Bloooming beauties: Fun flower quilts

We love these fun and whimsical flower quilts, which have such a cheerful look about them. Enjoy !

Learn and Grow by Candace West and the Sugar Cube Quilters (Florida)

Candace says on  her website: "This quilt demonstrates the growth of the Sugar Cube Quilters in learning new techniques and skills from each other. Designed and machine quilted by Candace West of Floral City, Florida. Created by the Sugar Cube Quilters of Homosassa, Florida."

Close up, Learn and Grow by Candace West and the Sugar Cube Quilters

We really admire Candace's clever idea of creating flowers with star and pinwheel block patterns. The curved parallel lines of quilting give this quilt a casual, breezy, windswept atmosphere. A dragonfly, little birds, and tiny butterflies are all part of this happy outdoor scene.

Maisie's Garden by Brenda Schlechter (Largo, Florida)

Brenda writes of her original design, "Flowers always seem to symbolize joy and optimism to me. They start their growth in the cole, hard ground and grow strong and tall in spite of wind and rain.  Using bright colors and organic shapes, I create a vision of a simpler time, perhaps of childhood. "

Close up, Maisie's Garden by Brenda Schlechter

Brenda continues, "In this quilt, the vibrant background provides strong contrast with the flowers and the binding, drawing the viewer into the garden."  The neon violet flowers with the aqua green stems and hot pink background really create a stunning display  to catch and hold the viewer's eye in this intriguing work.

Sweet Blooms by Pat Kroth (Verona, Wisconsin)

Pat notes, "There is nothing I enjoy more than the burst of new blooms in spring after a long cold winter. A few candy wrapper "petals" on Sweet Blooms makes it even sweeter." 

Close up, Sweet Blooms by Pat Kroth

In this close-up, you can see how Pat created the stems and petals of the flowers with different  candy wrappers. The collage was covered with tulle, then quilted. Buttons embellish the center of the flowers, and the background is comprised of vibrant fabric scraps which match the candy wrapper scraps of the flowers. 

Garden Floral by Marianne Williamson (Miami, Florida)

Marianne notes, "This floral is soft and flowing with happy summer colors. The garden theme has been in my mind, and I am using this theme to show different moods, times of day, and seasons." 

Close up, Garden Floral by Marianne Williamson

Marianne's techniques include raw-edge applique, free-motion quilting, and fabric painting. Just like the Sweet Blooms quilt shown previously, this background is carefully pieced with fabric scraps, which really helps these raspberry and orange sherbet blossoms "pop" into the foreground.

Les Tournesols by Carole Pirruccello, Flying Needles Quilt Guild (California)

Les Tournesols is French for "the sunflowers", and Carole's done a lovely job of showcasing them against the backdrop of a white garden trellis or lattice. She states, " This wall hanging used fabrics from the 2011 River City Quilters' Guild Fabric Challenge.  Techniques include hand applique, machine piecing, and free motion quilting, with rayon and metallic threads." 

Close up, Les Tournesals by Carole Pirruccello

These fabrics are so bright and pretty, that they must have been a joy to work with. We especially like the gorgeous orange-yellow, burnt orange, and lime green of the sunflowers, which highlights Carole's excellent hand applique work so well.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the  2014 Road to California Quilt Show, the 2013 Flying Needles Quilters' Guild Show, and the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival.

Quilted in Honor

This is Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., and we thought you might enjoy some inspiring red, white and blue quilts. The Quilted in Honor exhibit, which benefits Operation Homefront, features over 50 quilts by celebrity designers. Read on for details and links to designer patterns... some of them are free!

And The Flag Was Still There by Rob Appell (Morro Bay, California)

Depicting the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima in 1945, this original art quilt was designed by Rob Appell, who says: "When I was offered the opportunity to use my art to help provide assistance to those who have served our country in the armed forces, I decided to dive in headfirst... I was true to my soul in the creating of the quilt."  For information about Rob's quilts, see Rob Appell Designs.

Dawn’s Early Light, 59 x 71", by Doug Leko (Blaine, Minnesota)

"This quilt is dedicated to all the men and women who have served our country. Because of their service, we live in a free country."  As of this writing, you can download a free pattern for Dawn's Early Light. We love the gently waving quilting lines as shown below.

