International Quilt Invitational Exhibition 2019 - Part 2 of 2

"Out of this world" quilts from around the world are presented each summer at the Brigham City Museum of Art and History in Brigham City, Utah. We think you'll agree that each of these quilts is a masterpiece.

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Esfahan by Megan Farkas (New Hampshire, USA)

The inspiration for this quilt captured Megan Farkas' imagination two years before she felt she had the skills to actually attempt making it.  The design was inspired by a tile mosaic in the Jameh Mosque, Esfahan, Iran, and was based on a photo by Sebastia Giralt (used with permission). Completing it took three years of intensive work; Megan estimates it took at least 3.000 hours.

At first, Megan thought she might be able to draft a pattern based on the underlying geometry; she says this was overly optimistic.  She ended up creating one set of floral filigree templates for each block type. The completed blocks were reverse appliqued into a single piece of fabric. Esfahan was beautifully hand quilted by Megan herself.

Once There Were by Kathryn Harmer Fox (South Africa)

This quilt is a magnificent tribute to rhinos, which are an endangered species. Kathryn Harmer Fox used several photographs of both rhinos and birds to create this image. She says, "These glorious thundering behemoths are on the brink of extinction - the unreasonableness of it all saddens Kathryn to the core."

The quilt was created with assorted dress materials and sewing threads, using free motion machine embroidery, fiber embedment using scribble stitch, and quilting. The layering of fabrics and threads creates a gauzy, artistic image.

Zoologist's Quilt by Karen Miller (Oregon, USA)

Karen Miller's passion for Japanese stencil dyeing (katazome) is matched only by her love of nature.  Originally a marine biologist, she transferred her love of the natural world to art 22 years ago when she learned this amazing technique, used in Japan for 600 years. She hand cut a paper stencil and used it to apply a rice paste resist before indigo dyeing.  This quilt was made for an exhibit in Japan, thus the names of the animals are in English and Japanese around the border, as shown below.

The Trouble With Magenta - Hot or Not by Annelize Littlefair

Annelize Littlefair was inspired by the color magenta.  She asks, "What color is a car that is described as hot magenta?" That is the question she sought to answer, asking her friends to write on a piece of paper what color they thought it was.  She made the quilt using all the colors they suggested. She says that it took longer to stitch out the background of the outside border than it did to stitch the center section.

The materials used were radiance silk and kimono silk threads.  This stunning piece was created with machine quilting and freehand needlework. The whole quilt took around three months from start to finish, working on it most days.

Choose to Bloom by O.V. Brantley

Choose to Bloom is a delightful folk art sampler quilt made with an array of brightly colored fabrics and an impressive amount of detail: flowers, baskets, trees, leaves, animals, birds, fruit, and more. About the name, "Choose to Bloom", O.V. Brantley says: "I believe life is about choices.  We can choose to accept our circumstances or we can get busy changing them. We all bloom in different ways. How will you bloom?"

The quilt, based on a pattern by Kim McLean, was lovingly appliqued using a wide variety of fabrics to convey the diversity of choices.  The African fabrics give the quilt its uniqueness (see the closeup photo, above.)  It was custom quilted by Ina Sanders.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the Brigham City Museum.

Welcome to the 2017 Pacific International Quilt Festival: Day 1

Welcome to PIQF! This annual quilt show takes place each October in Santa Clara, California. Here are some of our favorites and some of the highlights of this show. We'd love to hear which ones are your favorites.  Let's start with Day 1:

The Sprinter, 38 x 80, by Birgit Schüller (Germany)

Blue ribbon winner in the Innovative Quilts category, Birgit comments, "I'm not a sprinter, but I am a runner. I run for different reasons -- out of habit, to sort my thoughts....to calm down, to experience physical exhaustion."

Detail, The Sprinter

Birgit adds, "To me, running is freedom; running allows me to break free from the stress and restrictions of everyday life !" We were really intrigued by the tiny running figures that Birgit quilted into the background of this striking contemporary work. Her original design is machine appliqued and longarm quilted.

Eternal Beauty, 94 x 94,  by Sherry Reynolds (Wyoming)

"Best of Show" winner,  Sherry says, 'Eternal Beauty' is dedicated to my mom. When I look to the heavens and talk to her, I always see her beauty. The struggles I encountered while making this were nothing compared to her lifelong struggles with Multiple Sclerosis, but her perseverance always prevailed. Four years and 15,000 pieces later, my perseverance prevailed on this quilt. ....My mom's beauty is eternal."

