Highlights of the Pacific International Quilt Festival ! Day 3

The Pacific International Quilt Festival (PIQF) is the biggest quilt show on the West Coast of the US. We had a great time at the 25th annual show, held last week in Santa Clara, California. There were nearly 1000 quilts on display from around the globe. Here is Part 3 of our highlights of this year's show!

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Dottie’s Lament, 45 x 44”, by Sue Bower,  Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Sue explains about her original design:  "This piece was inspired by [pop artist] Roy Lichtenstein's work. I created Dottie using multiple layers of fabric and raw edge machine applique. Her foundation pieced stash, custom digitized and machine embroidered dialogue balloon, and tone-on-tone longarm quilting preserve the 2D comic book look."

Dottie continues, " The original scene appeared in the romance comic book series 'First Kiss', published in 1961. Did Brad really leave her?  Stay tuned. The answer will be revealed in 2017."
Who among hasn't felt a little twinge of guilt about adding more fabric to her already over-flowing stash? We find this quilt to be not only beautifully made, but also hilariously funny.

For the Watchers and Dreamers, 41 x 41”, by Kristin Shields, Oregon, U.S.A.

Kristin notes about her original design,  "This quilt was inpsired by the graphic illustrations from Mid Century Modern children's picture books. It is hand appliqued."

Kristin's work is sewing machine quilted, and these contemporary patterns look great against the softer neutrals highlighted by bold black lines.

The Sunrise in the Bougainvilleas, 59 x 71”, by Mihoko Tanaka, Japan

Mihoko notes, "Southwestern Japan's back country provides much serenity for everyone. When the sun rises through the bouganvilleas, you can especially appreciate this time of year. It almost seems to be the origin of our energy. Does it also give the motivation to begin something new? "

Close-up, Sunrise in the Bouganvilleas

Mihoko's original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted. This beautiful juxtaposition of warm and cool hues does indeed seem to radiate a dynamic sense of energy.

My Favorite Home in Each Season, 69 x 52”, by Bonnie Thomas, California

Bonnie writes, "Yo-yo's (fabric that is gathered into small, round, shapes) are the perfect project for the long drive to visit our son every Sunday. The three dimensionality of these homes really attracted me. I wish I could own all these homes in real life."

Winter

Bonnie's charming work shows yo-yo's in all four panels, one for each season. The seasonal patterns are by Marcia Layton; this one is called Lollipop Lane. Notice how yo-yo's decorate the gingerbread house and form a fence line of lollipops.

Spring

In the block for spring (Cottontail Trail), the yo-yo's are used to depict the sun, the clouds, the bunny at the gate, as well as the gate itself, and the plants emerging from the earth.

Autumn

In the Harvest Road pattern, the yo-yo's are used as pumpkins in the wheelbarrow and as leaves ready to fall from the tree.

Summer

This summer-themed pattern is Raccoon Ridge by Marcia Layton. Look closely, and you'll see that the yo-yo's are used to construct the animals and even the walls of the summer cabin at the side of the lake.

Cactus Fish, 60 x 57”, by Alethea Ballard and Freddy Moran, California

An original design, Cactus Fish is the fifth in a series of collaborative collages made by Althea and Freddy. They explain, "We chose a theme quickly. In this case, it went like this. Althea: 'I have this fish panel that I've always wanted to use in a quilt.' Freddy: 'I love fish !'. Then, we pulled out all the brightest fabrics we could find, cut them up, and made a collage. Then, Alethea quilt it. TOO MUCH FUN !"

Close-up, Cactus Fish

Althea and Freddy's vibrant, wild and crazy creation is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and long arm quilted.

The Deep Blue Glitter, 87 x 87”, by Taeko Kasai, Japan

Taeko says, “I made this work, which is somewhat like a huge, glittering blue jewel, to present to myself in memory of my sixtieth birthday. I pieced Dresden plate patterns to express this brilliant cut jewel and quilted around to give an elegant look." Thin strips give the appearance of stained glass, as shown below.

The Deep Blue Glitter was machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.