Thursday, April 30, 2020

Quilt Arizona 2020 ! Day 4

In February, when life was still "normal" , we attended the 2020 Quilt Arizona! Show which is an outstanding display of statewide quilts from the Arizona Quilters' Guild. This year's theme was "Desert Stars". We hope you enjoy these highlights from the show !

Please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, and collectible items !
For the latest free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Into The Wild by Martha Sivetz-Baltram


This original design pieced and appliqued quilt is truly stunning. Martha Sivetz-Baltram says that she was inspired by forests and wild animals, after touring several national parks last summer. This creation won a well-deserved blue ribbon in the Mixed Technique, Medium/Large-Solo category. She used the silhouette animals from clip art to create the animals, and placed crows (below) in the four corners of the quilt.


We couldn't resist one more closeup photo, showing the vertical line of bees that were placed between the rows of tree blocks.  The piecing, applique and quilting were all done by Martha herself.


Desert Watch by Elizabeth Heurlin


Desert Watch is an original design by Elizabeth Heurlin, created with pieced flying geese, turned and machine applique, a crewel owl, and machine and hand embroidery.  A quilt block in the upper right corner, with quilting that echoes the flying geese theme, depicts the desert sun.  The focus point was the amazing owl, shown below.


Elizabeth says she stitched the owl around 30 years ago from an unknown crewel embroidery kit.  We love the way she perched the owl on a prickly pear at the edge of the quilt!  Elizabeth credits Ann Peterson for inspiring some of the design elements. This piece won a yellow (Third Place) ribbon in the Mixed Technique, Small - Solo category,

Count Basie Bear under The Desert Stars by Jane Wilcox


This original design by Jane Wilcox was inspired by the 2020 show theme, Desert Stars.  Jane says,  "One of the most beautiful sights at night is the Phoenix skyline illuminated by the stars and moon!"
The bear sitting near the campfire is conducting a symphony of coyotes, a familiar sound to many who live in Arizona.


The prickly pear and other cactus had three-dimensional flowers and leaves, adding depth to the surface of this art quilt.

Neighorhood Delights by Yvonne Cozart, quilted by Sue Bruner


This is such a beautiful quilt, with its bright blue background and intricate design elements!  Yvonne Cozart says,  "I love the creativity of combining colors and changing rules to make a unique composition.  The pattern [by Wendy Williams] was originally done in the round." Yvonne also added many fun details, such as the little owl sitting on the fence, below.


This quilt was entered in the Display Only category, which means it was not professionally judged, but we and many others would have given it a blue ribbon.

I Spy Scrappy Spikes by Judy Birchett, quilted by Sharon Elsberry


One of the most delightful scrap quilts we've seen, Judy Birchett's original design was based on the traditional New York Beauty block, done in rainbow colors and an "I Spy" theme. For more color, Prairie Points were added around the outside of the quilt. The red ribbon is for Second Place in the Scrap-Duet category.


Judy says it was created with "lots of partial seams" and using her stash of scraps and juvenile novelty prints.  The centers of the blocks were fussy cut to showcase these fun characters, as in the closeup photos above and below.



Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2020 Arizona Quilters Guild show.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Quilt Arizona 2020 ! Day 3

In February, when life was still "normal" , we attended the 2020 Quilt Arizona! Show which is an outstanding display of statewide quilts from the Arizona Quilters' Guild. This year's theme was "Desert Stars". We hope you enjoy these highlights from the show !

Please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, and collectible items !
For the latest free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Eagle Dancer
by Pam Gagnier, quilted by Jeannie Rogers

Blue Ribbon winner for Best Group Quilt, Pam notes, " I acquired this quilt top from Nancy Howell. After having it quilted, I embellished and bound the quilt. I'm thrilled to have this piece of art done by a dear friend to hang in my great room. "

 Eagle Dancer is a published pattern by Arlene Walsh Designs. This already stunning design has been made more spectacular by Pam's beaded embellishments.

