Twelve Days of Christmas: Day 7

Christmas 2021 is drawing near, and we wanted to share some of the amazing, gorgeous holiday quilts we've seen. Thanks to the many quilters who have inspired us with their beautiful creations!  Here is Day 7 of our series: Twelve Days of Christmas. 

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Holiday Splendor by Inger C. Blood (California) 

First Place winner for Best Hand Workmanship, Inger explains, "I designed the quilt in EQ7. Using the pineapple block design, I wanted the Christmas tree to form a wreath on the quilt. In the center of the wreath, I inserted Broderie Perse applique birds. The same birds were again used in the border."

Closeup,  Holiday Splendor

Inger continues, "The same birds were again used in the border. Techniques used in the quilt include machine piecing, machine applique, hand applique, hand quilting, machine free motion embroidery, and Broderie Perse applique."

Detail, Holiday Splendor

In addition to the construction process described above, Inger also used mostly metallic thread, ruler work quilting, couching, trapunto, hand beading, and Swarovski crystals. Inger's work is not only exquisite, it is both elegant and cozy at the same time.  We loved the realistically created little cardinal birds, with their bright red plumage delicately outlined in gold thread.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2021 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

Best of the Pacific International Quilt Festival 2019 (day 1)

Held annually in Santa Clara, California, the Pacific International Quilt Festival is the largest quilt show on the west coast. It features a wonderful variety of beautiful quilts! Here are some of the highlights of the festival. Let us know which ones are your favorites!

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For Such A Time As This, 68 x 70, by Kathy Wylie, Canada

Top prize winner, the Best of Show award, Kathy says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven...[In this quilt], time is portrayed by clock numbers, monthly birth flowers and birthstones, leaves changing color with the seasons, moon phases, and the shapes of an hourglass and infinity."

In this close-up, you can see the pretty pale yellow daffodils, the birth flower for the month of March. Kathy's stunning original design is hand-stitched with turned-edge applique and domestic machine quilting.

Family Reunion, 81 x 81, by Barbara McCraw, Texas

Top award winner, Best of World, for the World of Beauty quilt exhibition, Barbara explains, "I designed my quilt after spending several years studying on Ancestry.com. I found my maternal great-grandparents and soon after that, I woke with the vision of the completed design, with them featured in the center." Barbara has produced a breathtaking quilt, well deserving of the Best of World award.

This block is labeled, "In memory of my Ancestors", as they are seen working in the cotton fields. Barbara's original design is hand-appliqued, machine pieced, and sewing machine quilted.

Here are Barbara's maternal grandparents, wed in 1904. They are lovingly encircled by a Baltimore-album style wreath, adorned with three-dimensional flowers and embellished with delicate beads.

Barbara adds, "When [this center block] was done, I decided to design 12 blocks encircling the center, representing my life, my loves, and my dear family. It took nearly 3 years to complete."  Barbara has published a book that tells the story of this momentous work: My Family Reunion Quilt : A Sentimental Journey in Applique.

We Three I'iwi, 60 x 48, by Phyllis Cullen, Hawaii

Phyllis notes, "It is my pleasure to present four of my favorite techniques to create this tribute to one of Hawaii's native birds." For her vibrantly hued original design, Phyllis won the blue ribbon for Best Use of Color in the Innovative Quilts category.

Phyllis continues, " [The techniques here are] free fabric collaged birds, painted branches, sun printed background, machine appliqued, and free motion quilted on the longarm. There is no greater pleasure than painting with fabric and thread."

Trip Around the World II, 38 x 39, by Inger Blood, California

Blue-ribbon winner of the Janome Best Sewing Machine Workmanship Award in the Wall Quilts, category, Inger remarks, "This quilt was inspired by an antique quilt from the early 1900s. Dupioni Silk was used to create the center pattern. Borders were quilted using ruler to extend the center design into the borders. "

These tiny little pieces in the center of the quilt, are less than one-half inch square! Inger machine- pieced them with amazing accuracy. For the border pattern, Inger adds, "Design created with the ruler work was filled with free motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine."

Cat Groove, 44 x 55, by Sue de Vanny, Australia

Second place winner in the Modern Quilts category, Sue writes, "The inspiration for Cat Groove is from my own drawings, 'Art Deco/Retro'. Improvident pieced design inspired by artist Wassily Kandinsky, feline salt and pepper shakers of the 60's/70's, and the music 'Something for Cat' from the Breakfast At Tiffany's soundtrack."

Here's the happy face of a most content kitty! Sue's fun, whimsical original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

A Winter Whole Cloth Extravaganza - Part 2

Whole cloth quilts, done in icy white or pale pastels, remind us of winter.  Here is the second part of our series.  Capturing the texture of quilting in a photograph is really challenging, especially with white-on-white quilts.  We hope that our photos will convey some sense of  the magnificent quilting by these artists.

All My Rowdy Friends by Ann McNew

Ann writes about her original design, "A wholecloth designed to represent many different quilting styles, each round is dedicated to a different friend's taste. I wanted to use as many longarm rulers as possible. My challenge was to keep the quilting looking cohesive throughout the quilt."

Close up, All My Rowdy Friends by Ann McNew

Look at the fabulous variety of feather patterns that Ann created. Each one is unique, yet they all fit perfectly into the overall design.

Close up, All My Rowdy Friends by Ann McNew

In this close-up you can see Ann's precision work on the "Greek key" style quilting motif which adorns the diamond-shaped center medallion.

