Symphony of Color

Not all of us have a flower garden, but if you're a quilter you can create your own. Here are some outstanding quilts showing a variety of techniques and effects!

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Ode to Georgia, made and quilted by Saundra Stavis Bohl (Ohio)   

This brilliant original quilt has a stained glass effect due to the machine applique, done with dark thread and a zig zag stitch. Saundra Stabis Bohl says, "After a wonderful family trip to Santa fe, I was inspired by the colors, music, culture, and endless sky."  This Ode to Georgia (O'Keeffe) was made with machine applique, piecing, and quilting.

Garden Party, made and quilted by Cindi Huff (Arizona)

 Cindi Huff says that she took a class to learn a new applique technique. "I thought I would just do one block and make a pillow.  However, that block was so fun and joyful, that I went on to make the entire quilt!" The pattern is Garden Party by Laura Heine.

Symphony of Color, made and quilted by Susan W. Smith (Washington, USA) 

Light dances across the colors of the leaves in this digitally printed whole cloth quilt, which resembles a watercolor painting. Susan W. Smith took photos and altered them with iPad apps and Photoshop, printed them at Spoonflower, and then used quilting to enhance their shapes and colors. Trapunto also was used to enhance the elements. 

 Image credits: Photos of Ode to Georgia and Symphony of Color were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Houston International Quilt Festival. Photos of Garden Party were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2026 Tucson Quilters guild show. NOTE:  Quilt Inspiration is an Amazon Associate, meaning we receive a small commission from any Amazon purchase that results from a link on this page.  Thank you for your support of Quilt Inspiration!

Childhood Memories

What a fantastic quilt, made from reclaimed family clothing !  We love the giant flowers and colorful butterflies. Flowery half-Dresden plates adorn the borders.

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Childhood Memories by Caroline Ellermann, quilted by Glenda Davis

Caroline Ellermann says, "The quilt was created from my granddaugher's childhood dresses.  A larger quilt for my daughter-in-law was made with the Garden Party pattern and t his quilt emerged from four left over blocks."  Pattern source: The Garden Party pattern by Laura Heine, which was modified.  

A kaleidoscope effect was created in the border by fussy-cutting the fabric for the Dresden plates.

Check out the Tula Pink squirrel, and the broderie perse flowers, in the closeup photo below! 

Also, Glenda Davis did a beautiful job with the quilting.

 

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

La Catrina: Collage Quilt

Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) is celebrated each year on November 1st and 2nd. The tradition honors those who have passed, whose souls are thought to come back to be with their loved ones. 

One of the strongest and most recognizable symbols of The Day of the Dead is the female skeleton wearing a fancy hat with feathers: La Catrina.

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La Catrina by Alice Catallini

This creative collage quilt was based on a pattern by Laura Heine, titled "Dee-ceased".  The bones and hat are composed of moth-ridden and stained family linens (circa 1930), including handkerchiefs, tea towels, lace dress, napkins, embroidered linen and doilies.  What a great idea!  We enjoyed the many creative details, including the caterpillar eyebrows (!)  Feminine touches include dangle earrings and a necklace.

A banner urging "Happy Gatherings" was appliqued is in the lower right corner of the quilt (see photo below). Some of the vintage linens can also be seen on the 'bones'. A few more creepy details can be seen crawling up La Catrina's arm.

 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2023 Quilt Fiesta (Tucson, Arizona.)

Quilt Fiesta! The annual Tucson Quilters Guild show (5)

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.

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Braided Star by Kathie Miller, quilted by Nancy Stein

Kathie Miller says, "This one-time free download from Angela Walters used a binding tool to make the trapezoids that form the braids, making that part of the construction simple. (Pattern source: Braided Star by Angela Walters.) Putting it all together was a bit of another story but once it all came together, the result was pretty stunning." We agree!

Fluffy by Linda Cote

This fantastic collaged quilt was based on the Doodle-Doo Rooster applique pattern by Laura Heine. We love Linda Cote's choice of colorful florals to create this whimsical bird!

Truffle Duffel by Suzanne McLean, quilted by Nubin Minerd

This gorgeous wool applique quilt has multiple ribbons, including a Judge's Recognition award.  It was based on Sue Spargo's 2021 bock-of-the-month program.  The wool background was hand appliqued with a variety of mushroom designs done in wool and cotton. These were extensively embellished with a variety of stitches done with decorative threads. Some of the beautiful details can be seen in the closeup photo below.

