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

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

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

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

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

“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

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

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. . .