a 2nd Place ribbon in the Pictorial category, Arcane Snap captivated viewers with its imagery, colors, and expert quilting.  More amazing fabric art can be seen on the artist's website at Kestrel Michaud.

California Huipil by Allison Lockwood (USA)

Woven Guatemalan fabrics were used to create this lovely quilt which is embellished with yo yos. This piece was inspired by the huipil, a garment worn by the indigenous women in Guatemala. The chevrons and embroidery add even more dimension to the surface.  

detail, California Huipil

 

MASTER AWARD for TRADITIONAL ARTISTRY: Poco a Poco by Keiko Morihiro (Japan)

It's no wonder this quilt won the award for traditional artistry. You can't tell from a distance, but this quilt is made entirely of tiny hexagons: more than 30,000, to be exact. Each side of each hexagon measures only 8 mm.  WOW.

 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Houston International Quilt Festival.

Which Witch's Boot

October is in full swing and so are seasonal projects! Here's an adorable embroidered wall quilt featuring a witch's boot filled with candies, jack-o-lanterns, and fun, funky flowers. The finished center medallion  is colorized with wax crayons. The custom quilting adds the perfect touch!

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on designer jewelry and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.  

Which Witch's Boot by Susan Foster, quilted by Darcy Brown.  

Susan Foster says, "Like many quilters, my list of hobbies is extensive.  I was thrilled this cute decorative Halloween piece offered me an opportunity to try my hand at wax crayon colorization and tinting and combine it with my love of embroidery and patchwork quilting.  What a fun seasonal project this was!"  

The yellow award ribbon hanging on the right of the quilt denotes a third-place finish at this 2025 show. The closeup, below, shows Susan's beautiful embroidery along with Darcy Brown's expert quilting.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Quilt Arizona show.

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. 

Road to Halloween!

Wow! Here's a stunning, large Halloween quilt made with fabric panels using the one-block-wonder technique.  It must have been fun designing and arranging the hexagon blocks! This quilt really sparkles.

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) ! 

Road to Halloween, made and quilted by Sandra Yeager

 

In 2006, Maxine Rosenthal wrote a book called One-Block Wonders, which described quilts made from a single fabric. Many fabric arts have put their own creative spin on this technique!  Sandra Yeager says she made her quilt with seven fabric panels, building dozens of hexagons while challenging her artist design capabilities. (Seven panels would be required to create this many hexagons, since the quilt was quite large.)  We love the teal and orange combinations and the spooky haunted house!

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

Feeling Happy (or Crabby?) Make a Quilt!

Quilting is not only an art form, but a way to express friendship, humor, and joy.  We especially love whimsical quilts!  These make us smile. We hope you enjoy these favorites from a 2025 show.

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

Beads and Buttons and Quilting, Oh My! by Karen Fisher  

Check out the variety of colorful buttons, along with Karen Fisher's masterful machine applique! This original art quilt was made for the 2022 Cherrywood Fabric "Graffiti" challenge.  Karen says, "The words readily describe the majority of my quilts, and I used both my Tucks and Skinny Piecing methods to further highlight the words.  [This quilt is] a little nod to the "Wizard of Oz" (Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!) 

Last Mingo in Paradise by Katherine Verbeke  

This flamingo is incredibly stylish! The paper pieced pattern, designed by Lisa Fryxell for Katherine Verbeke, is an ode to Jimmy Buffet. Katherine Verbeke says: "The flamingo, palm tree and beach are calling... go grab a margarita!" The quilt is filled with embellishments, including beads, charms, and a Landshark beer bottle cap (can you spot it in the above photo?) 

Using Cherrywood Fabrics, beads, and other embellishments, this piece represents the carefree Caribbean lifestyle emulated by Mr. Buffett's lyrics and music. Sparkly beads and a tropical print "shirt" add to the festive atmosphere.

Feeling Crabby by Monique Baczewski, quilted by Linda Schwartz.  