Honor, 66 x 82", by Kari Nichols (Centennial, Colorado)

This is such a clever bargello design for a flag. Kari Nichols says:  "[This quilt is] dedicated to my father, Louis Gowen, a Bronze Star recipient...  May the courage and sacrifice of all veterans and service members never be forgotten." As of this writing you can download a free pattern for Honor by Kari Nichols.

Stars and Stripes Forever, 62 x 70", by Ricky Tims, quilted by Cyndi McChesney

Ricky Tims says:  "When first asked to design a quilt for the Quilted in Honor project, I wanted to honor the brave men and women who serve our country and the world by creating a quilt that symbolized our flag and what it stands for."

The pattern for Stars and Stripes Forever is available for $5.00 at C&T Publishing. All proceeds from the sale of this pattern benefit Quilted In Honor, a fund-raising initiative for Operation Homefront. The blocks are paper pieced, and the project is suitable for most advanced beginner quilters.

Stars and Stripes, 63 x 63", designed and quilted by Jackie Robinson, pieced by Marilyn Eider (Eureka, Montana)

Jackie Robinson says:  "John Philip Sousa knew how to write the music that makes patriotism ring in our souls. This quilt is dedicated to the memory of our fallen soldiers. The protection of the Stars and Stripes was in their hearts."  As of this writing, you can download a free pattern for Stars & Stripes.

Patriotic Stars II, 36 x 36", by Sarah Vedeler (Scottsdale, Arizona)

Sarah Vedeler says:  "This quilt was made in honor of all who have served, all who are currently serving and all who will serve in the future."  As of this writing, the pattern for Patriotic Stars II by Sarah Vedeler can be purchased for $5.00 at the Pattern Spot; all proceeds benefit Quilted In Honor. 

The stars are nestled in between log cabin blocks.  Log cabin paper piecing templates for the 7.5" blocks are available for free download at Sarah Vedeler Designs.  In the above photo you can see Sarah's decorative machine embroidery designs on the stars.  Sarah Vedeler has created an extensive embroidery design collection to work with her GO! Stars dies at Accuquilt.  An example is shown below.

Embroidered star by Sarah Vedeler for Accuquilt GO!

Image credits:  Photos of quilts were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2014 AQS Quilt Week-Phoenix and the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival.  You can see more free Quilted in Honor patterns at Island Batik. The exhibit may be coming to a quilt show near you... check out the exhibit schedule here.

Blooming Beauties: Artistic flower quilts

Here's Part 2 of some of the most fabulous floral quilts we've seen at recent quilt shows (also see Part 1). For some real life "eye candy", click on the links of the flower names included below.  They will bring you to actual photos of the glorious blossoms depicted here.

Spring Storm, approx 29 x 33", by Kathleen Hughes (Wisconsin), shown at the  2013 Houston International Quilt Festival

Kathleen notes, "Tulips are tossed by a gusty spring wind in this tribute to our front garden. All the walkers who pass by our yard look forward to seeing our tulips display, which tells them that spring has arrived."  Through the use of bold fabric shapes, Kathleen has done an excellent job of exemplifying the tulips that make the upper Midwest states of Michigan and Wisconsin a tulip paradise each spring, like the displays of tulips in the Netherlands, Europe.

Close up, Spring Storm by Kathleen Hughes

Notice how clearly you can see the lines of the flowers, done in warm colors of apricot, rose, and butterscotch, against the cool gray colors of the sky. Kathleen's  techniques include raw-edge applique, fabric painting, and free-motion quilting.

Two Tulips by Luella Morgenthaler (Colorado), shown at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival

Luella writes, "I wanted to see if I could achieve a watercolor look in a quilt. I liked the quilt version because it gave a second dimension to the art work." Luella's design source is the parrot tulip plant, which produces tulip petals that are flat instead of curved, with ruffled edges.

Close up, Two Tulips by Luella Morgenthaler

Luella achieved these spectacular results through the use of fabric painting, with appliqued accents. The parallel machine quilting lines give an elegant, textured effect to this work which features soft, eye-catching warm hues.

Milkweed and Hummingbirds, 33 x 49", by Sara Sharp  (Texas), shown at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival

Sara writes, "I knew to watch for monarch butterflies that are attracted to this milkweed plant, but I was surprised and delighted to discover that hummingbirds are attracted to them as well. The vibrant yellow, orange, and red buds and flowers made a wonderful contrast with the colors of the hummingbirds."

Close up, Milkweed and Hummingbirds by Sara Sharp

Sara based her original design on photos of milkweed flowers and hummingbirds. Her techniques include fabric painting, thread painting, digital photo printing, free-motion quilting, and fused applique.

