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Shades of the Southwest Exhibit – Part Three

What a thrill it was to have the American Quilter’s Society QuiltWeek show here in January 2015.  Curating the Shades of the Southwest Exhibit with Donna Barnitz made the show doubly special.  We look forward to their return in January 2017.  Donna and I are looking forward to curating another exhibit for that show.  Stay tuned for details to come.

Enchanted New Mexico, by Afton Warrick, 97" x 97"

Enchanted New Mexico, by Afton Warrick, 97″ x 97″

A local resident, Afton is active in our quilting community, where she is a past president of the New Mexico Quilter’s Association, and now also works for me as my assistant.  She says, “Enchanted New Mexico is a Baltimore Album-style tribute to New Mexico. The Castle Huning fountain, Alvarado Hotel, Sandia Peak tram, St. Francis Cathedral of Santa Fe, UNM’s Hodgin Hall and New Mexican flora are featured in this original design.”

Enchanted New Mexico Detail View

Enchanted New Mexico Detail View

This block from Enchanted New Mexico, tells the tale of the Roswell UFO and alien sighting that has put that city on the map!

Enchanted New Mexico Detail

Enchanted New Mexico Detail  View

New Mexico is home to two National Laboratories, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories.  The first atomic bomb was exploded at the Trinity Site, in a rural area of central New Mexico.

Beyond the Fence, by Emily Hostetler, 29" x 29"

Beyond the Fence, by Emily Hostetler, 29″ x 29″

Emily Hostetler, Saltillo, TX, says this about her quilt, “The colors of the sunset are so typical of the Southwest.  The shading from one color to the next in the sky and blending depict “shades” of the Southwest.”

The Painted Pony, by Kris Vierra, 48" x 38"

The Painted Pony, by Kris Vierra, 48″ x 38″

Kris Vierra, who hails from Lincoln NE, is renowned for her longarm machine quilting.  She is my partner on many of my recent quilts.  She has this to say about her quilt, “The Indian war horse was highly honored by the Native Americans.  The owners of these “painted ponies” honored and protected their horse by painting tribal symbols on the horse’s body. The circle around his nose and eye wished the horse ken vision and sense of smell.  The thunder stripes were to please the god of war and the handprint indicated he had knocked down an enemy.”

Raven Sunset, by Judith Roderick, 35" x 43"

Raven Sunset, by Judith Roderick, 35″ x 43″

Judith Roderick resides in Placitas, NM, where ravens are common creatures.  Judith is known for her incredible silk painting.  She says this about her quilt, “This quilt depicts seven ravens against a glorious New Mexico sunset.  The richness and variety of the sunset colors came from two separate waxing and dyeing processes of this whole cloth silk quilt.”

Check back for the formal announcement of the Exhibit for the 2017 American Quilter’s Society QuiltWeek Show!

 

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Shades of the Southwest Exhibit – Continued

Shades of the Soutwest was a real treat to curate. I got to work with Donna Barnitz, my co-curator, who is full of energy, enthusiasm, and in general a huge pleasure to work with.  Here is the second installment of quilts from this exhibit.

New Mexico's turquoise Trail, by Vicki Conley

New Mexico’s turquoise Trail, by Vicki Conley, 51″ x 51″

Vicki Conley, a Ruidoso Downs resident, created this intriguing quilt that embodies the feeling of our state, the Land of Enchantment.  She says,”A photograph that I took in Northern New Mexico inspired this quilt.  Many traditional adobe houses and buildings throughout New Mexico have window and door frames painted turquoise.  New Mexico is known for brilliant turquoise blue skies.  Originally the “Turquoise Trail” referred to the many mines in New Mexico famous for their beautiful turquoise stones.  Today the Turquoise Trail is a scenic byway that goes from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.”

Chamisa Alegre, by Katie Pasquini, 42" x 47"

Chamisa Alegre, by Katie Pasquini, 42″ x 47″

Katie PM, as she is known to her friends, students, and fans, has captured the magic that is New Mexico and the Southwest during the many years she has lived near Santa Fe.  She says, “This quilt was a direct copy of a painting that I created while at Gateway Canyons Resort in Colorado.”  Katie hosts the annual Alegre Retreat at Gateway Canyons Resort in April each year.

 

Taking a Break, by Lynn B. Welsch, 37" x 25"

Taking a Break II, by Lynn B. Welsch, 37″ x 25″

Lynn B. Welsch calls the community of Mimbres, in southern New Mexico home.  She has this to say about her quilt, “These migrating birds stopped on our driveway in Mimbres to take a rest and I snapped a photo of the group with the Black Range Mountains in the background.  I had fun whimsically interpreting the photo in a quilt to show this beautiful area of New Mexico.”

