Welcome to Modern Quilt Month!

We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I., and we couldn't be more excited about these fun quilts!  So, what makes a quilt modern? According to The Modern Quilt Guild, the characteristics may include the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and expansive negative space.  This is the first of five feature posts.

Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns and collectibles ! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !   

Empire Place by Charlene O'Connell

This stunning paper-pieced Empire Place quilt was made by Mardi Norwood, and quilted by Charlene O' Connell.  Charlene explains, "Mardi Norwood was doing a massive downsize and decided to give me this quilt.  I was very honored that she wanted to give it to me and thrilled that I got to quilt it."  The Empire Place quilt pattern is by Kristy Wolf and her daughter Shayla Wolf at Sassafras Lane Designs.

A Sky Full of Stars by Kimberly Davis

This hexagon design quilt was named A Sky Full of Stars for a year of Coldplay concerts in Pasadena (California) and Phoenix (Arizona) and a trip to Kitt Peak National Observatory outside of Tucson.  The quilt was based on a workshop taken with pattern maker Libs Elliott (the design is called The Weight of Love). Many of the beautiful indigo fabrics are by Alison Glass.

Which Way Did They Go by Patti Kupferer

This quilt may appear to be minimalist, until you examine the intricate quilting!  It is the first of a series by Patti Kupferer, and it showcases her longarm quilting skills.  An original design, she created the quilting pattern based on a stained-glass window and used various fills for the sections.  The orange thread really 'pops' on the gray background fabric.

Edward by Marjory Peck

We love the Picasso-like faces in Edward ! Marjory Peck says, "As an applique artist that is losing hand dexterity I was looking for a way to continue my work without hand applique.  I used this piece to teach myself machine applique with turned edges."  Marjory quilted this piece herself, and the result is impressive.

Poppin' In by Jane Congleto, professional quilted by Chris Sousa

We love optical illusion quilts, and apparently so does Jane Congleton!  She says, "I've always liked 3D and geometric quilts.  it was a challenge! It is my first quilt show entry [and] I really like it!" The beautifully-pieced quilt is based on the Convex Illusions pattern by Kathleen Andrews. 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Quilt Arizona show.

Happy Valentine's Day! (2)

Happy Valentine's Day 2019! We love this holiday, dedicated to friendship, love, and romance. Join us as we take a look at some of these red and white quilts which celebrate such a fun time of the year!

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great deals on quilt patterns, fabric, and books ! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !

Zen in Red by Marjory Peck, Arizona, quilted by Marjory Peck

Honorable Mention winner Marjorie notes, "I love the Zentangle drawings, but I am not a doodler. This is my version of doodling with fabric. The idea of only using two colors to make an applique quilt inspired me to do this design for the Arizona Quilters Guild theme challenge." (40th anniversary Ruby Extravaganza).

Close-up, Zen in Red

We really like how nicely  these red and white fabrics go together ! They are all the same shade of red, but there's so much variety in the type of prints displayed here. What a fun, lively project.

Red Licorice by Shirley Johnson, Arizona, quilted by Shirley Johnson

Shirley states, "[This is a] published design by Jill Finley. As my first-ever log cabin quilt, Jill Finley's 'Red Licorice' design is spot on for me; it's modernly old fashioned."

Shirley quilted this lovely work herself. She did a wonderful, precise job with both the applique and patchwork motifs.

Be My Valentine by Jan Redding, Arizona, quilted by Diane Pugh

Jan explains, "[The redwork embroidery] was a design from Bird Brain Designs. I  embroidered the redwork hearts by hand from the "Hearts and Flowers" pattern. I chose a simple nine patch setting to highlight the redwork." 

Close-up, Be My Valentine

Jan adds, "This quilt combines my two favorite things..quilting and embroidery." This intricate  redwork is beautifully done and stands out so well against the white background.

Red and White Explosion by Margaret Willingham, Colorado, quilted by Margaret Willingham

Margaret says of her original design,  "Simplicity. Elegance. Redemption. A dance of positive and negative space in red and white. I love the exciting simplicity of two color quilts. I love red, I love to applique and reverse applique by hand, and I love to hand quilt. "

Close-up, Red and White Explosion

Margaret continues, "This original quilt design with 17 unique bursting blocks inspired by architecture of the Victorian Era, brings together all these loves, just for the fun of it." Here's a close-up, above, of Margaret's very painstaking work, done with elegant, tiny stitches.

Red Regale by Kristen Webb, Utah, quilted by Kirsten Webb

Kirsten remarks, "I love red and white quilts, and Red Regale is the latest one. The block design was adapted from a block seen on Pinterest. This was a new challenge for me to create my own quilt and then set it on point. I left large neutral spaces for longarm quilting, which I did myself."

Close-up, Red Regale

Kirsten concludes, "I can honestly say this is my quilt from start to finish. I love quilting; it fills me with content and happiness."
Both the patchwork and longarm quilting here are gorgeous. Kirsten has selected fabric that is a highly saturated, very substantial shade of red in order to give maximum contrast to the background.  

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2018 Road to California show (Red and White Explosion), the 2018 Springville (Utah) quilt show (Red Regale), and  Quilt Arizona! (Zen in Red, Be My Valentine, and Red Licorice.)