Such cute crabs, in a variety of cool hues! Monique Baczewski says that this quilt pattern (Feeling Crabby by Wendy Sheppard) called to her from the rack at Cactus Quilt Shop.  "I raided my grunge stash from my sewing closet for the crabs.  [There were] lots of little pieces. I really enjoyed making this quilt!"

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

 

Wit/Whim Exhibit (2): Luke Haynes

At the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts we enjoyed the exhibit titled Wit/Whim. The exhibit explores the themes of play, family, and a sense of belonging, inviting visitors to examine the ways these concepts intersect and influence our lives. Here is a pair of quilts by artist Luke Haynes, who works entirely with recycled textiles.

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

Wiggle Quilts by Luke Haynes (North Carolina) 

Every one of Haynes' pieces is made entirely from salvaged textiles, a practice rooted in both his upbringing and his commitment to sustainability; to date, his work has diverted more than 100 tons of clothing and fbric from landfills. The Wiggle quilts juxtaposes a vintage quilt, with its traditional arrangement of blocks, and a modern minimalist quilt done in blues. The "wiggle" allows us to peek through to see what lies below.

Raised in poverty across the American South and diagnosed as autistic, Haynes turned to creative problem-solving as a way to build comfort, structure, and identity.  You can see more of his work at his website, Luke.art.

 

 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts. 

  

Wit/Whim at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts (1)

During a recent trip to the Midwest we traveled through rolling hills and acres of corn, arriving (at last) at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. The landscape and 1850s-era barn is part of the charm. We were blown away by this little museum!

The museum hosts exhibits of artists ranging from traditional to contemporary techniques. The current exhibit, Wit/Whim, explores the themes of play, family, and a sense of belonging, inviting visitors to examine the intricate ways these concepts intersect and influence our lives.

Lost and Fun (2024) by Émilie Trahan (Quebec, Canada)  

This large contemporary quilt really stands out against the weathered wood of the barn.  Émilie Trahan is known for her improvisational modern quilts inspired by nature and the world around her. Made with recycled cottons, Lost and Fun is an exploration of bright colors, shapes, and movement. There are fascinating juxtapositions of line and shape everywhere you look!

Gift Baskets (2021), assembled and quilted by Susie Brandt   

Finished and submitted by Susie Brandt, a faculty member of the Fiber Art Department at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Gift Baskets features hand- and machine-stitched basket blocks by multiple artists.*  

By way of history: Susie Brandt first formed a raffle quilt group at MICA in 2015 including MICA students, staff, and faculty. When the pandemic forced the group into isolation, they resumed their weekly meetings over Zoom. Word spread and more people from around the US joined the group from all walks of life. The finished works reflect their conversations about many subjects including society and culture, art, hope and gratitude, grief and joy. 

25,000 Moments (That Made Me Me), 2022-23, by Will Grimm (Pennsylvania)

This amazing work consists of 25,000 1-inch squares that were hand-sewn together over the course of Grimm's 25th year of life.  Moreover, it is constructed entirely from hand-dyed fabrics! Grimm used natural and synthetic dyes, indigo, rust, screen printing, block printing, and digital printing to create this stunning tapestry of vibrant colors and patterns.  

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Will Grimm began sewing at a young age under the guidance of his grandmother. He earned a BFA in Fiber from the Maryland Institute of College of Art in 2019, and is currently pursuing a MFA at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture. 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration with permission at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. *Gift Baskets is by artists Tobyanne Suyemoto, Sarah Barnes, Marla Parker, Sharone Conteh-Morgan, Susie Brandt, Dr. Denise Bailey-Jones, Audrey Naiva, Glenda Richardson, Andrea Dixon, Dr. Leslie King-Hammond, Betty Racicot, Erika Carruth, Jane Khattak, Rosalind Robinson, Ursula Populoh, Nina Bova, Julia Racicot, Dr. Lowrey Sims, Will Grimm, JoAnn Dixon, Rodette Jones, Robin King, Susan Tuberville, Valeska Populoh, Sarah Barnes.