Nogal Canyon Truck, by Donna Barnitz, 41" x 39"

Nogal Canyon Truck, by Donna Barnitz, 41″ x 39″

My pal, and co-curator, exhibited one of her ‘old truck’ quilts in the exhibit.  She says, “Driving through Nogal Canyon in southern New Mexico, a friend and I were taking the road less traveled when we spied this old truck out in a pasture.  I wondered how many years it had been sitting there with the driver’s door ajar.  I rust dyed and then over-dyed the fabrics for the hood and fenders for a long neglected look.”

Kokopelli's Playground in the Sun, by Mary Chappelle, 40" x 36"

Kokopelli’s Playground in the Sun, by Mary Chappelle, 40″ x 36″

Mary Chappelle, a Corrales resident, created this design and stitched it using freezer paper foundation piecing.  She says, “The sun is an important part of the Southwest.   It creates the shades and shadows on our beautiful mesas.”

Stay tuned for Part Three of this Exhibit.  It promises to be worth the wait.

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AQS Quiltweek Albuquerque – Large Competition Quilts, part 2

Here is another set of the large competition quilts from AQS Quiltweek Albuquerque.

Carnival is a bright and festive original design by Margaret Noah, Montrose CO. She used the 10º wedge ruler and big, bold printed fabrics to achieve this dashing entry. It was quilted by Gale Smith.

 

232 Margaret Noah Carnival

 

Linda McGibbon, Beaverton, MI, designed Sun and Sand using EQ7. Her goal was to design a Mariner’s Compass quilt using Square in a Square and Flying Geese Blocks, and as you can see, succeeded very well indeed!

 

229 Linda McGibbon Sun and Sand

 

Carol Jaynes, Savannah, GA, created this Judy Niemeyer design as one of the five patterns Judy asks her certified instructors to undertake. The quilt is called The Feathered Goose and was paper-pieced.

 

224 Carol Jaynes The Feathered Goose

 

Just look at the beautiful interesting quilting on the geese as well as in the background.

 

224 Detail

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AQS Quiltweek Albuquerque – Large Competition Quilts, part 1

Today, I get to start showing some of the fabulous quilts that were entered into the AQS show in Albuquerque in January. There is such variety and creativity exhibited! It’s really stimulating!

This first quilt is a stunning example of what can be accomplished with only three colors – black, white, and red – and emphasizing shapes and design. Georgia Spalding Pierce, Seattle, WA, received an Honorable mention for this stirring quilt. The black sashing represents the formal lines essential to the art form. This quilt is hand-appliquéd, embroidered, and machine quilted.   The motifs are inspired by Pacific Coast Indian art as documented by Jim Gilbert and Karin Clark.

234 Georgia Spalding Pierce Spirit

Spirit, by Georgia Spalding Pierce, Seattle, WA

234 Detail 2

 You know how I love birds!

234 Detail

Isn’t this a great anthropomorphism of a whale? And just look at that quilting!

236 Julie Sefton See Rock City - Tennessee Favorite of my friends“See Rock City” instantly grabbed the attention of my friends, some of whom hailed from Tennessee and knew exactly the story behind this quilt.  They were absolutely enthralled by the story represented by seeming barn sampler.  It is an enchanting quilt.  Julie Sefton, Bartlett, TN, free pieced twelve barns, four Mid-South season, farm animals, tractors, silos, signs, and a windmill. Chris Ballard quilted it.

243 Laura Trenbeath tinks Choice

Laura Trenbeath, Waynesboro, VA, won First Place for Tink’s Choice. Laura treaded dangerous ground by asking family members for their opinions as to the choice of pattern! The only one willing to weigh in was her sister-in-law, Teresa Herring, aka Tink. Good advice, Tink! This quilt is pieced and long-arm quilted.  The design source is Audrey III pattern by Deb Karasik.

245 Kris Vierra I Dream of Wild Horses

Kris Vierra, Lincoln, NE, won Second Place for this dream catcher motif, I Dream of Wild Horses. This quilt represents the perfect good dream, as well as Kris’ passion for all things wild. The design was inspired by a drawing by Jody Bergsma, Bergsma Gallery.

245 Detail 1

We see the wonderful quilting in this detail shot. This is truly a quilt that is lovely at a distance, and lovely close up.

 245 Detail 2

Here’s a shot from the back, showing the beautiful quilting. Look at all that delicious detail!

Stay tuned for more!

