Quilt Fiesta! Highlights of the Show (4)

Here are more photos from the Quilt Fiesta, the annual Tucson (Arizona) Quilters Guild show. We saw so many fabulous quilts and are sharing some highlights here.  We hope you enjoy the photos!

p.s. Please see our E-Bay shop for great bargains on patterns and vintage collectibles. For continuous free quilt patterns and blog updates, please visit us on Twitter.

Maty Colter: Builder on the Desert by Karen G. Fisher

This amazing original art quilt was made and quilted by Karen G. Fisher as a tribute to Mary Colter, the architect and on-site construction boss for the Fred Harvey Company, who designed many iconic buildings across the southwest, including several at the Grand Canyon.  In the middle of the quilt you can see the Four Corners at which Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado meet.

Karen G. Fisher notes, "Mary Colter pioneered using on-site building materials, and originated the style now called "National Parks Rustic"; many of these iconic buildings are depicted on the quilt.  Karen won multiple awards for her creation.

Cactus - Yes! by Manya Powell

Entered in the Modern Quilt category, this pieced quilt captures the beauty of the saguaro cactus which is native to the Sonoran Desert including Tucson.  The color and fabric choices and the design make this quilt really special.  [Note: The source of the cactus pattern was not listed.]

The Civil War Bride found her 'lost boy' in the old Pueblo, by Nancy Landon, quilted by Brenda Smitley

Here is a very creative adaptation of the Civil War Bride quilt, based on A Bountiful Life by Karen Mowery. Nancy says, "The design combines reproduction blocks from the famous "Civil War Bride" quilt made originally in about 1863 and original South West designs by me."   The quilt took 2 years to complete the outstanding hand applique.

The machine quilting was beautifully done by Brenda Smitley. Examples of the original elements include a hummingbird, placed below the "Bride" in the block shown below. Winner of Second Place in the Two Person, primarily appliqued, hand or machine quilted.

The block shown below depicts Mission San Xavier del Bac (The White Dove of the Desert) which is located south of Tucson.  Nancy also created a prickly pear cactus, and a pair of javelinas (collared peccary), which are native to many parts of the desert Southwest.

Jewel of the Reef by Melanie Harris, quilted by John Harris

This gorgeous quilt was based on a pattern by Quiltworx ("Glacier Star").  Melanie Harris says, "I fell in love with the blue border print.  I then selected white and gray to represent the coral reef. The jewel tones are the flashy fish, flowers and algae that populate the reef."  Winner of a 2nd place award in this show.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

Quilt Fiesta! The annual Tucson Quilters Guild show (4)

 It's quilt show time!  The annual Quilt Fiesta, held by the Tucson Quilters Guild in Arizona, is an outstanding show. Here are more of our favorite photos.

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

Will by Kathy Godbout, quilted by Wolf Quilting

Kathy Godbout says, "This quilt was created from a photo I took of my dog Will. The collage process was taught by Susan Carlson at a quilt retreat. The quilting was done by Kristy Wolf on top of an old piece of Japanese fabric."  This quilt was framed; it was entered in a new category called "Art - Rigid Finished."

Venus Galactic Explosion by Yvonne M. Flores, quilted by Quality Quilters

Venus Galactic Explosium was based on a Missouri Star Block-of-the-Month project. Yvonne Flores says, "This was a block-of-the-month project during [COVID-19] lockdown. The block pattern and fabric were mailed monthly. It was selected because of the design and warm colored fabrics. The sewing was a stress release."

Happy Trails by Gloria Magee & Carey Larue, quilted by Susan Gorder.

Happy Trails was awarded 1st place in the Group Quilt category. This lovely quilt was based on the ‘Happy Trails’ quilt pattern by Pearl Pereira. Gloria Magee says, "My daughter and I saw this pattern at a workshop we took from Pearl [Pereira]. We decided to make a wall hanging with the center block only. The branding irons represent the initials of my daughter’s five sons."

Mystery Reimagined by Penny Boese

Mystery Reimagined won First Place in its category (One Person Medium Pieced Machine Quilted.) It is a pattern redesign of Michelle Hiatt’s Holiday Sensation Mystery Quilt. Penny Boese says, “I learned I am not a mystery quilt person!"

Penny says, "I started off completing clues but I didn’t like the fabric placement nor blocks as the quilt came together. I left some elements in place, but really redesigned the quilt.” We admired the machine quilting designs and execution, which softens the angular lines of the blocks.

Desert Blossoms by Camille Salisbury, quilted by Brenda Smitley

This stunning applique quilt is a real standout. Camille Salisbury says that Desert Blossoms was based on Nancy Landon’s BOM Cactus Quilt [at the Cactus Quilt Shop.] “I loved choosing bright desert colors for this quilt. I enlarged the pattern to make it a king size quilt.”

3877 by Cherie Swanson, quilted by Quality Quilterz

Cherie Swanson based this fabulous quilt on 'Finger Lakes' in Judy Martin’s Log Cabin Quilt Book. Cherie says, “3877 is the number of pieces in the quilt. Or maybe that’s the number of hours it took to piece it?”Cherie's fabric choices and contrasts make this design sparkle.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2023 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

Creativity in Quilting: An Irish Chain Design

Irish chain is a very traditional quilt pattern.  However, today's photos show that Irish Chain quilts can have stunning visual impact! The use of patterned batik fabrics, and innovative embroidery designs, created an outstanding quilt.

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

Southwest Twilling Irish Chain by Nancy Landon, quilted by Brenda Smitley

Nancy Landon created a beautiful double Irish Chain quilt and then embellished the open spaces with 12 different circular embroidery designs, as shown in the closeup photos below.

Nancy created her embroidery designs based on photos of classic or old Southwest Indian pottery and baskets. Twilling is an old European embroidery stitch that makes a knot-like raised texture. (You can find a description of twilling by Mary Corbet on her  Needle n' Thread website.)

Photos of Southwest Twilling Irish Chain were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2023 Tucson Quilters Guild show. This quilt was awarded a 3rd Place ribbon in the "Other Techniques" category in the show.
 

p.s. For more inspiration, please see our Free Pattern Day for Irish Chain quilts (CLICK HERE!) 

Image credits: Photos of the Southwest Twilling Irish Chain were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2023 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

24 Days of Christmas at Quilt Inspiration - Day 10

Welcome to the 24 days of Christmas ! Each day this month, up through Christmas Eve, we'll feature a work of fiber art that reflects the joy and beauty of the season ! Let's continue with Day 10.

Note: Please check out our eBay shop, where we are Top-Rated Sellers, for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry! For free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter!

Double Nine Patch - Meowry Christmas! by Nancy Landon, quilted by Karolyn Nubin Jensen

This Double Nine Patch quilt was inspired by a magazine photo of an antique quilt. There are 354 little 3" 9-patch blocks in the quilt, which was beautifully quilted by Karolyn Nubin Jensen. Nancy Landon says, "I saw a picture of the original quilt in a McCall's magazine and knew it was perfect for using my stash of 1800's "cat" shirtings." (The light colored prints within the nine patch blocks have line drawings of cats.)

 Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2014 Tucson (Arizona) Quilters Guild show.