Happy Valentine's Day !

As a theme, hearts and valentines are beloved by quilters around the world.  Here are some beautiful quilts from Japan and the United States.  Happy Valentines Day on Friday, February 14 !

Gathering Hearty Roses by Aiko Miyata, Norimi Tashiro, Nobuko Kotani, Reiko Terui (Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan) - 2013 Houston IQF

Second place winner for Group Quilt, these quilters write, "This is a group quilt done by four members who have been quilting together over twenty years. We put each favorite color of hearty roses together and made a wish that we can work together forever." All the hours of loving work in using these beautiful pastels and pure clear solid colors has really resulted in a spectacular creation.

Close up, Gathering Hearty Roses

Look at the fabulous bouquet that has been created within each heart ! The pattern was designed by Kathy Namajima, and the group used hand applique and hand quilting techniques on cotton fabric. 

What Shall We Do by Junko Hashijume (Saitama, Japan) - 2013 Houston IQF

This quilt is from the World of Mother's Dream exhibit of designs by Reiko Kato, sponsored by Quiltmania.  Junko writes,  "[These] Sunbonnet Sues are framed by hearts. I put the hearts at random."  A gingham border gives an especially cozy, folk-art touch to this quilt that contains very popular figures from the world of Amish patterns. 

Close up, What Shall We Do by Junko Hashijume

Here's a close-up  of Junko's wonderful applique work which surrounds the adorable sunbonnet children. Horizontal quilting with decorative stitches provides a nice contrast with the curved forms of the valentine hearts and the outlines of the children.

The Love Quilt by Christine Nelson - 2014 Tucson Quilt Fiesta

We enjoyed all the various backgrounds and quilting patterns, which brought so much visual interest to this original design done in pinks, purples, and oranges. Christine writes of her art quilt, "Children expressed what thought love was. Their ideas are so perceptive and thought provoking. I had to share them and what better way than to incorporate them into a 'Love' quilt." We certainly agree with this quilt artist !

Close up, The Love Quilt by Christine Nelson

Here's a close-up of some of the embellishment around one of the very sweet messages written by children.

A Cascade of Hearts by Joelyn Fevurly (Leavenworth, Kansas), quilted by Theresa Ward,  shown at AQS Phoenix - 2014

This quilt won the Out of the Box Quilting Award in the GO! Have Fun Quilt Challenge sponsored by AccuQuilt.  Joelyn used the heart and scallop dies from AccuQuilt.The hearts were finished with a candlewick stitch in the embroidery hoop.

Close up, A Cascade of Hearts by Joelyn Fevurly

We really enjoyed the way that the hearts cascade in color as they move down the quilt, along with the fanciful feather-and-swirls quilting by Theresa Ward.

Vintage Valentine by Sherall Donovan, 2014 Tucson Quilt Fiesta

And finally, the very best Valentine's Day present we can think of : a quilt gift for your "sweetie", no matter who he or she is. Sherall notes, "I am dedicating this quilt to my wonderful husband of 50 years, Pat Donovan. From an unknown author: 'Love put the fun in together, the sad in apart, and the joy in a heart.'"  Sherall's fabulous creation is primarily hand-appliqued.  This Vintage Valentine quilt is based on the design by Verna Mosquera at The Vintage Spool.

Close up, Vintage Valentine by Sherall Donovan

Elegant deep rose pinks, whites, and soft tan colors along with painstaking hand quilting all combine to form what appears to us to be a very Victorian-themed vintage  quilt, adorned with very cheerful flowers.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration. Stay tuned for more valentine quilt favorites later this week!