Highlights of the Pacific International Quilt Festival: Day 1 !

The Pacific International Quilt Festival (PIQF) is the biggest quilt show on the West Coast of the US. We had a great time at the 25th annual show, held last week in Santa Clara, California. There were nearly 1000 quilts on display from around the globe. Here are selected highlights of this year's show!

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David, 76 x 78”, by Gilli Theokritoff (UK)

This quilt is an original design, made from approximately 14,000 small mosaic squares of printed fabric appliqued to a background grid to create the image of Michelangelo’s famous statue David.

Gilli Theokritoff says, "I have always wondered about David’s ambivalent expression and the quilting is my text that explains the history of David and his fall from grace with God." David is hand appliqued and sewing machine quilted. 

Korowai Ma, 57 x 33”, by Annie White (New Zealand)

Annie White says, "Korowai Ma (White Cloak) is a modern interpretation of a Maori cloak, which is traditionally made from finely woven muka (twisted flax fiber). In this modern take, fabric “kete” style weaving anchors a spray of fabric ‘feathers.’ "

Each ‘feather’ is individually made and some are hand-embroidered before being placed on the cloak backing.

Gathered Consciousness, 36 x 36”, by Cindy Watkins (Australia)

Gathered Consciousness was awarded a ribbon of merit from the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (NACQJ). This original design was machine appliqued and sewing machine quilted using fabrics created by Australian aboriginal artists.

Cindy Watkins says, “The young girl in my quilt was photographed by Robyn Adams at the first revival of the Bunya Dreaming gathering in 2007. This is a celebration to maintain the tradition of the gathering of the Bunya nut. For me she represents the collective consciousness and the future of Australia. My thanks to the aboriginal artists that created the fabric that I have used in my quilt and my respect to the first people for our nation.”

Pink Bird, 50 x 40”, by Judy Coates Perez (California, USA)

Pink Bird won a blue ribbon for Best Sewing Machine Workmanship – Innovative. Judy Coates Perez says, “25 years ago I was making my first art quilts, by appliqueing and piecing commercial fabrics, now I prefer to paint all my fabric. Painting images often inspired by nature, sometimes using photos of real birds and plants as reference for a pose or shape, then altering them graphically. I simplify details, create new patterns and choose different colors to create unique stylized flora and fauna.”

Adorned Elephant, 46 x 64”, by Jane Hopkins (UK).

Jane Hopkins says that the inspiration for Adorned Elephant came from a child’s drawing book. Most of it is machine appliqued, but the hexagons are hand pieced. The fabrics used are hand dyed cottons, silks and parts of saris. The cords and tassels are machine made. The elephant is embellished with beads, sequins and crystals.

Barcelona Sunset, 80 x 80”, by Lisa Walton (Australia)

We loved the gorgeous colors in this quilt, which was inspired by the Modernista tile designs of Barcelona. Lisa Walton's hand dyed fabrics were pieced to make the quilt top. The tile patterns were quilted over the top and then painted. The tile designs were used with permission of The Pepin Press.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2016 Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, California.

Best of the 2015 World Quilt Show in Florida - part 4

Florida's World Quilt Show in West Palm Beach is a great event to attend, amidst the warmth and sunshine, while most of the U.S.A. shivers under winter's blanket. We marveled at all the spectacular quilts from around the globe! Planet Earth indeed holds a huge variety of wonderful quilting talent. Here is our 4th and final post featuring the show.

Perseus Saving Andromeda, 79 x 66",  by Marilyn Belford, New York, USA

Winner of both the Viewer's Choice Award and an Honorable Mention in the Innovative Quilts category,  this quilt depicts an ancient Greek myth. Marilyn explains,  "When Cassiopeia's [pride] leads her to boast that her daughter Andromeda is more beautiful than the Nereids (the female spirits of the sea waters), King Poseidon chains Andromeda to a rock and sends a sea monster after her. [She] is saved by Perseus, her future husband. ...Made with commercial fabric, fusible web, and thread sketching. Long arm quilted.  No inks or paints applied."

Close up, Perseus Saving Andromeda by Marilyn Belford

Marilyn has created a wonderfully ferocious sea monster, with the sharpest "teeth" we've ever seen on a quilt. She has really brought the myth of Perseus and Andromeda to life. Marilyn's original design is machine appliqued and machine quilted.

Littering the Sky with Diamonds, 33 x 49", by Jane Hopkins (UK)

Jane notes, "As the song says, the diamonds are in the sky and the inspiration came from an art nouveau calendar. Techniques include hand-sewn hexagons which are quilted by machine with a diamond pattern. The figure and lamp are machined trapunto to bring extra loft. There is also machine applique using mostly hand-dyed fabric with extra embroidery and hand-crafted cords."

Close up, Littering the Sky with Diamonds by Jane Hopkins, U.K.

In this close-up you can see the background in deep hues, made from hand-sewn hexagons. You can also see the pretty embellishments of strands of pearls in pastel shades, along with crystals.  This charming "flapper girl", reminiscent of the Jazz Age of the 1920's, looks as if she's all ready for a night on the town.

Flower Fantasy, 58 x 46", by Tamar Ophir ,Israel

The ombre monochromatic fabrics in Tamar's quilt glow so beautifully, they look as if they are lit from behind. We really enjoyed this elegant, symmetrical piece which reminds us of a stained glass window.

Close up, Flower Fantasy by Tamar Ophir

Flower Fantasy is machine appliqued, pieced, and quilted. You can see the satin stitching in black thread on the edges of the pieces.  The echo quilting pattern brings out the gentle curves of the flowers and surrounding stems.

In The Fabric's Path, 42 x 42", by Orna Shahar, Israel

We love eye-catching quilts with all (or most) of the colors of the rainbow, and this one's no exception. Look at all the different fabrics in this energetic contemporary spiral! It must have been so fun and so rewarding to design and piece this vivid modern work.

Close up, In The Fabric's Path by Orna Shahar (Israel)

Tamar's vibrant creation is appliqued, pieced, and quilted by machine. She's made excellent use of  blended deep blue fabrics with lighter tints as a neutral background to showcase these radiant colors.

A Newborn Star, 62 x 54", by Atsuko Matsubara ,Japan

Blue ribbon winner for Best Use of Color in the Innovative category, Atsuko's dynamic contemporary quilt  exemplifies the "Big Bang" theory of the creation of the universe.  As the star is born from a whirling, circular vortex, chunks of angular ice and rocks fly around it.

close up, A Newborn Star by Atsuko Matsubara

Atsuko's original design is all hand pieced, hand appliqued, and hand quilted. She's done a stunning job of juxtaposing cool silver grays, blacks, and glacial whites, with warm rust, cinnamon, tangerine, and apricot hues.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.