The Best of Quilt Arizona ! day 1

Here are our favorite quilts from the recent Quilt Arizona show!  The annual exhibit by the Arizona Quilters Guild draws visitors from around the country - we even saw license plates from Alaska and most Canadian provinces.  The array of talent at this show is truly impressive!
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Navajo Star by Cindy Stohn

Cindy Stohn won Second Place in the Modern quilt category for this original design, inspired by the weavings of the Native Peoples.  Cindy created the feather star design with bold colors. The blue fabric is printed with black and white feathers consistent with the theme of the quilt.  Weaving elements also inspired the quilting designs.

Owl Katsina by Frances Murphy

Frances Murphy created Owl Katsina using fusible and machine applique with commercial and hand dyed fabrics.  According to Frances' website, the inspiration for the figure came from the modern-day Katsina carvings of Jerome Naquatewa, an artist living at the Zuni pueblo 150 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. An image of an owl was quilted into the background.  The Owl Katsina symbolizes intelligence, wisdom and the destroyer of the crop-threatening rodents.

A Country Journal by Caryl Yarmchuk, quilted by Debbie Barlow

Although this was Caryl Yarmchuk's first needle turn applique project... she won a blue ribbon!  The pattern was in her UFO box, and she first thought she would "do just one chicken....!"  The Country Journal patterns are by Maggie Walker.  Debbie Barlow's quilting can be seen in the closeup photo below.

On The Road 2015 by Christine Mahon

We really enjoyed this colorful travel quilt! Christine Mahon says that patterns for the "rows" were collected in each state visited on her travel in 2015.  Fabric choices, embellishments, embroidery and final arrangement make it uniquely hers.  the Idaho block, below, features swimming fish, while the Arizona block has coyotes, saguaro cactus, and mountains.

Dear Paula, With Sincere Thanks, by Karen G. Fisher

This stunning quilt won First Place in the Large Pieced quilt category, along with a special Award of Merit from the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (NACQJ).  A Paula Nadelstern workshop inspired Karen Fisher to design a nine pointed star.  Bilaterally symmetric fabrics created a true kaleidoscope.  Gold fabrics, buttons and beads added plenty of sparkle.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.