Close up, Milkweed and Hummingbirds by Sara Sharp

Notice the darling thread-painted hummingbird as she floats from flower to flower among the dappled leaves. Sara has made excellent use of detailed colors and patterns in depicting the hummingbird's body and wings.

Cactus Fireworks, 34 x 43", by Vicki Bohnhoff (Anthem, Arizona), shown at the 2014 AQS Quilt Week

A native of Argentina, the Argentine Giant is a relatively low-growing cactus in the Cereus family that puts out plate-sized flowers.  Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cactuses in the world, its flowers last for only a day. It has been propagated in Arizona, where this 2014 AQS Quilt Week was held. Vicki says: "The Sonoran Desert’s Argentine Giant is interpreted in raw-edge applique using hand-dyed fabrics and silks." The gold fabric frames the quilt just like a painting.

Close up, Cactus Fireworks by Vicki Bohnhoff

Here you can see Vicki's raw-edge applique done in several shades of pink, along with delicate bead work in the center. She says, "The tactile experience and drama [of the flower] is heightened with beading."

Wisteria, 35 x 54", by Megan Byrne (Wembley, Western Australia),  shown at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival

The Wisteria vine with its ethereal, almost fluffy lavender and blue-violet blossoms, is dazzling to behold each springtime. Megan notes, "Plants awaken in the spring and share their beauty as the cold of winter starts to disappear. Wisteria brings drama to my front veranda. The gnarled and twisted trunk suddenly bursts with new growth. The texture of the the red bricks heightens the delicious softness of the cascading blossoms and helps dispel the last of the winter chill. Green leaves will shelter and shade the birdbath, as spring brings visitors to my garden."

Close up, Wisteria by Megan Byrne

Speaking of visitors to the garden, take a look at the colorfully sewn and quilted green and yellow-orange butterfly hovering near the blossoms. Megan has made outstanding use of contrasting colors, as the blues and greens stand out so well against the contrasting orange-red wall bricks. Her techniques include, piecing, plus raw-edge applique and free-motion quilting. Megan has created a pattern for her Wisteria applique wall quilt; the pattern can be purchased at Craftsy.  

Star, 32 x 46", by Caryl Schuetz, quilted by Cathy Franks (Indianapolis, Indiana), shown at the 2014 AQS Quilt Week

The stargazer lily is the most famous plant in the genus Lilium.  The quilt was made from Caryl Schuetz’s photo of her star lily plant, which a cousin gave to her.  That was the last time Caryl saw her cousin, who passed away.  The quilt was created in her memory.

Star by Caryl Schuetz, quilted by Cathy Franks

The tropical, exotic look of this stunning lily is enhanced by the sophisticated dark background and the swirled longarm quilting pattern of Cathy Franks.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.  If you love flower quilts, you can see more than 300 inspiring quilts on our Flower Quilt board at Pinterest.

Cutting down the tall poppies

According to Wikipedia, Tall Poppy Syndrome describes a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticized because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers. If a person has low status themselves, or is lacking in self-esteem, they are more likely to want to see "tall poppies" cut down.  Some people may take an active part in the process as a form of bullying. Helen Godden has created a brilliant, award-winning quilt that focuses attention on Tall Poppy Syndrome. 

Cutting Down the Tall Poppies by Helen Godden (Latham, Australian Capital Territory, Australia)

Helen Godden says, "My Australian culture includes a tradition that we are not so proud of. The art of  Cutting Down the Tall Poppies can be seen in all levels of society from politics to the school yard and even quilt groups!” On her blog post she explains, "The viewer does not see [the poppy cutters] at first, as you look at the pretty poppies and then you see them and think... hang on a minute, what is going on... the little pint- sized figures are sawing and cutting and snipping and axing and chain sawing and digging and even using TNT to Cut Down the Tall Poppies."

close up, Cutting Down the Tall Poppies by Helen Godden

The close up photos show Helen Godden's gorgeous free motion quilting. Cutting Down the Tall Poppies was one of 22 quilts selected from around the world for the 2013 Traditions Quilt Competition at the Houston International Quilt Festival. It won a 2nd place ribbon and a $1000 prize. 

The tall poppies were painted in pretty pastel shades on a graded jade green backdrop. The quilting on the flowers themselves is intricate, with the stamens on the orange flower, above,  detailed in black thread.