 

 

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The Big Winners from the 2015 AQS Albuquerque Quiltweek

I am so excited that the American Quilter’s Society brought their QuiltWeek to Albuquerque!  It was an honor and a privilege to be one of the judges, but it also was very challenging because the competition was exceptional.   Of course, everyone who entered is a winner: you got to share your beautiful work, and we got to see it! Thanks to all who participated!   I did a search for the websites of all of the winners; if they have one, I have linked to it.

Best of Show at American Quilter’s Society Quilt Week in Albuquerque went to “Stars on Mars” by Gail Stepanik and Jan Hutchinson, Minong, IL. Wow! This is one gorgeous quilt!

Stars on Mars, by Gail Stepanik and Jan Hutchinson, Minong, IL

Stars on Mars, by Gail Stepanik and Jan Hutchinson, Minong, IL

The Best Original Design Award went to Ann Horton, Redwood Valley, for “The Birds’ Perspective – Life at the Water’s Edge.” This delightful nature scene has a lot going on.  The longer one looks at it, the more that one sees.

The Birds' Perspective - Life at the Water's Edge, by Ann Horton, Redwood Valley, CA

The Birds’ Perspective – Life at the Water’s Edge, by Ann Horton, Redwood Valley, CA

Lorilynn King from Longmont, CO, created this lovely. sparkling study in blue. She received the Best Wall Quilt Award for “A Pocket Full of Paisleys.”

Pocket Full of Paisleys, by Lorilynn King, Longmont, CO

Pocket Full of Paisleys, by Lorilynn King, Longmont, CO

The Best Hand Quilted Award went to Antonia Hering, Hoorn, Noord-Hooland, Netherlands, for “Dreamtime.” If you didn’t get to see it in person, just let me tell you this: each one of those little circles is hand-appliquéd!

Dreamtime, by Antonia Hering, Hoorn, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Dreamtime, by Antonia Hering, Hoorn, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Here is “Byrnes Spiral” by Beth Nufer and Clem Buszick, Borrokings, OR. The Best Use of Color Award went to this stirring creation. I love the squares within circles in the corners, and of course, the geese!

Byrne's Spiral, by Beth Nufer and Clem Buzick, Brookings, OR

Byrne’s Spiral, by Beth Nufer and Clem Buzick, Brookings, OR

“Majestic Mosaic” by Karen Kay Buckley and Renae Haddadin, Carlisle, PA, earned the Best Longarm Workmanship Award. This lovely quilt has great balance of colors, shapes, and quilting, not to mention all of the incredible applique.

Majestic Mosaic, by Karen Kay Buckley and Renae Haddadin, Carlisle, PA

Majestic Mosaic, by Karen Kay Buckley and Renae Haddadin, Carlisle, PA

Just look at the lace on this beauty! Susan Stewart, Pittsburg, KS, took home the Best Home Machine Quilted Award for her “Snow Flowers.”  Amazingly, she custom made the lace in this quilt using embroidery motifs.

Snow Flowers, by Susan Stewart, Pittsburg, KS

Snow Flowers, by Susan Stewart, Pittsburg, KS

 

The Viewer’s Choice Award went to Kathy McNeil, Tulalip, WA, for “Jingle Bells,” a winter scene with two jingle bell-festooned horses.  You can take a look at it here.

Stay tuned for more from this show in the weeks to come. . .

 

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Nancy Prince – Grand Prize Quilter at International Quilt Festival

Congratulations to Nancy Price, who won the Best of Show at International Quilt Festival 2014!    It is a stunning quilt!

On This Winter Day, by Nancy Prince

On This Winter Day, by Nancy Prince

And here’s Nancy doing her happy dance!  I am so happy for her.  What an amazing amount of work went into this masterpiece!

Nancy Prince Doing the Happy Dance

Nancy Prince Doing the Happy Dance

Stay tuned.  More posts to follow!

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More from AQS Chattanooga – Modern Quilts

This post wraps up the images I took of competition quilts at the AQS Chattanooga Quilt Week.  The quilts in all categories were definitely a cut above the norm.  And, as I said in my first post on this show, the detail and volume of quilting that made for such a dramatic display.  This category had only a few entries and they exemplify the clean, clear lines of the modern style.

Red Rectangle, by Judy Mercer Tescher, Pendleton, IN

Red Rectangle, by Judy Mercer Tescher, Pendleton, IN

The quilting in Red Rectangle definitely sets this quilt apart.  By Judy Mercer Tescher, this is a stunningly graphic design.

Keep It Simple, by Jodi Robinson, Enon Valley, PA

Keep It Simple, by Jodi Robinson, Enon Valley, PA

Jodi Robinson wrote that she wanted to create a very simple quilt with good visual impact.  Note the amount of quilting that makes this quilt so richly textured.

