Native American Quilts: Jennifer Emerson Tsosie

A brilliant selection of Native American quilts was displayed at the 2025 Modern Quilt Guild show.* From a collection at Michigan State University, their bold colors and graphic designs feel like a precursor to many of the elements we see in modern quilts today.  Today's quilts feature designs inspired by Navajo rugs.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, quilt supplies, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on X (Twitter).      

Ganado Red by Jennifer Emerson Tsosie (Navajo) c. 1989 

This beautiful quilt, resembling a Navajo rug, was featured in the 1997 book titled To Honor and Comfort: Native Quilting Traditions.  

As the book describes, "Ganado-style Navajo rugs, highly regarded for their stark graphic designs, were originally made for sale at the trading post in Ganado, New Mexico. Jennifer Emerson-Tsosie uses crosses or plus designs in her Ganado Red Quilt to convey the conflict in her life between Christianity and the Native American religion."  This red-on-black quilt was made from polyester & cotton, machine pieced and quilted.

Chief's Blanket by Jennifer Emerson Tsosie (1998) (Flagstaff, Arizona)  

In Navajo arts, a Chief's Blanket is a type of woven textile known for its intricate patterns and cultural significance. These blankets feature bold geometric designsusing natural dyes in colors like red, black, white, and indigo. These beautiful deep hues and geometric designs of this quilt echo the Navajo rug-weaving tradition. 

Navajo Designs Quilt by Jennifer Emerson Tsosie (1996)  

In this one-of-a-kind black and white quilt, Tsosie replicates a different Navajo rug design in each block.  Stunning and graphic in its black-and-white simplicity, this quilt is pieced, machine appliqued, and hand quilted.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.

Native American Quilts from the Southwest

A brilliant selection of Native American quilts was displayed at the 2025 Modern Quilt Guild show.* From a collection at Michigan State University, their bold colors and graphic designs feel like a precursor to many of the elements we see in modern quilts today.  

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, quilt supplies, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on X (Twitter).      

Black Foot Boy's Shirt Quilt (1983) by Margaret Wood (Navajo & Seminole) quilted by Una Jarvis 

These stunning wall hangings by Margaret Wood were inspired by a Blackfeet boy's shirt made circa 1870. It's a wonderful color study with dark and lighter blues contrasting with yellow-orange. 

Blackfeet Color Study #2: Navy/Turquoise by Margaret Wood (Phoenix, Arizona) 

Even more minimalist, the navy/turquoise center of this quilt is a counterpoint to the Seminole-inspired border. So many precursors of modern quilting can be seen here. The center also reminds us of Amish bar quilts which are beautiful in their simplicity.

Image credits: Quilts are from a collection at Michigan State University. Photos were taken at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Quilts of Russell Barratt

Russell Barratt, a London textile artist, uses secondhand fabrics and repurposed used clothing to make quilted artworks that are colorful, bold and expressive. We were so excited to see several of his works at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts!

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, quilt supplies, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.      

Timeline/Tempus Fugit (2021) by Russell Barratt (London, UK)

Russell Barratt's work is often inspired by memories of domestic life. The hues of the Nescafe advertisement are echoed in this modern hand-quilted composition. Notice the pants leg with its pocket placed horizontally at the top of the piece, above. It's fascinating to contemplate the selection of fabrics and how they are combined to create this contemporary piece. 

 Oh My Giddy Aunt! (2023) by Russell Barratt

Fitting the exhibit's theme of Wit/Whimsy, the title of this quilt - "Oh My Giddy Aunt" - is a British expression used to convey surprise, shock, or exasperation. It's a playful, old-fashioned exclamation, often used humorously to avoid stronger language.

The centerpiece of the quilt is a recycled shirt with the main parts removed, leaving just the seams, collar, and placket with buttons. We love the texture that is added by hand quilting stitches.  

Selfie (2020) by Russell Barratt  

Russell Barratt says that recycling is key to his practice.  There is so much to see here! The fronts of two shirts were used here, a baseball shirt and - to the right and underneath that - a more formal buttondown shirt, complete with buttons, and a digital fabric print of bananas. Additional touches include the cartoon panel used in the right border, and the giant polka dots that overlay the piece.  Scroll down for closeup photos! 

 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the Wit/Whimsy exhibit at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts in July, 2025.

Wit/Whim Exhibit (2): Luke Haynes

At the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts we enjoyed the exhibit titled Wit/Whim. The exhibit explores the themes of play, family, and a sense of belonging, inviting visitors to examine the ways these concepts intersect and influence our lives. Here is a pair of quilts by artist Luke Haynes, who works entirely with recycled textiles.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.      

Wiggle Quilts by Luke Haynes (North Carolina) 

Every one of Haynes' pieces is made entirely from salvaged textiles, a practice rooted in both his upbringing and his commitment to sustainability; to date, his work has diverted more than 100 tons of clothing and fbric from landfills. The Wiggle quilts juxtaposes a vintage quilt, with its traditional arrangement of blocks, and a modern minimalist quilt done in blues. The "wiggle" allows us to peek through to see what lies below.

Raised in poverty across the American South and diagnosed as autistic, Haynes turned to creative problem-solving as a way to build comfort, structure, and identity.  You can see more of his work at his website, Luke.art.

 

 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts.