The Quilts of Karlyn Bue Lohrenz

Karlyn Bue Lohrenz of Montana started taking quilt classes as a way of coping with the stages of grief after her sixteen year old daughter tragically lost her life in a car accident in 1989. As her success grew, she was invited to display her work in the "Rising Stars" exhibit at the 2017 Houston International Quilt Festival.
We greatly admire Karlyn's fantastic work, so we'd like to share it with you !

Calamari Time by Karlyn Lohrenz

Karlyn's inspiration for this amazing contemporary art quilt was a photo of a water fountain. She says, "Fiberart is such a wonderful medium to use in creation. From vision to image, every step fuels creativity. I challenged myself on working with gradation values in fabric, precision, shading, depth, and creativity in free-motion quilting. It is humbling to be part of the community who utilizes this medium. "

Close-up, Calamari Time

Rich, complementary color-saturated hues of purple, orange-yellow and apricot really bring out the sparkle in this pattern. Calamari Time is machine pieced, appliqued, quilted, and trapuntoed.

Bengal Peace by Karlyn Lohrenz

For this fabulous piece, Karlyn was inspired by the teachings of quilt artists Hollis Chatelain and Barbara Olson . Karlyn remarks, "I studied and explored the Royal White Bengal. The White Bengal is believed to have been extinct from the wild since 1958. Less than 400 were in the captive world at the time I made this quilt. What fun it was to take this quilt from thought to reality."
 
 Close-up, Bengali Peace

We were impressed by the amazing life-like markings on the tiger's face and its piercing eyes, which seem to follow the viewer's gaze. This stunning work is machine quilted and painted.

Montana Tigers by Karlyn Lohrenz

The design source for this vibrant work was photos of tiger lily flowers. Karlyn notes, "These beauties are in my flowerbeds every fall. We are so blessed to work in a medium where we can create these image that float in our heads.I tried to give them the attention they deserved. A quilt is complete when it is shared."

Close-up, Montana Tigers

This beautiful threadwork replicates the tiny lines and veins in the flower petals which give them such a depth of color. Montana Tigers is machine-pieced, appliqued, and quilted, plus trapuntoed.

We're Not In Kansas Anymore II by Karlyn Lohrenz

Karlyn's design source for this magical, imaginative quilt was the great story, "The Wizard of Oz" by L.Frank Baum. She states, "This was a challenge that tried my patience, tested, my discipline, and stirred up pleasant memories from childhood. I hope my interpretation of the journey to the Emerald City sparks the enthusiasm of the child in all of us."

Close-up,  We're Not In Kansas Anymore II

Here's the beloved characters of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and of course the Lion on their way to a marvelous adventure down the yellow brick road

And of course,  the adorable Toto is included, against a beautifully quilted background. Karlyn's techniques include machine piecing, applique, quilting, and thread painting.

It All Comes Around by Karlyn Lohrenz

Karlyn's inspiration for this gorgeous quilt were circles and a path to and from Montana and Germany. Karlyn writes, "I watched my 17 year old granddaughter apply, interview, and accept a full ride scholarship to study abroad. We went through many emotions as a family. I finished this quilt the day she was greeted by her host family in Germany."

Close-up, It All Comes Around

Karlyn's spectacular work is machine pieced, appliqued, and quilted, felted, and overlaid. The lovely warm colors really create a glowing effect for this contemporary quilt.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the Houston International Quilt Festival (2017).