Happy (quilted) Holidays! The Best of Christmas 2014 (part 2)

There's something about the December holidays and the art of quilting that goes together perfectly. Maybe it's the opportunity to share our creative talents and ideas with others in the spirit of the season. In that spirit, we're showing a very festive collection of quilts each week until Christmas. Here is Part 2 !

Jingle Bells by Kathy McNeil, 2014 Road to California Quilt Show

This quilt won the $1500.00 Directors Choice AND Viewer's Choice prizes at the 2014 Road to California Quilt Show.  Kathy McNeil says, " [This quilt was inspired by] memories of a family Christmas sleigh ride. I really wanted to make the snow look like a watercolor painting done with fabric." 

Close up, Jingle Bells by Kathy McNeil

Kathy McNeil's work is wonderfully lifelike, especially the textured coats on the horses and the snow-laden pines in the background. On her website, Kathy says: "I had so much fun designing the decorative and fancy harness and jingle bells." Can't you just hear those bells on the horses?

Red Birds by Nanette Chopin-Cook, 2014 Tucson Quilters' Guild silent auction

Nanette notes that this block was taken from a pattern by Darlene Christopherson called Nesting (it is out of print, but sometimes available on Ebay).  The quilt was needle-turn appliqued and hand quilted. This applique motif reminds us of a beautiful, symmetrical Baltimore Album block, with its graceful curved leaves and stately redbirds.

A Long Night's Journey by Linda Haltom, 2014 American Quilters' Society Show - Phoenix

Here's a village enjoying Santa's arrival amidst the hushed serenity of a new snowfall. Linda Haltom writes, "This quilt is a depiction of Christmas Eve in the 1800's, along with toys of the period."   Look closely and you can see some of the sparkles on the reindeer's harness and the trees. A Long Night's Journey took over a year to make; you can see the story here and a close-up photo below.

On the left, you can see the vintage doll peeking out of Santa's bag. The thread painting on his beard as well as the snowy background gives this wintry scene an excellent texture. 

Holiday Tree of Lights by Char Gasker, 2014 Arizona Quilters' Guild Show

Char states, "This quilt was machine pieced, appliqued, and quilted.  The pattern is Christmas Heart Lights - A Collection of Quilts book by Susie M. Robbins. Forty-seven hearts and forty-two berries adorn the quilt."  The  pinwheels in the background and the pretty half square triangle border on the top and bottom give this quilt a festive, cheery appearance.

Red Bird by Kris Lovetro, 2014 Arizona Quilters Guild Show, quilted by Debbie Stanton

Kris Lovetro explains, "I pieced the red bird center from a gift [of a pattern; see below].  Tamara Morker, Maureen Pastika, and Brenda Dickinson added the interior borders.  I finished it with the last border and branches." The borders were all designed and added by different quilters, but they coordinate beautifully together.

Kris' inspiration was the Winter's Majesty pattern by Cheryl Haynes, which was used as the center medallion.

Here, you can see the lovely work she did to create a realistic, gently nuanced  effect for the branches, needles, and pine cones.

 Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.