Intricately cut feathers in mostly warm muted tones enhance the face of the Hopi sun god. 

Garden At Dusk by Beth Norris, quilted by Cindy Paulson

 Beth's quilt was a big award winner at 2020 Quilt Arizona and deservedly so! She won the Laurene Sinema award for Extraordinary Workmanship, plus the blue ribbon for Best Kit Quilt. Her work is based on a published design by Lisa Bongean.

 Beth writes, "I love working with wool on flannel. This combination is both forgiving and rewarding; and there is something about the 'slow stitching' that encourages calm. We really enjoyed seeing Beth's exquisite work.

Desert Stars Appear Over Southwest Splendor by Karen Crowe

Third place winner for best use of theme, Karen states, "Desert Stars begin to appear during a colorful Arizona sunset. A common pattern used in southwest themed quilts is the squash blossom. This pattern is used for the desert stars that preside over this desert landscape. The sunset is created by pixelating one of my Arizona sunset photos into a pattern of one inch squares."

Karen adds, "Cynthia England's picture pieced pattern, Southwest Splendor, was added to the sunset. Quilting patterns by Urban Elementz included fire dance, prickle patch, sand dunes, and a comouflaged lizard."

Look Closer by Richard Kupferer

Richard explains, "With Look Closer, I chose to celebrate all the desert stars, including its creatures and geology. MESA ( the rock outcropping) shouts for attention, but there are other words that try to hide in the desert landscape and sky."

We love this ever-so-whimsical coyote, who looks as if he got caught in his tracks while chasing an elusive road-runner! Richard quilted this very artistic original design by himself.

Arcadia Avenue by Mary McElvain, quilted by Kimie Tanner

Mary says, "I taught this Block of the Month pattern. This was my sample."  The pattern here is from
Sassafrass Lane Designs.

This paper-pieced album quilt provides a bold, contemporary look. Mary and Kimie's work won Second Place for Best Paper-Pieced Quilt by a Duet.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2020 Arizona Quilters Guild show.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Quilt Arizona 2020 ! Day 2

In February, when life was still "normal" , we attended the 2020 Quilt Arizona! Show which is an outstanding display of statewide quilts from the Arizona Quilters' Guild. This year's theme was "Desert Stars". We hope you enjoy these highlights from the show !

Please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, and collectible items !
For the latest free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Whooo's There by Pearl Sceviour


Pearl's wonderful original design won both the President's Choice Award and the Second Place Award for Best Pictorial Quilt. She explains, "Translating photos to quilts is a passion. Using commerical fabric as a medium poses serious challenges, but there's a great satisfaction in seeing the picture come to life."


Pearl quilted her strikingly handsome work herself. We really like this owl's large, clear eyes which make him (or her) appear to be very wise indeed.

Delightful Nature by Beth Norris, quilted by Cindy Paulson


Speaking of Sophie Carcaud's design, Beth says, "I love this designer's animals- they make me chuckle. The mouse choir, the courting hedgehogs, the zany zebras, the bear and squirrel discussing subtle acorn flavor.....they all just delight me."


Beth's exquisite workmanship shows in this large owl sitting in the tree with delicate, precise leaves.


Here's the mouse choir of which Beth speaks. We can imagine them singing in their squeaky little voices !

Sedona Trails With A Difference by Andrea Williams


Second place winner for Pieced Medium-Size Quilts, Andrea notes, "The top was pieced by Ellen Outten. [ I ] have been quilting for 4 years, learning with each completed project."


Andrea adds, "This quilt is a variation on a sampler quilts with a combination of 11 curved pieced blocks and straight pieced blocks. The pattern is Sedona Trails."  We admire Andrea's elegant quilting work.

Diamond Log Cabin by Mary McElvain


First place winner for Paper Pieced Quilts, Mary states, " [This is a ] paper-pieced small quilt. The pattern was from a vendor, Cindi Edgerton, at Paducah, KY, so the quilt holds many fond memories."


These fabrics are a luscious shade of raspberry pink and really made the center medallion "pop" against the pale white hues of the background.

Evening Starlet by Lois Wendling, quilted by Donna Goldbeck


First place winner for "Best Use of Theme"  (Desert Stars), Lois explains, "I chose the Deb Karasik pattern 'Audrey III'   to show the beautiful starry nights we have in Arizona."


Lois adds, "I used desert colors to highlight the beauty of this star and added Swarovski Crystals." We admire this stunning work, and the dual sun/moon motif in the center gives an extra emphasis to the theme of the sky above us.


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2020 Arizona Quilters Guild show.

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Quilt Arizona 2020 ! Day 1

In February, when life was still "normal" , we attended the 2020 Quilt Arizona! Show which is an outstanding display of statewide quilts from the Arizona Quilters' Guild. This year's theme was "Desert Stars". We hope you enjoy these highlights from the show !

Please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, and collectible items !
For the latest free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Yikaisdaha (Navajo for Milky Way) by Patti Kupferer

Patti notes, " I created this original quilt based on the Navajo belief of how the Milky Way was formed. I used the Superstition Mountains that I see down my street as the desert setting below the Milky way. This is a reinterpretation of my 1992 "Star Struck" award win."

Patti adds, " I recalled the Navajo belief as how the Milky Way was created by Coyote with the statement that I embroidered at the top.  The quilt's name, Yikaisdaha, is Navajo for the Milky Way."  In keeping with the theme, the twinkling stars and moonlit buttes and rocks provide a perfect backdrop for the dramatically silhouetted cactus forms. Patti quilted her intriguing creation herself.

Virginia City Miner by LeAnn Hileman

 First Place winner for Best Pictorial Quilt, LeAnn says, " Virginia City [Nevada] Miner depicts a tender moment between this prospector and his trusty companion. "

Look at this fabulous embellishment of threads to create the miner's beard ! LeAnn pieced and created her marvelous work by herself.

Two Grey Hills Pieced by Debbie Corbett and Quilted by Mike Corbett

First Place winner for Best Medium Pieced Quilt by a duet and Exemplary Computer-Guilded Machine Quilting, Mike and Debbie say that their quilt is an adaption of the Navajo rug style known as "Two Grey Hills."


 Shown above are some of the beautiful  Native American motifs, emblematic of the Two Grey Hills style.

The border above was quilted with buffalo, feathers, and vertical arrows in multicolor thread. Mike and Debbie's work is well-deserving of the awards it won.

Cactus Blooms by Anita Blain, quilted by Cindy Stohn


Third Place winner for Best Kit Quilt, Anita writes, "When I moved to this area three years ago, it was easy to fall in love with the muted desert tones and the vibrant colors of the many cactus in the area. Home is now where the cactus bloom."


This quilt, which displays patchwork and applique side by side, looks so pretty with the bright colors and purple flowers against the soft silver gray background.

Jennifer's Quilt, made by Marni MacDonald, exhibited by Jennifer Penna


Jennifer's Quilt won Best of Show back in 2002 and was part of the special exhibit titled “21st Century Quilt Arizona! Best of Show”.  The program says:  “This year’s special exhibit is exactly that: a mind-blowing array of gorgeous quilts.  We have invited twenty AQG Best of Show winners from the last 20 years to participate in our special exhibit this year...The quilts are exceptional, as are the women who made them.” 


Jennifer Penna writes, "[This quilt is made of] hand dyed fabrics. [It is] paper pieced with hand applique. My grandma made this quilt for me; she dyed all the fabrics."

Jennifer concludes, " I was really into tie dye at the time. It was a present for my graduation."
The lavender, peach, lemon yellow, and raspberry pink hues all work beautifully together.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2020 Arizona Quilters Guild show.

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Free Pattern Day! Big Print Quilts - part 3

Here is a brand-new Free Pattern Day for Big Print (floral and panel) quilts! (For Part 1 of this series, click HERE; for Part 2, click HERE.)
To go to a pattern: Scroll down the page until you see the quilt you like, then click on the words "click for PDF download" in the title above the quilt.

