Baskets Month by Month

We love scrap quilts and sampler quilts ! Here is a lovely sampler quilt, with a different colorful basket for each month of the year.  Closeup photos of the May, June and July blocks are shown below.

(Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and collectibles ! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !)

Baskets Month by Month by Jo Ann Kilgroe, quilted by Jessica Jones Gamez

Jo Ann Kilgroe writes, "The appliqued and foundation pieced blocks were adapted from a 2003 Quiltmaker magazine. Made totally from batik scraps.The setting was my original design."  (The patterns were featured as a series in Quiltmaker Magazine 2003.)
The wonderful border of nine-patch blocks, set on point and framed with half-square triangles, certainly adds to the joyous, lively look of JoAnn's quilt.

May block

This May basket has beautiful log cabin-style piecing, with delightful flowers.
One of the challenges of scrap quilts is to create a unified work without making it look too chopped up or disorganized. Jo Ann has done a terrific job of combining the scraps in color groups, so the blocks appear to be very cohesive units.

June block

This little bluebird gives the June basket lots of cheerful energy ! Notice how the entire basket is outlined in fabrics of the same periwinkle blue shade so that the viewer can easily perceive the entire motif. 

July block

What could be more appropriate for a patriotic holiday than vibrantly colored star-shaped flowers? Again, we appreciate how the same shade of batik was carried through to the flag in the center of the basket, giving an orderly look to the entire block. The "secret to success" in scrap quilts may be to organize like-colored fabrics in small sections that can be seen one at a time.


Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Quilt Arizona show.

Easter Blessings

~ At this time of year we wish you all the blessings of Easter. ~
The flowering crocus can be regarded as an essential symbol of the awakening of nature, resurrection, and the renewal of life.*  We've long admired the beautiful Spring Crocus quilt by Jan Krentz, shown below.

(Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and collectibles ! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !)

Spring Crocuses by Jan P. Krentz (California) 

The colors of spring crocus are white, light violet,and dark violet. The flowers, buds, and leaves are mainly machine pieced with some applique. Jan Krentz says the inspiration for this quilt was a photo she saw in a Smith & Hawken gardening catalog of a misty, grassy slope scattered with naturalized crocuses in bloom. The design was created in a five-day workshop conducted by Ruth B. McDowell in 1990.

Spring Crocuses was juried into the 2016 Art Quilt Invitational show at the Brigham City Museum (Utah). Jan Krentz is the author of Lone Star Quilts and Beyond and other bestselling quilting books. Ruth B. McDowell pioneered paper pieced techniques as taught in Ruth B. McDowell's Design Workshop and other books.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2017 Brigham City Museum quilt show. *For information on the symbolism of the crocus, see: Kandeler R, Ullrich WR. Symbolism of Plants: Examples of European-Mediterranean Culture Presented With Biology and History of Art: JANUARY: Crocus. Journal of Experimental Botany 2009;60(1):6–8.

Highlights of Quilt Arizona 2019! part 5 (the finale)

Here is the finale of our Quilt Arizona photos! The Arizona Quilters Guild has over 35 chapters, and they all get together annually for the show. The 2019 theme was Jewels of the Desert: "Every quilt is like a gemstone, the dancing colors play through patterns to endlessly fascinate and amaze. This year your quilt should convey Arizona's iridescent beauty, from golden sunsets and emerald cacti, to clear sparkling memories."

Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry ! (For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !)

Spring Cleaning by Patti Kupferer

This adorable small quilt has eight different mini quilts hanging from a clothesline. Patti Kupferer says, "The Gallon Bag Challenge [in my guild] required me to use the 12 different items/collections a fellow quilter had placed in the bag in a wall hanging." We enjoyed seeing the crocheted doll (in the lower left corner), the clothes line and pins, and decorative buttons.

Look at how tiny these little quilts are, compared to the gloved hand (below)!

Extra, Extra, Read All About It by Millie Burgheimer, quilted by Millie Burgheimer

Extra, Extra won a first place ribbon in the Mixed Technique category.  Millie Burgheimer based the quilt on a story of her dad selling newspapers.  The newsboys in this original design were created with thread painting.  The background is made of newsprint-themed fabrics.

Dresden Elegance by Gail Witt,quilted by Jessica Gamez
 

Dresden Elegance won the award for Exemplary Professional Machine Quilting, along with Third Place in the Mixed Technique category.  Gail Witt says, "I am inspired by Di Ford medallion quilts. My original design features hand appliqued center star, swirls and Dresden plates. Jessica Gamez' trapunto feathers and border Gothic arches are beautiful." Here are two closeup photos of her lovely quilting.

Treasures of the Southwest by Judith Tobias, quilted by Karen Toomey

This wonderful quilt features a hot air balloon, pueblo, saguaro cactus, and more.  The pattern is Enchanted Lands at SW Decoratives. Members of Quilts N More, a Fountain Hills (Arizona) group, created this quilt to donate to Quilt for a Cause which raises funds for research, education and treatment of breast and gynecological cancers. The beautiful batik fabrics lend so much beauty to this quilt.