Sherry's breathtaking original design is machine pieced, hand-appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.  Incredibly, this quilt with all its precise Mariner's Compass points, is almost 8 feet square !

This quilt is a real stunner, and unfortunately, photos do not do it justice. We hope that you will be able to see this quilt in person at a quilt show near you. Be sure to look for the tiny crystals that radiate light in all directions.

Joshua is Jazz, 50 x 35, by Linda Anderson (California)

 Second place winner in the Wall Quilts category, Linda explains, "This is one of the geniuses of jazz, Joshua White, who came in second place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition a few years ago. Many people walk around with spellbinding talent within. Joshua is local to where I live, and we go to see and hear him often when he's in town."

Linda adds, "[He is] a true magician at the keyboard. This [original design]  art quilt is raw edge appliqued, hand painted pieces, machine stitched and sewing machine quilted." We really admire the life-like qualities and dimensionality of Linda's expertly designed and constructed work.

Maddy Swims with the Turtles, 40 x 30, by Miechelle Pape (California)

Miechelle made this quilt in honor of her daughter, who was out snorkeling in the ocean in Hawaii and suddenly went swimming away from the family as she chased a sea turtle. The family caught up with her; and all was well, so Miechelle preserved the memory in the form of this pretty quilt !

Miechelle notes, "I have only been quilting since 2012. I started quilting after my mom passed away. It got my mind on something else...I love creating quilts from from my fabric and sharing them and giving them as gifts.Quilting has enriched my life in so many ways." We love the embellishment that Miechelle has done with the tiny gold beads!  Miechelle's sparkly, eye-catching work is hand-pieced, hand-appliqued, and sewing machine quilted. Pattern by the Pacific Rim Quilt Company
 
The Egyptian Goose Family,49 x 54, by Kathryn Harmer Fox (South Africa)

Blue ribbon winner in the Innovative Quilts category at the World Quilt Show, Kathryn writes, "On a day so hot it could have melted rubber, and wishing I were a frog, I trudged longing towards the green-slimed dam. I came upon a family of geese resting in a pool of dappled light. The parents stood on one-legged guard, hissing at my approach, and the puddling of goslings separated into a stretching, preening duo."

Kathryn continues, "I use a technique I call fiber embedment, using scribble stitch together with free motion machine embroidery. These two techniques combined allow me to 'paint' with fabric and 'draw' with thread. " Kathryn's fascinating, detailed original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Quilts of the World Part I: South Africa

Part of the 2016 Pacific International Quilt Festival was the World Quilt Competition XX, which is a special exhibition within the larger P.I.Q.F. This competition, which is open to quilters from many different countries, starts out each summer on the East Coast of the U.S.A.; then the best quilts from that show go on tour to the various regional shows in America. Each week, Quilt Inspiration will feature highlights of quilts from a different country. We hope you enjoy this presentation, beginning with quilts from South Africa.

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The Three Watchers, 72 x 56", by Kathryn Harmer Fox

Blue ribbon winner in the Innovative Quilts category, Kathryn notes, "Africa's wild dogs look as if they have trotted through an upended bucket of paint. Each dog has its own particular pattern or markings splashed across its pelt. " Kathryn has done an outstanding job of depicting a fascinating array of shading and patterns using muted neutral colors.

As described below in the rhinos quilt, Kathryn uses a method she called "fiber embedment" to create these dogs with their intense expressions.   We really admire the wonderful depth of texture that Kathryn achieves with this innovative technique.

Once There Were..., 72 x 55",  by Kathryn Harmer Fox

African rhinos are in danger of being hunted to extinction for their horns. Kathryn says, “Due to man’s greed and utter stupidity, the rhino is relentlessly slaughtered for the lump of hair-like cells growing out of its face. It, like the unicorn, will one day be a thing of myth." Rhino poaching has escalated in recent years; you can read about the sad state of affairs at Save The Rhino.

In the closeup photo above you can see the intense stitching on the rhino's head, and the birds that ride on the rhino's back. Kathryn explains, "I use a self-explanatory technique which I call fiber embedment using scribble stitch. Combined with free-motion machine embroidery, these two techniques allow me to paint with fabric and draw with thread.”

