Quilt Arizona! The 2022 Show (4)

 We could hardly wait for the 2022 Arizona Quilters Guild show, where the theme was Kaleidoscope of Quilts.  And what a fantastic show it was!  Due to the pandemic, the show was cancelled last year - so there was high anticipation for this year's event. There were many amazing quilts on display... here are some of our favorites!

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Rise and Shine by Leilani Purvis

Leilani Purvis notes, "Polar bears are beautiful animals but are endangered. I loved doing this piece! I used fabrics, lace, tulle, and thread."
 

Leilani used Lorraine Turner's "Rise and Shine" quilt pattern for this captivating creation. Her work is machine quilted and hand guided. 

Branching Out by Carol Carpenter, quilted by Kris Neifeld

Carol writes, "This Cathy Geier pattern was challenging but became fun once I started with the applique trees and leaves. Choosing fabrics was one of the best challenges of the quilt, and I'm pleased with the results."

Carol's quilt has a beautiful three-dimensional effect to it, almost as if one were looking out a window towards a lovely lake or sky. It was professionally machine quilted and hand guided by Kris Neifeld.

Pyramid Power by Karen Weaver, quilted by Sharon Elsberry

Winner of the Judges' Special Recognition Award, plus Honorable Mention in the Pieced - Large Duet category, Karen states, "This large quilt is entirely a stash quilt. The pyramids are supposed to create a shadow effect with the two sides in different values. Sharon Elsberry of Akamai Quilts did the fabulous quilting."

For her vibrantly colored quilt done with expert workmanship, Karen used the "Pyramid Power" pattern by Running With Scissors/Studio 180 Design.

Sunset Point by Janet Grant

Janet comments, " This quilt is made with 6 Kaffe Fassett prints, 1 Grunge, 1 batik, 1 Stonehenge, and miscellaneous wovens from my stash. An unusual color combination- and I just love it!"

Janet's dynamic quilt really dances with energy ! She machine quilted and hand guided it herself. The pattern is "Dancing Batiks" by Judy Niemeyer. 

Atom Quilt by Rose Maynes

The Atom Quilt was the Second Place winner for Pieced Quilts. This enchanting quilt, which features complementary colors of blue and orange, is from the published pattern "Atom" designed by Deb Karasik. 

Dorothy Aliss pieced this paper pattern, and Rose Maynes quilted it with the pattern designs from Kate Glenn.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2022 Quilt Arizona show.

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 !

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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.

Free pattern day: Baby quilts! (part 2)

For FREE PATTERNS for baby and toddler quilts, you've come to the right place! However, this post has been UPDATED.  Please visit our newest Free Pattern Day for Baby Quilts, Part 1 (CLICK HERE!)

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IMAGE CREDITS:  This post was updated on April 17, 2026. All 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.  Some of these are tutorials while others include downloadable (.pdf) patterns; we have tried to note which is which in the titles.  We update our links every 6 months as needed; however, websites may change their pages in between updates.  If any link is broken, we'd love to know so we can fix it; email us at quiltinspiration {at} gmail {dot} com.

Beating the Heat at the 2015 Arizona Quilt Show #3

This is our 5th year of attendance, and we always enjoy seeing the variety and creativity displayed by members of the Arizona Quilters' Guild at their annual show. Here is part 3 of our virtual show including some top award winners.

Silk and Satin by Sheila Groman

Winner of a blue ribbon (1st Place - Other), This rainbow-shaded crazy quilt has a very contemporary look.  Each block is shaded in a different hue of the rainbow. There is even a bright sun rising in the upper right corner of the quilt. Flowers (of course), baskets, fans, butterflies and hearts were used in the blocks, along with some very creative stitches.   Sheila says, "Hand embroidered surface embellishment is satisfying and rewarding for me."

Ghost Walk by Karin Scanlon

This improvisational piece was beautifully composed, and the fabrics added a softness and depth not seen with commercial dyed fabrics. The original piece won 2nd place, Art/Abstract.  Karin Scanlon says, "I used some of my hand painted and stamped fabrics as well as linen in this abstract piece."   We loved the serene colors in this piece. 

Spiky by Vicki Bohnhoff

This Spiky quilt is a finished UFO from a class Vicki took at Quilt Camp in the Pines in 2008 (Inner Light with Deb Karasik).   The stitching with heavy-weight rayon thread was like nothing we've seen before... it really makes this quilt sparkle. 