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, and collectible items !
For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

Megapixel quilt, ~ 72"  square, free pattern by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


The Parlour L'Oiseau quilt
, 84 x 88", free pattern at Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

The Water Lily Pond quilt, 66” square, free pattern by Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Roses in Bloom quilt, 86 x 94”, free pattern by Jean Ann Wright for Andover Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Savoy quilt, 62" square, free pattern by Janet Houts for Blank Quilting (CLICK for PDF download)


Fracture quilt, ~48 x 68", free pattern by Pam See for Timeless Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)


Sea Wall quilt, 48 x 56", free pattern by Audrey Page for Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)


Secret Scenery quilt, ~42 x 62”, free pattern by Ariga Mahmoudlou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Secret Window quilt, 25 x 38”, free pattern by Jordan Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Serape quilt, ~42 x 58”, free pattern by Rob Appell for Michael Miller Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Showcase quilt, 67 x 82”, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Windham Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Simpatico Kaleidoscope quilt, 68” square, free pattern by Heidi Pridemore for Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Simplish quilt, ~56 x 70”, free pattern by Wilmington Prints (CLICK for PDF download)


Songbirds quilt, 44” square, free pattern by Fabric Editions (CLICK for PDF download)


Springtime in Shanghai, 55 x 72”, free pattern by Luana Rubin for Robert Kaufman (CLICK for PDF download)


Summer House quilt, 52 x 60",  free pattern by Lily Ashbury for Moda Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Summer Sorbet quilt, 56 x 66", free pattern by Linda Leathersich and Stephanie Sheridan for Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)


Swing Vibe quilt, 54“ square, free pattern by Heidi Pridemore for Anthology Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Symphony quilt, 50” square, free pattern by Janet Page Kessler for Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)


Ticket to Paradise quilt, 44 x 54”, free pattern by Valerie Shields for Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Trapezium On Point quilt, free pattern by Linda Fitch for Hoffman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Tumbling Jewels quilt, 56 x 70", free pattern by Camelot Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Turkish Tea quilt, free pattern by Verna Mosquera for Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Upstage quilt, 34 x 51”, free pattern by Blaire Stocker for Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Urban Garden quilt, 54 x 57”, free pattern by Erin McMorris for Free Spirit Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Vintage Sonnet table topper, 36” square, free pattern by Bonnie Mitchell for Clothworks (CLICK for PDF download)


Water Garden quilt, 66 x 78", free pattern by eQuilter (CLICK for PDF download)


Whimsical quilt, 56 x 71”, free pattern by Larene Smith for Camelot Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Whirly Gig quilt, 57 x 67”, free pattern by Linda Leathersich and Stephanie Sheridan for Benartex (CLICK for PDF download)


Wild Meadow quilt, 60 x 66”, free pattern by Denise Russell for Timeless Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)


Window To The Soul quilt, 67 x 71”, free pattern by Amy Butler (CLICK for PDF download)


Woven Pieces quilt, 80 x “80”, free pattern by Mathew Boudreaux for Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Zola quilt, 57 x 71”, free pattern by Wendy Sheppard for Ink and Arrow Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Fractured Landscape quilt, 40 x 48”, free pattern by Marinda Stewart for Michael Miller Fabrics  (CLICK for PDF download)


From Dawn ‘Til Dusk quilt, 40 x 60”, free pattern by Marinda Stewart for Michael Miller Fabrics  (CLICK for PDF download)


Watercolor Hydrangeas quilt, 41 x 52”, free pattern by Debbie Beaves for Maywood Studios (CLICK for PDF download)


Sunroom quilt, ~50 x 62”, free pattern by Osie Lebowitz for Timeless Treasures (CLICK for PDF download)


Image credits: this post was updated on October 1, 2023. Individual images are copyrighted by their owners. Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs; complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links. The photo montage shown on this page is a derivative work that is the property of Quilt Inspiration. If any links are broken, we'd love to know so we can fix it. Please email us at QuiltInspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.
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