In the above photo, can you see the quilting in the lower left corner that looks like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle? Each section between the flower stems was quilted in a different, unique design.

We weren't aware of the term Tall Poppy Syndrome until we saw Helen's quilt, but we sure do recognize the phenomenon. Tall Poppy Syndrome is associated with  envy and resentment.  A closely related term is schadenfreude, which means to gloat at another person's bad luck.   See the fascinating article called Tall poppies, deservingness and schadenfreude and The national hazard of workplace bullying:  implications of an Australian study.  Americans are not immune, as discussed in Sorrow So Sweet: A Guilty Pleasure In Another's Woe (New York Times).

Helen Godden is an ambassador/educator for Handi Quilter.  She says:  "I came into this quilting world with no previous sewing experience or restrictive rules and that seems to have been to my advantage... I have received awards both nationally and internationally and am enjoying teaching and sharing my ideas with others. Doing my own thing and taking my own path works for me. I like to leap outside the square and love inspiring others to step into new territory. I teach Free Motion Machine Quilting and Liberate Quilters from the Ditch and open their eyes to endless possibilities." Helen offers quilt patterns and books on free motion quilting. For more poppies, see Helen Godden's Tall Poppies wall hanging pattern.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Free pattern day! Patriotic and flag quilts

Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Independence Day are just around the corner!  Here are 50 free patterns for red, white and blue quilts, wall hangings, flags, pillows and table toppers. NOTE:  This post has been UPDATED.  For the latest patterns, please visit our Free Pattern Day for Patriotic & Flag quilts (CLICK HERE!)

p.s. check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry!
For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Image credits:  This post was updated on May 22, 2025. All images are copyrighted by their owners. Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs. Complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.

I Remember Mama

This year, Mother's Day is celebrated on Sunday, May 11. We like to think of  Mother's Day as a tribute not only to mothers, but to the creative force of humankind.  In a way, when we create a quilt, we bring to life our own artistic capabilities. Happy Mother's Day to all of us !

I Remember Mama by Rose Anne Self, 2014 Arizona Quilter's Guild Show

First Place award winner for small applique quilts, Rose Anne says, "I made this quilt in honor of all the mothers and grandmothers who inspired us to carry on the tradition of sewing and quilting. "  Even if your mother or grandmother did not quilt, this is still a great time of year to honor a quilting relative, friend, or neighbor.

Closeup, I Remember Mama by Rose Anne Self

The quilt is based on The Needleworker applique pattern by Bunny Publications.  We love this quilt because it conveys a warm sense of cheerful industriousness, which happens when we are really in "the quilting zone."  Notice the fun details here, like the cat contentedly curled up on the ball of yarn, as the quilter carefully displays her treasured  wares on a quilt rack.

Closeup, I Remember Mama by Rose Anne Self

Scraps of fabric fall to the floor with abandon as the quilter focuses her attention on the work at hand. Notice the use of Rose Anne's blanket stitch embroidery which lends such a homey and cozy touch to this fun quilt.

Closeup, I Remember Mama by Rose Anne Self

Here is the quilting bee in full swing, just as our foremothers must have done decades and centuries ago. Bolts of fabric and spools of thread surround the cat on the floor, as the friends above support each other by sharing the workload. We love Rose Anne's attention to detail, including the neatly tied, almost fluffy bows on the quilters' aprons.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Blooming beauties: meditations on flowers, quilts, and Mother's Day

We've always wanted to make a flower quilt, but haven't yet gotten it off the ground (so to speak).  In the meantime, we keep adding flowers to our Quilt Inspiration collection.  We thought you might enjoy seeing some of our favorites from this season's crop.

Tribute to Mom by Diane Hartman

Diane Hartman won 2nd prize for the New Member's Challenge at the 2014 Tucson Quilters Guild show. She says: "The challenge fabric was avocado green – one of my mother’s favorite colors; she always teamed it with fuchsia pink! Synonymous with thoughts of my mother are visions of gardens and beautiful flowers."

close up, Tribute to Mom by Diane Hartman

The hexagon flowers, done in colorful Kaffe Fassett fabrics, were 3-D appliqued to the surface. Diane explains the materials she used: "In the tradition of my 'waste not, want not' mother, I decided to team the avocado green with studio leftovers, i.e. hexi-flower experiments, French knot flowers salvaged from a four-decades-old peasant blouse, a rejected black-and-white checkerboard and little yo-yos."