Vicki says, "My couching design with Razzle 12-weight thread added detail and excitement."  We can't imagine how many thousands of knots were used to finish the lines of stitching.  The quilt was awarded Honorable Mention at the show.

Winter Chickadee by Diane Hansen

Diane Hansen won First Place, Applique-Small for her depiction of a little bird, inspired by a copyright-free photo.  Diane says that Winter Chickadee was started in a class with David Taylor. There are 100 different fabrics and thread choices in this quilt.  The textured quilting was so well done, it makes the applique work blend into the scene.

Life Lessons: Playing With Blocks Can Be Perilous by Linda Engstrom

This quilt won First Place, Art/Abstract (blue ribbon) along with the special City of Mesa award (teal ribbon).   Linda Engstrom says, "As grief therapy during my mother’s final illness, leftover fabric was improvisationally pieced, assembled into 'balancing' blocks inspired by Ann Johnston. The shadowy echoes of the design in the off-white background can be seen in this close-up photo. 

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration. 

Free pattern day! Sun & Moon quilts

Happy solstice! Here are some fantastic FREE patterns for Sun and Moon quilts.  NOTE: This post has been UPDATED.  For the latest patterns please visit our Free Pattern Day for Sun & Moon Quilts (CLICK HERE!) 

Also check out our E-Bay shop for designer jewelry, patterns, and collectible items !
For continuous free quilt patterns, please Follow us on Twitter.

Image credits: This post was updated on June 20, 2025. All 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.  Some of these are tutorials while others have downloadable (.pdf) patterns; we have tried to note which is which in the title above each photo.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at Quilt Inspiration {at} gmail {dot} com. 

Quilts with Attitude

We love spiky quilts, which are perfect for paper piecing.  One of our favorite artists in the genre is Deb Karasik.  Deb's designs are totally unique !  Imagine art deco-style motifs that look like eyelashes, and medallions punctuated by daggers. Deb's methods make it easy to create those long, narrow spikes. There is even a design with no curves ("Look Ma, No Curves") and a quilt that brings to mind an infamous Venus Fly Trap ("Audrey III").   Which of these is your favorite?

Phat Tuesday, 70 x 70",  by Deb Karasik

Here is a show-stopper, and the subject of a recent workshop by Deb Karasik at the Madeline School.  As Deb says:  "Phat Tuesday will let you achieve that show-stopping look, no matter what color choices you make!"  The pattern is available at Deb's website.

Look Ma, No Curves, 44 x 44", by Deb Karasik at Deb Karasik

This fabulous quilt has plenty of spikes, but it doesn't have a single curve anywhere.  In addition to patterns, Deb sells her own Perfect! Paper Piecing Paper which we are dying to try.  Here's what we know:  the paper is extremely translucent, which makes fabric alignment easy (this is critical, in our opinion);  it is compatible with laser and inkjet printers; and it is made of 100% cotton fibers, which means that it will not dull your fabric scissors or sewing needles.  Note:  you can see a totally different colorway at Deb's Gallery and at Pointless Quilter.

Inner Light, approx. 40 x 40",  by Deb Karasik

This small wall quilt, "Inner Light", is one of the projects in Deb's book, Quilts With Attitude. The book explains error-free foundation paper piecing with step-by-step instructions, and includes 13 original patterns, plus a dose of quilting philosophy.  In her author's statement, Deb explains:  "I'm constantly told that I do things wrong in quilting. I don't care, it works for me. I firmly believe that life is too short, so just do it. Don't think about what you COULD be doing, SHOULD be doing, or WOULD have done....just do it."

Wayward Geese, 60 x 60", by Deb Karasik

In this award-winning quilt, undulating rows of geese point toward the center, while spikey geese - which look like arrows - weave in and out of the spokes. The unusual spikey blue border really complements this quilt. Deb Karasik's description of the quilt reads:  "I wanted to make a quilt that was not only visually intriguing, but constructively challenging."  Finished in 2006, this quilt won the award for Best Use of Color at the 2007 Road to California show. 

Audrey III, 68 x 68", by Deb Karasik at Deb Karasik

"Audrey III" just might be our favorite of Deb Karasik's designs (so far). We love the color scheme and the gradations which create a luminous effect in the center of this quilt. Deb explains the name of this dazzling quilt:  "I was stumped trying to name her, so I looked to my online Yahoo! group for help, after posting a picture of her.  Several thought they could see a 'Venus Fly Trap' look, so we called her Audrey, an homage to the character in 'Little Shoppe Of Horrors'."  The pattern is available at Deb's online shop.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of Deb Karasik.