Contemporary African Baskets, 79 x 79", by Colleen Butler

Colleen explains, "The fabulous and colorful Telephone Wire Baskets- Imbenge Bowls made by the Zulu people in KwaZulu Natal in South Africa were the inspiration for this quilt. Once I had created some of the typical Imbenge Bowls, I began experimenting with wedge rulers of differing degrees to create the other basket-inspired circles. "

Colleen's original design is machine pieced and long arm quilted. This particular circular design of the imbenge basket, with its bright primary colors, reminds us of a classic Dresden plate block pattern.

Tree Spirit, 75 x 98", by Sue Cameron

Winner of the "Best of Country" award, Sue notes, "Tree Spirit was inspired by the idea that all living things have spirit. Needle-felted yarn and organza were used for the tree in the foreground, along with couching and needle painting with zig-zag stitch. Organza [fabric] was used to help create perspective."

Close-up, Tree Spirit

In this close-up of the tree trunk,  you can see the female face and the form of the breasts which represent the feminine creative energy of the universe, sometimes known as "mother nature." Sue's intriguing work is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted. She adds, " Tree Spirit is embellished with thread fabric, beads, hand stitching, and double-sided leaves."

Pele: She-Who-Shapes-The-Land, 57 x 39",  by Jenny Hearn

Pele won Third Place -Innovative at the World Quilt Competition. Jenny Hearn says: "Pele, passionate and temperamental, is the feared yet respected Hawaiian Goddess of volcanoes. She is destructive but also regenerative. The pyroclastic ribbons of molten lava and flaming rock she hurls down the mountainside of Kilauea into the sea extend tongues of new land. Ashy volcanic sediment contains rich nutrients. Pele seeds lichens, splitting the lava, thus allowing ferns and trees to root, creating lush forestation of the area."

Pele was hand and machine appliqued.  Jenny Hearn used commercial and hand dyed cotton fabrics together with cotton and machine embroidery threads. The embellishments include batting-stuffed “pebbles”, thread covered metal washers and curtain rings.

Transition in South Africa - Growth vs. Destruction, 36 x 59",by Mari Claase

Mari's energetic and complex quilt is a "statement quilt", which shows many images and people associated with South African history between the years of 1837 and 2015. Mari writes,"[For] Growth, the black and white blocks represent the South African transition from Apartheid (racial segregation 1959) to Democracy (1994). Our Protector Thuli Madonsela (the woman at the very top of the quilt)  is wearing a laurel wreath. [Responsible for the investigation of government misconduct], she is our icon of hope and truth. Destruction ......March 2015: Downward spiral to anarchy of a once beloved country's values, resources, and people [due in part to government corruption and economic hardship]. I portray important issues that our country is struggling with, including poverty, fraud, and crime."

Close-up, Transition in South Africa

At the bottom of this quilt, Mari has very creatively added colorful slogans and words which look as if they might be written in chalk on sidewalks, walls, or buildings, in the form of graffitti, as expressions of political ideas.

This close-up shows President Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa from 1994-1999. A world-renowned leader, President Mandela was a Nobel Peace Prize winner ,as well as a United States Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. Mari's very impressive work is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Gracie's Garden, 43 x 52", by Ingrid Figenschou

Ingrid says, "This quilt is in memory of little Gracie, who loved to sit on the windowsill in the sun, the light glancing off her soft fur and whiskers, staring at the wonders of the garden. This is a One Block wonder quilt with applique, trapunto, and thread painting in glorious pastels, pinks, bright oranges and purples."

Note that the orange ball of yarn at Gracie's feet is made of real yarn! Gracie is extensively textured with thread as shown below.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

All creatures great and small

The squirrel weighs less than a pound, while an elephant weighs up to 15,000 pounds.  Just think of it, though:  on a quilt they can be equally impressive ! We admire the realistic detail on each of these amazing animal quilts.

It's All About Spring by Marjorie Post (Portland, Oregon)

Marjorie Post is an award-winning artist who works in fabric as well as digital art and colored pencil.  It's All about Spring was created with raw-edge machine applique using her own hand-dyed fabrics.  Wonderful texture was added with different quilting designs on the elephant's trunk, face, ears and body and body, as shown below. 