Shangri-La by Barb Forrister (Austin, Texas)

Fiber artist Barb Forrister was inspired by dozens of photos and a desire to plant a 3-D garden. Here is the left-hand panel of an intriguing triptych. Barb explains, "Shangri-la is a 3-D triptych created with soft sculpted flowers on a hand painted and inked background. As a fiber artist, I am constantly looking for different mediums that can be used to add lift and yet be pliable enough to sculpt; others remain flat but still provide texture.”

Shangri-La by Barb Forrister, right panel

The hand-painted background of the quilt was silk screened and stenciled. The soft sculpted 3-D flowers stand out two to three inches from the surface.  Different sections of this stunning piece were beaded, thread painted, embellished, machine appliqued and quilted.

Shangri-La by Barb Forrister, close up

The brilliant red-orange tiger lilies really stand out in this luscious quilt. Textural yarn was used to create the stems.

Shangri-La by Barb Forrister, center panel

The flowers in this panel calla lilies, irises, lilac and tea rose bushes and a variety of imaginary wild flowers. The center stalks of the calla lilies consist of beads set on wire, which stand up and add even more dimension to the flower. The scarlet poppies were stitched and assembled before they were appliqued to the surface of the quilt. The entire piece with three panels was 85 x 29", for more information see Barb Forrister's website.

Camellia by Melinda Bula (California)

Inspired by a photo of a camellia flower, this gorgeous wall hanging was made with fused applique, then thread painted. Melinda Bula says: “Camellias grow in abundance in Sacramento. When I moved here I quickly filled my yard with nine bushes to put on a great show." The photo that inspired the quilt can be seen at Melinda's blog.

Melinda is well known for her beautiful thread painting, which you can see in the close up photos above and below.

close up, Camellia by Melinda Bula

Melinda Bula will be teaching her fabulous fusible flower technique at the National Quilt Museum in August, 2014.  She is the author of Cutting Garden Quilts:  Fabulous Fusible Flowers.

Passion Flower,  34 x 42", by Pam George (Louden, Tennessee)

We were drawn to the beautiful purple, chartreuse and aqua blue colors of this hand painted passion flower quilt.  Pam first painted a wholecloth flower and leaves, and then fused it to the batik background.  She used two layers of batting in some areas to raise specific areas of the flower, such as the stamens and spikes. 

close up, Passion Flower by Pam George

We photographed this lovely quilt at the 2014 AQS show in Phoenix, Arizona.  Here is an even closer view of the quilting around the center of the flower....

Mediterranean Colors and Perfumes, 90 x 94", by Sonia Bardella (Venice, Italy)

One of the most amazing postage stamp quilts we've ever seen, this quilt was made by Sonia Bardella to resemble a petit-point tapestry pillow owned by her late grandmother. For eight months, Sonia painstakingly hand- and machine-stitched 24,000 tiny squares snipped from old shirts, pillowcases and towels into a mosaic of blooms. The large circle of rusty red, deep rose, light blue and golden yellow flowers is set against a background of 11 shades of white.

close up, Mediterranean Colors and Perfumes by Sonia Bardella

A close-up photo reveals the pixelated workmanship of the huge quilt. Sonia Bardella explains,  "This is the quilt on my bed, with all of the Mediterranean's colors."  The quilt was photographed at the In Full Bloom Exhibit at the 2013 Houston IQF.  It won the $500 Ina Stentiford Award, established in 2007 by the family of a late New York quilter who loved flowers and floral quilts.

Benefit of the Sunshine, 81 x 81", by Noriko Nozawa (Chiba-City, Chiba, Japan)

This quilt, which resembles a painting, inspires us with its artistic design and beauty.  The wood-nymph is surrounded by flowers and bathed in ribbons of light. Noriko Nozawa says, “The quilt expresses a gentle light by using rainbow colors I dyed myself."   The rainbow colors stand out against the high-contrast black, white and brown background.

close up, Benefit of the Sunshine by Noriko Nozawa

 

The quilt was machine pieced and free motion quilted. Noriko says, "For the first time I tried the method that emphasizes an outline by using thin felt.” We love the intricate  stained-glass appearance which emphasizes the flowers, butterflies and flowing hair shown below.

Even the stylized face of the figure is decorated with subtle quilted flowers in orange thread. Noriko is as much an artist as a quilter and we loved her original, exciting design. 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.