Modern Quilt Month 2017 #3

We're keeping it simple for summer at Quilt Inspiration and featuring a showcase of modern quilts.  These original designs have a bold impact and straight or flowing lines, but the quilting is anything but simple.  We hope you enjoy these quilts as much as we did!
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Over the Edge by Jamie Fingal (California)

Jamie says, "My oasis is to be over the edge, pushing the envelope on my designs and quilts : to grown, and change and evolve."  Bright neon colors and geometric motifs give this non-representational design lots of high energy.

Jamie fused fabrics onto a foundation of wool-blended felt and used painting and stenciling, along with free motion machine quilting.

Modern Love by Laurie Schafer (California)

Laurie explains, " As a clothing artist, 'stained glass' style applique was my surface design of choice., so it was a natural transition to create appliqued quilts. Living in Palm Springs, the Mid-Century Modern influence surrounds me. Lyrical abstraction by Bienko Glass, Delauney, Miro, Frank Stella, and Peter Max."

We love the whimsical, sprightly flowers at the bottom of this piece ! Laurie's original design is machine pieced and appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Cascade by Victoria Findlay Wolfe and Shelly Pagliai

The artist notes, "As a child, I thought I might be an architect and was always inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's design of the Falling Water House. My design is based on the title of the home and the curve of modern bentwood furniture, using arcs, quilting, and color to tell the story."

Along with the title of the Frank Lloyd Wright house, these pointed spires remind us of cathedral arches or multiple exterior rooftops. This original design is machine pieced and longarm quilted.

The Red Poem by Caroline Wilkinson (United Kingdom)

Caroline writes, "I have taken the historical roots of quilt making as my inspiration, particularly antique sampler quilts. I have made a contemporary sampler using old designs, nineteenth century fabrics, paper and batting in juxtaposition with their present day counterparts and techniques, like fusing and photo transfer. Script on old hexagons are included. The letter shapes suggested are inspired by modern paintings."

We love quilts with lots of visual stimuli, and Caroline has something fascinating to look at in every block !  Her original design is hand and machine pieced, hand and machine appliqued, and hand and sewing machine quilted.

Hearts by Monika Scola

Monika states, "25 years ago, I was a Critical Care Nurse. After retiring, I was able to start quilting. My many years of sewing experience have been very helpful to me in this endeavor." We admire this beautiful display of analogous colors, which provides gentle, yet very pleasing contrasts.

Monika continues,  "My interest in water color paintings is always an inspiration for me in my original quilt designs." "Hearts" is machine pieced and longarm quilted.

Tangles by Linda Evans

Linda comments, "I used bold lines and colors to convey a feeling of emotional turmoil. The clean lines which are in opposition to the scattered tiny embroidered particles and the color selections are intended to cause a sense of unease or tension. It's similar to artists from the mid 20th century in that it is abstract, organic, and two dimensional, but it's obviously a modern work from the 21st century, here and now. "

We admire the precise workmanship on this fascinating work  Linda's original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2016 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

Modern Quilt Month 2015 (part 2)

We've designated  both July and August as Modern Quilt Month 2015. We've enjoyed seeing the modern quilts at various shows, and summer seems like the perfect time to feature these fun quilts. Here is part 2 of Modern Quilt Month !

Blockade, 31 x 47, by Martina Hilgert-Vervoort , Germany

Martina explains about her original design,  "We face the world smiling; it's just a facade. We don't allow for much of our inside to show on the outside. That's self-protection-- at least, that's what we are convinced of. Sometimes, we set up barricades, which make it almost impossible to communicate with our environment. It's hard to.....overcome blockages."  We admire this quilt for its superb sense of texture and its lovely monochromatic shades of blue, with contrasting yellow-orange.

Close up, Blockade by Martina Hilgert-Vervoort

Martina continues, "I constructed my quilt by integrating 3/8' narrow strips of fabric. I used mono-filament thread for quilting in order to achieve the structures I envisioned." Martina's quilt is comprised of hand-dyed cotton fabric, which was pieced and quilted on her domestic sewing machine.

Intra-Galactic Journey by Evelyn Link and Chris Lynn Kirsch

Third place winner in the Pieced Modern Quilts category in the 2014 Arizona Quilters Guild Show,  this work is a collaboration quilt inspired by quilt teacher Andi Perejda's class,  "Circle of Illusion."  The circle, flying geese pattern, and quilting was contributed by Evelyn. The Mariner's Compass in the center and more quilting was contributed by Chris.

Intra-Galactic Journey by Evelyn Link and Chris Lynn Kirsch

Beautiful "ice-cream sherbet" colors of tangerine, apricot, peach, and lemon provide a dynamic contrast to the dark background. This design reminds us of a beam of light traveling through the night sky to an unknown world.

Intra-Galactic Journey by Evelyn Link and Chris Lynn Kirsch

We really admire the accurate piecing and workmanship which adds to the "op art" visual effect of "Intra-Galactic Journey."

Who Won in London 2012, 46 x 48", by Caroline Wilkinson, United Kingdom

Caroline notes of her original design,  "My inspiration was triggered by the London Olympics in 2012. My idea was to celebrate this exciting event with a quilted piece which suggested a race to the viewer."

Close up, Who Won in London 2012 by Caroline Wilkinson

Caroline continues, "Swimming was my special interest, which influenced my choice of colors. The quilt is made with fabrics dyed at home and commercial cottons." Her work is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and machine quilted. The base layer of strips is pieced, and the the upper layer of little strips is shifted slightly to give a zig-zag movement to this intriguing pattern.

Color Explosion by Kathy Kent (Virginia)

Color Explosion received the third place award for pieced quilts in the AccuQuilt Go Challenge at the 2013 AQS Quilt Week in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The requirement for the challenge was that all the pieces had to be cut on an AccuQuilt machine. Kathy has been sewing since she was 11 years old and reports that she has compiled a huge fabric stash. She has used a great collection of light and dark values here to give a sparkling, watercolor wash effect to this eye-catching modern quilt.

Close up, Color Explosion by Kathy Kent

Kathy enthusiastically notes, "I love all of the steps to making a quilt, ......and the best part, hand quilting." She hand quilts all her creations, and this one is beautifully done in a traditional grid pattern.

Charming Chevrons, 46 x 54",  by Christa Watson (Nevada)

Christa notes that she loves solid fabrics with lots of machine quilting. She was inspired by "bold and beautiful [Kona cotton] solid charm squares."  This was her first attempt at making a modern quilt (in 2012) and she quilted it on an older Bernina.  It was exhibited at AQS Quilt Week 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Close up, Charming Chevrons by Christa Watson

These vivid solid colors show an excellent contrast and distinction between the  edges of chevrons. A PDF pattern and instructions is for sale in her ChristaQuilts Pattern Store. We recognize this design, created from half-square triangles, as the traditional Amish "Streaks of Lightning" pattern.  The newest version of the quilt will be in a brand new colorway and layout designed by Christa.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2015 World Quilt Show in Florida (Blockade and Who Won in London), the 2014 AQS Quilt Week in Phoenix (Charming Chevrons and Color Explosion) and the 2014 Arizona Quilters Guild show (Intra-Galactic Journey).