Quilt Arizona 2017! day 3

We're back after a short spring break! For us, springtime in the desert means three things: spring flowers, spring training (baseball), and Quilt Arizona!  This is our 8th year blogging about this fun show, which draws visitors from many parts of North America. Here are some of our favorites from this year's show.

Please note: We're continuously posting free patterns on Twitter ! Check us out here !

Snow Play by Marlu Allan

Marlu says, " [This quilt is] a tribute to my Golden Retriever dogs playing in the snow after a large snowfall in Payson, Arizona [in the mountains of eastern Arizona]. "  By keeping the background colors in winter neutrals of gray and white, Marlu creates a strong focal point for the two dogs in the foreground. We love the alert and intent expression on their faces, with their tails wagging cheerfully behind them.
Close-up, Snow Play

In this close-up, you can see all of the nuanced colors of the dogs' coats. Marlu herself quilted this original design, a beautifully composed and sewn pictorial work.
Toro by Barbara Harrell

Third place winner in the Pictorial Non-Original Design category, Barbara says,  "This pattern is 'Abilene' by Laura Heine for Fiberworks. I made this for my husband to remind him of all the cows we have raised. "
 Close-up Toro

This colorful collage pattern is done in fused applique and quilted by Barbara herself. It looks like such a fun project to work on !

Pacific Northwest Spirit by Constance Clark

Honorable mention winner in the Medium Size Pieced Quilts category, Constance notes, "I used six hand-painted symbols from the Pacific Northwest and their colors to create a quilt that reflects the spirit of the region.
Close-up,  Pacific Northwest Spirit

Bold geometric sashing in red, black, and gray, perfectly sets off these Native American images of the Pacific Northwest U.S.A. Constance herself quilted this striking creation.

Dear Me! Inspired by Dear Jane by Claire Victor

Second place winner for Small Appliqued Quilts and a National Association of Certified Quilt Judges Merit Award,  Claire states, "[This quilt is] an original design; each 4 1/2 inch block is a variation of the tumbling block or a 3-D design using a 60 degree angle."
 We were very impressed by this contemporary interpretation of the traditional Dear Jane quilt blocks.

Close-up Dear Me

Claire's excellent choice of contrasting and monochromatic fabrics provide a wonderful three-dimensional aspect to her work, which she quilted herself.
Kitty Love by Judith Ritner

Judith notes that the original block design was for a pillow; but she enlarged it in order to use it for a black-gray-red fabric quilt challenge.Her wonderful fabric selection and sense of perspective makes the original block into a perfect medallion quilt.
Close-up,  Kitty Love

We admired the fabulous paper-piecing work done on the sleeping kitten's face. Time to curl right up and take a nap !

Moonlit Garden by Kathy O'Brien, quilted by Penny Boese

Winner of a Hall of Fame Award and second place winner in the Mixed Techniques category, Kathy explains, "[This quilt was] inspired by 'The Last Days' pattern by Roxi Eppler Hardegree in the book From the Cover (of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine) .  I designed the border to enlarge it." 

Close-up, Moonlit Garden

Perfectly pieced, the tranquil "Moonlit Garden" uses colors that give it such a mystical and luminous quality. These elegant spiked fans remind us very much of  New York Beauty blocks.
Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.