See What You See Under The Sea by Magdalena Castillo-Cockrum, quilted by Eunice Hill

Magdalena Castillo-Cockrum won a First Place ribbon in the Pictorial - Non Original Design category for this collage-style quilt.  She says, "Turtles are beautiful and peaceful. I love watching them swim. Exploring fabrics to fulfill my expectations for this turtle was fun, exciting and adventurous. I am excited with my turtle’s uniqueness." The turtle brings to mind Laura Heine's Seawell Collage Sea Turtle design, enhanced with many other design elements and fabrics.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Arizona at the 2019 Quilt Arizona show.

Highlights of Quilt Arizona 2019 ! part 4

The Arizona Quilters Guild has over 35 chapters, and they all get together annually for the Quilt Arizona show. The 2019 theme was Jewels of the Desert: "Every quilt is like a gemstone, the dancing colors play through patterns to endlessly fascinate and amaze. This year your quilt should convey Arizona's iridescent beauty, from golden sunsets and emerald cacti, to clear sparkling memories."

Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry ! (For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !)

Mother and Baby Giraffe by Barbara Renoux

Barbara says, "I fell in love with the eyes of this family ! I decided the piece needed embellishments, so I added beads and needlework to really bring them to life. They are an exotic pair with exotic blooms!" This pattern is by Toni Whitney.

Barbara quilted this very fun, expressive piece herself. We love the fringe embellishment which comprises the mane along the back of the giraffe's neck.

Flying High by Martha Baltram



2019 Best of Show winner and First Place winner for large applique quilts,  Martha remarks, "This original design was inspired by the many birds that fly around our house and make their nests in our garden. I included high flying birds, bees, and ladybugs to round out my theme."

Close-up, Flying High

Martha's stunning work contains many spectacular applique motifs. Here's the center block, where two charming birds are building a nest. On Flying High, Martha did all the quilting work herself.

Cacti at First Light by Debra Goley

Debra states, "As an inspirational artist, I find clues from nature. The cacti that dots the landscape is brought within safe view. At dawn's light, the prickly pear thrives, stretching forth to the sun's rays."

Cacti At First Light shows a creative juxtaposition of textured light and shadow, as the leaves react to the early morning sun. Debra quilted her innovative work herself.

Spiky Spirals by Judy Salb, quilted by Jessica Gamez

Honorable Mention winner in the Paper Pieced category, Judy notes, "I've long loved this pattern by Karen Stone, called 'Happy Chihuahuas'.  I created the border, as I wanted to add something of myself to the design."


Close-up, Spiky Spirals

Judy's cheerful quilt is really a whirlwind of color and energy. She's done an excellent job of blending contemporary black and white fabrics with these vibrant, high-chroma hues.

Grandmothers' Spring Bouquets by Joyce Strassburg, quilted by Jessica Gamez

First place winner for medium size applique quilts, Joyce writes, "This was my first Edyta Sitar pattern. Her quilts have made me a true admirer. These bouquets remind me of my grandmothers' gardens; and I hope they make my descendants as happy as they make me."

Close-up, Grandmothers' Spring Bouquets

Richly saturated batiks, in a profusion of shades, highlight this beautiful foliage against a light background. We're certain that Joyce's descendants will always consider her quilt to be a treasured heirloom.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Quilt Arizona show..

Highlights of Quilt Arizona 2019 ! part 3

The Arizona Quilters Guild has over 35 chapters, and they all get together annually for the Quilt Arizona show. The 2019 theme was Jewels of the Desert: "Every quilt is like a gemstone, the dancing colors play through patterns to endlessly fascinate and amaze. This year your quilt should convey Arizona's iridescent beauty, from golden sunsets and emerald cacti, to clear sparkling memories."

Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry ! (For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !)

Mod Cactus by Ellen Born, quilted by Ellen Born

“I had fun trying this modern quilt called Mod Cactus. The curved pieces were made using the QCR ruler (Quick Curve Ruler). The quilting in the background was a foray into some different quilting, some with ruler work.” The Mod Cactus pattern is by Sew Kind of Wonderful.

Star Light, Star Bright by Linda Hopkins, quilted by Linda Hopkins

Winner of Honorable Mention, Mixed Technique, Linda Hopkins says: "I enjoy combining different techniques into each quilt. Shiva art stick rubbings, applique, embroidery and beading on hand dyed fabric make this an unusual quilt."  We love this creative use of hand embroidery, shown below.

Earl the Burro by Karen Adams, quilted by Karen Adams.

Winner of Honorable Mention, Mixed Technique, Earl the Burro was taken from a personal picture of a burro in Oatman, Arizona. Karen Adams says, "I was attracted to him with his goofy expression and tough, good eye contact and his personality. Earl became known and is a symbol of Arizona." The quilt was started in a collage quilt class taught by Susan Carlson; you can see the work in progress on Susan Carlson's website.

Prickly Pear In All Its Glory by Maureen Pastika. Quilted by Maureen Pastika.

Maureen says, “I bought the pattern in 2004. It sat in a drawer with all the fabrics I had picked out for it until September (2018) when I ‘found it’ again! The theme of this year’s quilt show (Jewels of the Desert) was a perfect fit for this quilt."

Tango, Rhythm of Buenos Aires by Georgia Heller, quilted by Georgia Heller.

Winner of Honorable Mention, Pictorial – Original Design, Georgia Heller says, "This quilt was inspired by a trip to Argentina where we watched several dramatic tango performances" This quilt incorporates all of the musical instruments of the tango, along with the graceful lines of the dancers.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Quilt Arizona show.