Dresden Daisies, by Kimberley Einmo, Manassas, VA

Dresden Daisies, by Kimberley Einmo, Manassas, VA

Dresden Daisies, by Kimberley Einmo, was actually entered in the wall quilt category, although it certainly fits the Modern Style.  I am guessing that, because she had two entries in the AQS Chattanooga show, that she had to enter one in a category other than “Modern”.  Dresden Daisies is a graphically modern twist on a traditional pattern. Beautiful!

Fire and Ice, by Kimberly Einmo, Manassas VA

Fire and Ice, by Kimberly Einmo, Manassas VA

Fire and Ice, also by Kimberly Einmo won “Best of Modern” quilts at the show!  It is a stunner!

Also at AQS Chattanooga, some interesting special exhibits featured interesting and amazing quilts.  I will show those in the coming posts as well as a few photos from my classes!  I am so glad that I could participate in this AQS show!

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More Amazing Wall Quilts from AQS Chattanooga!

Dang!  So many great quilts and they couldn’t all get ribbons!  This particular category, Wall Quilts, is  without doubt the most competitive category of all.  Enjoy tonight’s selection.  First, I have one leftover from last night in the traditional category.

Barion Cut Saphires, by Linda Barrett, Lexington, SC

Barion Cut Saphires, by Linda Barrett, Lexington, SC

Elegant in the simplicity of design, the quilting and use of embellishments make Barion Cut Sapphires a true gem.

Barion Cut Saphires -detail

Barion Cut Saphires -detail

Here’s some of the amazing detail that does not show in the full view of the quilt.

Grief, by Sandy Curran, Newport News, VA

Grief, by Sandy Curran, Newport News, VA

I particularly liked the emotion evident in this quilt by Sandy Curran.  Grief is part of her series on human emotions.  Sandy believes that if the eyes feel alive and convey emotion, the work is successful.  It is beautifully done and certainly embodies emotion.

Nosey Neighbors, by Sherrie Cahill, Madison, AL

Nosey Neighbors, by Sherrie Cahill, Madison, AL

Nosey Neighbors by Sherrie Cahill is unbearably cute and a masterpiece of raw edge applique.  I love the well executed whimsy of this charmer.

So Much Life in a Tiny Seed, by Sharon l. Schlotzhauer, Castle Rock, CO

So Much Life in a Tiny Seed, by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer, Castle Rock, CO

Sharon Schlotzhauer’s entry is so well designed and the color placement so masterful, that this quilt just draws one into it. There’s so much going on here and yet it blends perfectly and reflects the theme.  She says, ” This quilt is a celebration of God’s glorious creation.  It colorfully symbolizes the wondrous capacity for every living things to reproduce from just a tiny seed.

Hoola Hoop Poodle, by V'Lou Oliveira, Norman, OK

Hoola Hoop Poodle, by V’Lou Oliveira, Norman, OK

What whimsy there is in Hoola Hoop Poodle!  It is sometimes difficult to masterfully present a humorous subject and V’Lou Oliviera has a charmer in this quilt.

A Simple Touch, by Pat Rolie, Tulahoma, TN

A Simple Touch, by Pat Rolie, Tulahoma, TN

“A mother’s simple touch can comfort, soothe a pain, express love and communicate her commitment,” says Pat Rolie about this lovely quilt.  The emotion is evident in the presentation of this design and execution of this quilt.

I Have My Eye On You, by Lily Kangas, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

I Have My Eye On You, by Lily Kangas, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

Another whimsical winner.  What a fun quilt this is!  I always enjoy quilts that feature animals.

Adagio, by Dianne S. Hire and Pat LaPierre, Northport, ME

Adagio, by Dianne S. Hire and Pat LaPierre, Northport, ME

This image does not do justice to this masterful quilt by Dianne Hire and Pat LaPierre.  Dianne’s take on Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber is that it is painfully sad, yet sumptuously beautiful. Dianne’s Adagio took 17 years to create and corresponds to Barber’s sad nuances.  It is an especially masterful quilt.

M.s Lantana, by Mary Ramsey Keasler, Cleveland, TN

M.s Lantana, by Mary Ramsey Keasler, Cleveland, TN

Lastly, for tonight at least, Ms. Lantana by Mary Ramsey Keasler is exemplary in creative piecing  and color.   I had taken another detail image but it wasn’t in focus so I cannot share the incredible detail of this quilt.  It is an amazing piece.

Stay tuned.   There is more – so much more!

 

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