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.