Highlights of the Pacific International Quilt Festival - Part 6

We had a fabulous time at the 2015 Pacific International Quilt Festival, the largest quilt show on the Pacific coast of the U.S.  Beautiful quilts were displayed from around the world. All the quilts were designed and constructed at a high level of talent. We are showing some prize winners, in addition to some real gems that did not win. For a complete list of prize winners in the World Quilt category, please click here. Last week, we featured Part 5; and now, here is Part 6 (the finale!)

Don Juan, 30 x 50", by Margaret Stimson (Eureka, California)

Margaret explains, "Don Juan is the depiction of a Humboldt Bay brown pelican in full mating plumage. Having no idea that a brown pelican could be so colorful, I was startled and entranced by the beauty of this courting gentleman.  'Don Juan' is my part of the Fiber Art Friends 2015 Challenge: A Day at Woodley Island."

Margaret has created a wonderful sense of texture in her fabric arrangement and her quilting patterns, which shows off Don Juan in all his splendor and dignity. Her original design is machine appliqued and hand and sewing machine quilted.

Spiral Galaxy, 68 x 68", by Jean Hughes (Morgan Hill, California), quilted by Margrit Schwanck

Jean says of her modern quilt, "I was inspired by the 3-D art of Victor Vasarely (who is sometimes known as the grandfather of the 'optical art' movement.) I used Electric Quilt 7 and designed the quilt using a special effects layout and a seven grid chain block. I made the oval shape by changing the colors in the blocks. The long arm quilting was done by Margrit Schwank."

This intriguing quilting design is done in interlocking circles, reminiscent of the "Winding Ways" pattern. Jean's fascinating quilt is a machine pieced original design.

King's Garden, 59 x 59", by Mary Transom (New Zealand)

Blue ribbon winner for "Best of Country- New Zealand", Mary notes, "I read a book describing the restoration of the gardens of Brighton Palace in the United Kingdom. Wallpaper used in the interior of the palace inspired my quilt. I re-drew and styled the peacock for my original design." Look closely at the upper right hand corner, and you'll see an image of the fanciful palace spires that Mary quilted into the background ! 

Gorgeous quilting work reflects the elegant plumage of this graceful bird. Mary's stunning original design is machine appliqued and pieced, sewing machine quilted,  with hand-embroidered accents. 

Early Spring, Fantastic Blooms - Still Chilly (Japan Apricot), 47 x 59", by Mihoko Tanaka (Japan)

Mihoko gives an excellent narrative of the change of seasons in Japan:  "When spring arrives in chilly February, it is tool cold for almost all the trees to bloom in the front yards along our streets, and they look dead. On these trees, that look dead, many pretty flowers in red, pink, and scarlet suddenly blossom and smell nice. These are the Japanese plum trees, adding colors to our garden when there are not any other flowers in bloom." Mihoko has aptly described the way that springtime subtly creeps up on us, even as we appear to be in the midst of winter.

Mihoko's choice of colors depicts vibrant yet delicate blossoms arriving amidst the gray and white neutrals of winter. Her lovely original design in machine appliqued and sewing machine quilted.

Yellow Submarine by Cheryl P. Stanczyk (Centreville, Virginia)

Yellow Submarine is the mini-quilt  featured on the cover of Inspired by the Beatles- An Art Quilt Challenge by Donna De Soto. It commemorates the 50th anniversary of the British rock group The Beatles' first visit to the U.S.A. in 1964.  The quilt artists whose work is shown in this book each chose a different Beatles song to portray as a quilt. We loved this quilt which took us back to our childhood, as it depicts a playful, happy world under the sea.

Here you can see the humorous eye of the submarine's periscope, while a pink octopus gaily dances nearby. The quilt artist used cotton fabric, angelina fibers, crystals, sequins, spangles, and buttons, Cheryl's work is hand embellished and machine pieced and quilted.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.