Bella Be Blue by Rebecca Stewart-Bartell, Australia

Rebecca notes, "This wholecloth was inspired by my blue and white china collection, as well as my quilting heroes Libby Lehman, Sharon Schamber, and Sue McCarty.  I have combined all the things I have learned from them to make my quilt."

Close up, Bella Be Blue by Rebecca Stewart-Bartell
 

Rebecca's techniques for her elegant, vintage-inspired creation include free-motion longarm machine embroidery, hand-guided longarm quilting, and corded binding. For materials, she used cotton fabric, metallic thread,  Superior Bottom Line thread,  and hot fix crystals.

Close up, Bella Be Blue by Rebecca Stewart-Bartell
 

Bella Be Blue is Rebecca's original design. In this close up, you can see one of the four darling little birds that appear to be floating and drifting through each side of this quilt, as well as the glittering embellishments that adorn the inner borders.

Blue Ice by Inger C. Blood, California

Inger writes of her lovely original design, " This whole cloth quilt was quilted on my Bernina 820 on constant speed, without the stitch regulator engaged. It was [first] dawn out by pencil on paper, quilted, then painted after the quilting was completed. "

Close up, Blue Ice by Inger C. Blood
 

Inger continues, "[My] inspiration was a National Geographic TV program about Alaskan glaciers. I was fascinated by the color of the ice. This quilt is # 2 ( winter) in a series of four.

Close up, Blue Ice by Inger C. Blood

Blue Ice was displayed at the 2014 Pacific International Quilt Festival in California, where it attracted  many admiring viewers. Look at this gently scalloped outer border, whose curves mirror the half-fans of the inner border. Hundred of sparkly crystals really add shimmer to this quilt.

Field of Feathers by Jane M. Rua

Jane notes,  "This is my completed project for my Craftsy.com class,  "Beyond Basic Machine Quilting",  taught by Ann Petersen. This was my first serious attempt at free-motion quilting".  We think Jane did an outstanding job at creating this elegant depiction of a spring flower garden, replete with a charming dragonfly.

Close up, Field of Feathers by Jane M. Rua
 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

A Whole Cloth Winter Extravaganza - part 1

Whole cloth quilts, done in icy white or pale pastels, remind us of winter.  We've never done a feature on whole cloth quilts, perhaps because capturing the texture of quilting in a photograph is really challenging, especially with white-on-white quilts.  We hope that our photos will convey some sense of  the magnificent quilting by these artists.

Winter by Laurie Weiner

An Honorable Mention winner at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival, Laurie notes, "I designed this quilt after being snowed in for five days, due to impassable roads, on Whidbey Island, [in the state of ] Washington. One gets to contemplate winter at its best -- clean, pure, and beautiful."

Close up, Winter by Laurie Weiner

 

For her original design, Laurie's techniques include cut-away trapunto and free motion background stitching. The cotton sateen fabric is hand-dyed, with poly batting for trapunto. Her use of deeper colored cotton thread really helps the  viewer see the details of the barren, graceful branches.

Morning Breeze by Jenny K. Lyon

Jenny writes, "I love my Northern California landscape-- it gives me daily joy. The slightest breeze brings movement to the grasses; bees, humminbirds, and dragonflies are frequent visitors. I wanted to capture the beauty and texture that I enjoy on the daily morning stroll through my garden,"

Close up, Morning Breeze by Jenny K. Lyon

Jenny's  lovely work is free motion quilted, with cotton sateen, wool batting, cotton, silk binding, and cotton and silk thread.She won the second place award for Most Innovative Quilt at the 2014 Road to California Quilt Show.

Close up, Morning Breeze by Jenny K. Lyon

We really liked this magical butterfly and other animals outlined in deeper colors, which float through the windy sky and add to the sense of continuous movement.

Alabaster Feathers by Debbie Stanton

A blue ribbon winner in the "Quilting Green" category at the 2014 Arizona Quilters Guild Show, Debbie states,  "I found this vintage cutwork linen tablecloth in a thrift shop. I hand-sketched feathers around the embroideries. No stencils were used.

Close up, Alabaster Feathers by Debbie Stanton

These quilted swirling feathers perfectly enhance the antique, elaborate look of Debbie's enchanting original design.

Swan's Song by Lisa Calle

First place winner in the Best Machine Quilting category at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival, Lisa notes, "My father, George Swan Hagstoz, Jr., passed away in October of 2011. This quilt is my tribute to him. His initials are in the center, with 12 teardrop motifs surrounding them. These teardrop motifs represent his wife, three children, and eight grandchildren."

Close up, Swan's Song by Lisa Calle

Lisa's strikingly beautiful original design is enhanced by the occasional  rows of straight, parallel quilting lines. They  provide a pleasing contrast to the delicate teardrop motif symbolizing the members of her father's family.

Renaissance by Theresa Fetch

Theresa explains, "This quilt was designed paper, transferred to the fabric, quilted, and bound. After binding, it was hand-dyed, and Shiva Paintsticks were applied to the entire top. " These elegant, intricate circular motifs seem to us to be inspired by the work of master artists of the  Italian Renaissance. The motifs  really catch the viewer's eye and draw it towards the ornate center medallion.

Close up, Renaissance by Theresa Fetch
 

Theresa's intriguing original design is created with cotton sateen fabric, Hobbs wool batting, and Superior thread. Shiva Paintstiks give a luminous iridescent patina to her work.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.