It's All About Spring by Marjorie Post

On her website, Marjorie says that she obtains inspiration from nature. In addition to creating art quilts, she designs quilt patterns for applique.  You can see her lovely floral applique patterns at her site on Craftsy; one of her most famous designs is Rose Rhapsody in Blue.

Tiptoeing into the Future, 65 x 53", by Kathryn Harmer-Fox (East London, South Africa)

Tiptoeing into the Future was designed to honor the African rhinoceros, which is struggling against extinction.  We are impressed by the hazy, almost mystical appearance of the animal as it seems to appear and disappear into the background. Kathryn says,  "I wanted to show this behemoth stepping almost tentatively forward, unsure of what lies ahead; tiptoeing into the future."

close up, Tiptoeing into the Future by Kathryn Harmer-Fox

Even close up, it is hard to discern the individual fabrics and stitches that make up this composition, as they are so well blended.  The techniques used were fiber embedment using scribble stitch, free motion machine embroidery and quilting.  For more information on techniques see Kathryn's article on Drawing with Fiber.  We previously featured Kathryn's wonderful Shattered Face quilt in a 2013 post on the Pacific International Quilt Festival.

Ancient Echoes by Jan Reed (Grass Valley, California)

This incredibly realistic iguana is placed in an intriguing setting.  Jan Reed says,  "This iguana is using his sunbathing hours to reflect on his ancestors' interaction with the past glory of the Mayan culture." There is a Mayan temple in the lower left of the gray background, and a Mayan face in the upper right, just above the iguana's back. Note the way the iguana's tail slips over the edge of the frame, providing further depth to the composition.

close up, Ancient Echoes by Jan Reed

Ancient Echoes won 2nd place in the Art-Pictorial division at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival.  Jan explains that over 250 pieces of fabric were used to create this image with both raw-edge applique and reverse applique techniques.  colored pens and fabric inks were used to adjust values. The quilt was also embellished with tiny iridescent beads along the iguana's spine. 

Giant Panda, 37 x 38", by Anne F. Zick and Joyce Freehill (Illinois)

The quilters say, "This quilt resulted from Rob Appell's Endangered Species class at Quilters Affair in Sisters, Oregon."  This is the first Endangered Species quilt we've seen in person, and it was impressive - and larger than we imagined.  The Panda is one of  twelve different animals in the Endangered Species patterns by Rob Appell.

close up,  Giant Panda by Anne F. Zick and Joyce Freehill

Using fusible applique, the Panda's face is created with four different shades of gray and two shades of white/off-white fabric.  The machine quilting created a texture resembling fur.  For another bear pattern in the Endangered Species collection, see Rob Appell's Polar Bear Quilt Pattern.

Desert Entertainer, 40 x 31", by Barbara McKie (Connecticut)

Barbara McKie's work is instantly recognizable for the way in which she merges digital photography with quilting to create artistic portraits in fabric.  For this quilt she used her photograph of a white-tailed antelope squirrel doing pushups on a rock. On her website, Barbara explains: "My love of surface design, photography, and computer graphics, and my travels have influenced my work to make it unique in the art quilt world."

close up, Desert Entertainer by Barbara McKie

This close up photo shows the way in which Barbara used fine thread painting to enhance the image of the squirrel in on the surface of the quilt.

Nemesis III : Elton by Cindy Henneke (Brenham, Texas)

This lighthearted quilt, created with broderie perse collage techniques and Kaffe Fassett fabrics, really made us smile.  Cindy Henneke says:  "I was inspired by my garden and, oddly, the armadillos that wreak havoc on a regular basis." (For those who don't know, armadillos are a real problem for many who live in Texas).   "The large-scale floral [prints] were the perfect medium to create something to laugh at.  This quilt is part of a series.  The more it evolved, the more it took on a happy, flamboyant personality, thus called Elton."

close up, Nemesis III : Elton by Cindy Henneke 

There was a lot of fussy cutting of motifs to make up the garden and the armadillo in Nemesis III.  On close examination, you can also see many fun and interesting details, including metallic thread on Elton's claws, fancy beading around his eye, and strings of tube beads along the spines of the leaves at the right of this photo.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2013 Pacific International Quilt Festival (Tiptoeing into the Future), 2013 Houston IQF (Ancient Echoes, It's All About Spring, Nemesis II) and the 2014 AQS - Phoenix (Giant Panda and Desert Entertainer).