Welcome to the Quilt Fiesta! (1)

We just attended the 2025 Quilt Fiesta in Tucson, Arizona, and had a wonderful time.  This show is produced by the Tucson Quilters Guild, and there were so many beautiful quilts to see. We hope you enjoy our photos of the show! Here is part 1.

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Leo by Lynne Saul, quilted by Athena Taylor  

 Lynne Saul says, "This quilt is paper pieced. I chose to make him green for fun." Winner of Honorable mention in its category (two persons, primarily pieced, hand or machine quilted.)  The pattern source is the Legit Lion pattern by Legit Kits.  As shown in the closeup photo, the irises of Leo's eyes were enhanced with small, jet black faceted beads!

Civil War Bride by Dureen Berg, quilted by Becky Coykendall

Heavily appliquéd blocks of flowers & leaves, birds & butterflies, animals & fruit make up this heirloom quilt. Winner of Best of Show, and of 1st place - Two-Person Applique. The applique work is truly outstanding, with so many details to appreciate in every block! 

Dureen Berg says: "I had fun searching for the 126 fabrics used in this quilt.  Many are reproduction fabrics but I did not limit myself to their use. Becky Coykendall's talented quilting enhances and completes the design."  The Civil War Bride Pattern is by Corliss Searcey.  

Gilded Cathedral, made and quilted by Karen G. Fisher

This is a gorgeous cathedral windows quilt!  Karen G. Fisher says, "I made the  copper center of this quilt years ago.  To make it bigger, I used my Graduated Grid format with bigger blocks to grow it faster.  Four block sizes celebrate metallic fabrics, with lots of small-scale golden highlights."  Winner of a 2nd place ribbon; we hope you can see all the work that went into this intricate design! 

Go Ask Alice by Kathi Shunn, quilted by B'nae Pulve

This fabulous kaleidoscope quilt won 1st Place (Two Person, Medium Pieced category) and a special award for Exemplary Piecing. Kathi Shunn says, "[This] original pattern was designed by me for my company Darty Kite Pattern Co.  The design was inspired by my friend Alice. I used mostly fabrics by Odile Bailloeul and it is English paper pieced by hand."

 Beautiful colors, shapes, and patterned fabrics make this quilt a real standout.

 Basket Bonanza, made and quilted by Kathy Ann Barry

It was wonderful to see this Amish basket quilt! We love the colors and contrasts, and it was beautifully constructed with nine-patch blocks as cornerstones. Kathy Ann Barry says, "In 2024 my daughter, Amanda, won the Fiesta Basket Bonanza. The prize was wonderful baskets and fabrics. In the Tucson Quilters Guild library I was encouraged to take a magazine, where I found a beautiful quilt pattern.  Amanda shared the fabric and the Guild shared the magazine."

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Quilt Fiesta in Tucson, Arizona.

Quilt Fiesta! Highlights of the Show (3)

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 our photos!

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The Glow by Christine Nelson, quilted by Lynn Simon

Christine Nelson based this quilt on a classic Lone Star pattern, and the color and fabric choices were simply beautiful.  Christine says, "I used an ombre fabric for the main part of the star.  At the center and outer points I used fussy cut pieces from the [kaleidoscope print] border fabric. Getting the pattern lined up in the center was a challenge." The solid fabric areas allowed plenty of space for Lynn Simon's gorgeous quilting. Winner of Second Place in the Two Person - Small Pieced category. 

 Ghost by Barbara Polston

We love pet-inspired quilts, and this one is a beauty. Made and quilted by Barbara Polston, who created a portrait of her grand-dog, Ghost, using lace.  Barbara says, "Ghost is a Siberian Husky belonging to my daughter and son-in-law.  [This was] a gift for their 8th wedding anniversary which may be celebrated with lace gifts."  What a clever idea!

Aviary by Suzanne McLean, quilted by Linda Cote

Made by Suzanne McLean and quilted by Linda Cote, this beautiful wool applique quilt was based on a pattern by Bonnie Sullivan and Dawn Heese. We enjoyed seeing the many beautiful details!  Suzanne says, "[The] pattern [was] modified in several places to create a soft, vintage look that's uniquely mine."  Winner of Honorable Mention in the Two Person, Primarily Appliqued category.

It features hand appliqued wool with velvet accents on a cotton background, enhanced with embellishment stitching using a variety of stitches, thread and ribbon.

The Neighborhood by Jean Biddick

The Neighborhood was made and quilted by Jean Biddick.  It won First Place in the One Person, Small, Pieced category, plus a special award for Exemplary Piecing.

Jean says, "The Quilters Market Blockbusters theme in 2018 was 'There Goes the Neighborhood'.  I reduced the 12" to 3" blocks and added a couple of extras to make the setting work. The blocks are NOT paper pieced (!) The central block was made years ago in a Judi Blaydon workshop about light sources - it was a perfect center for my 'Neighborhood'. "

Cactus Rose by Lynne Saul

This stunning quilt, made and quilted by Lynne Saul, was based on a pattern by Judy Niemeyer.  Lynne says, "The top is paper pieced which I love to do.  After it was completed, it sat for 5 years before I quilted it.  But now it's done."  We love this design, colors, and expert workmanship.  The bright batik fabrics with their spiky points really pop against the dark background.

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