Slot Canyon Shadows by Natalie Furrey

This quilt is amazing. Winner of the Exemplary Piecing award, plus a 2nd place Viewers Choice award, this masterpiece was created with an original set of traditional quilt blocks. Natalie Furrey says, "This quilt was inspired by trips to Northern Arizona's slot canyons, a photograph by Michael Fatali, and the colors of northern Arizona.  For the curious - the pieces were counted to be 11,362. [The] time invested to complete [this quilt] was 3 continuous years."  Wow.

Welcome Wagon by Ruth Murray Hill, quilted by Carol Gutierrez

Is there anything more cheerful than a yo yo quilt?  To create this quilt, 620 handmade yo-yos were attached to machine-pieced quilt blocks.  Ruth Murray Hill says that the pattern was from Kim Diehl's Simple Graces book.  This must have been fun to create!

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

Quilt Arizona 2020 ! Day 1

In February, when life was still "normal" , we attended the 2020 Quilt Arizona! Show which is an outstanding display of statewide quilts from the Arizona Quilters' Guild. This year's theme was "Desert Stars". We hope you enjoy these highlights from the show !

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Yikaisdaha (Navajo for Milky Way) by Patti Kupferer

Patti notes, " I created this original quilt based on the Navajo belief of how the Milky Way was formed. I used the Superstition Mountains that I see down my street as the desert setting below the Milky way. This is a reinterpretation of my 1992 "Star Struck" award win."

Patti adds, " I recalled the Navajo belief as how the Milky Way was created by Coyote with the statement that I embroidered at the top.  The quilt's name, Yikaisdaha, is Navajo for the Milky Way."  In keeping with the theme, the twinkling stars and moonlit buttes and rocks provide a perfect backdrop for the dramatically silhouetted cactus forms. Patti quilted her intriguing creation herself.

Virginia City Miner by LeAnn Hileman

 First Place winner for Best Pictorial Quilt, LeAnn says, " Virginia City [Nevada] Miner depicts a tender moment between this prospector and his trusty companion. "

Look at this fabulous embellishment of threads to create the miner's beard ! LeAnn pieced and created her marvelous work by herself.

Two Grey Hills Pieced by Debbie Corbett and Quilted by Mike Corbett

First Place winner for Best Medium Pieced Quilt by a duet and Exemplary Computer-Guilded Machine Quilting, Mike and Debbie say that their quilt is an adaption of the Navajo rug style known as "Two Grey Hills."

 Shown above are some of the beautiful  Native American motifs, emblematic of the Two Grey Hills style.

The border above was quilted with buffalo, feathers, and vertical arrows in multicolor thread. Mike and Debbie's work is well-deserving of the awards it won.

Cactus Blooms by Anita Blain, quilted by Cindy Stohn

Third Place winner for Best Kit Quilt, Anita writes, "When I moved to this area three years ago, it was easy to fall in love with the muted desert tones and the vibrant colors of the many cactus in the area. Home is now where the cactus bloom."

This quilt, which displays patchwork and applique side by side, looks so pretty with the bright colors and purple flowers against the soft silver gray background.

Jennifer's Quilt, made by Marni MacDonald, exhibited by Jennifer Penna

Jennifer's Quilt won Best of Show back in 2002 and was part of the special exhibit titled “21^st Century Quilt Arizona! Best of Show”.  The program says:  “This year’s special exhibit is exactly that: a mind-blowing array of gorgeous quilts.  We have invited twenty AQG Best of Show winners from the last 20 years to participate in our special exhibit this year...The quilts are exceptional, as are the women who made them.” 

Jennifer Penna writes, "[This quilt is made of] hand dyed fabrics. [It is] paper pieced with hand applique. My grandma made this quilt for me; she dyed all the fabrics."

Jennifer concludes, " I was really into tie dye at the time. It was a present for my graduation."
The lavender, peach, lemon yellow, and raspberry pink hues all work beautifully together.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2020 Arizona Quilters Guild show.

Quilts from the Springville Museum of Art (part 1)

Each year, the Springville Museum of Art (Utah) has one of the best quilt shows around.  It features award-winning quilts from Utah, a state blessed with an abundance of accomplished quilters. Here are some highlights of this year's show!

Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns and collectibles ! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !

The Circle of Life: Sunshine and Shadows by Shirley Olsen

Winner of a ribbon for Best Solitaire Machine Quilting, Shirley writes, "This quilt was begun in the 2016 Utah Quilt Guild "Quilt Fest" class taught by Jacqueline de Jonge, the pattern's creator. I love its complicated and intricate design and how it depicts the sunshine and shadows of my life."

Shirley continues, "I chose all of the fabrics from my stash and created my own quilting designs." The quilting was done on Shirley's Bernina 820 machine. Her precision workmanship on all of the delicate spiky points, plus the feathered quilting patterns, make this quilt a real show-stopper.

Caleb the Camel by Katherine Porter, quilted by Virginia Gore

Katherine explains, " This has been my year to explore new techniques. I was drawn to this particular pattern for two reasons: first, the bold beautiful colors, and second, its relationship to the Sahara Desert."

Katherine continues, "Every time I have flown over that huge space and on one occasion stood on its very edge, I have wished to be exploring the mysteries it holds. I still wish for that, but age is creeping in, and it may only happen in my dreams." Katherine has done a spectacular job on using applique and collage techniques to give the camel a dynamic and energetic look. Pattern by Laura Heine. 

Twilight by Judy Fitzgerald, quilted by Xenia Stirland

Judy notes, "This quilt was designed by Wendy Williams from Australia (Urban Owls pattern). I loved being able to use my own colors and embellishments. I loved doing the machine applique."

We love owls, and these are some of the cutest applique owls we've seen. They studiously observe the vibrant garden beneath them.. There are so many fun motifs to look at in Judy's quilt, that each section brings a fun new discovery.

Caribbean Dreams by Ruth Davis

Ruth explains, "I sit on the beach, listening to the waves crash against the shore. The hues of turquoise and teal against the cream-colored sands radiate warmth. Tropical birds perch in nearby trees with their songs, a joyful ode to the perfect weather. The sun dips below the horizon.....and [the stars] twinkle like a nursery rhyme."

Ruth adds, "I take the final stitches on my quilt using "Pearl and Mermaid" colored threads, couching re-purposed silk yarns onto the stars as the snow falls outside my window, and I dream of the Caribbean. This quilt was made using 'Lone Star' blocks made over 2018 in the Kaffe Club taught by Kaye Evans. I went totally off task this year and made my Kaffe [Fassett] fabrics the background and the cream fabric the stars! The appliques and quilt layout are my own designs." 
We love Ruth's idea to use cream fabric for the stars, and the Kaffe Fassett fabrics work beautifully, especially for the vividly colored bird sitting placidly amongst the eye-catching tropical foliage. Ruth's wonderful quilt is a great success.

Impressions of Brugge by Florence Evans

Winner of a Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the Utah Valley Quilters Guild, Florence says, "Brugge, often called "The Venice of the North", is a beautiful city in northwestern Belgium, full of canals, cobbled streets, and medieval buildings. This quilt is a compilation of the images of the city rather than a depiction of an actual street/canal scene."

Florence continues, "The churches, bridges, tiled roofs...and stair-step gables of Dutch architecture were constructed individually using improvisational piecing techniques. The elements were then fitted together, and the water and sky were filled in. The dense machine quilting (done on a traditional home sewing machine) adds details and texture to the piece."
Florence has done an excellent job of selecting fabrics, piecing, and quilting to emphasize the architectural details of Brugge, and the care she has taken in her work is reflected in this lovely quilt.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Springville Museum of Art show.

Highlights of Quilt Arizona 2019! part 5 (the finale)

Here is the finale of our Quilt Arizona photos! The Arizona Quilters Guild has over 35 chapters, and they all get together annually for the show. The 2019 theme was Jewels of the Desert: "Every quilt is like a gemstone, the dancing colors play through patterns to endlessly fascinate and amaze. This year your quilt should convey Arizona's iridescent beauty, from golden sunsets and emerald cacti, to clear sparkling memories."

Note: please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry ! (For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !)

Spring Cleaning by Patti Kupferer

This adorable small quilt has eight different mini quilts hanging from a clothesline. Patti Kupferer says, "The Gallon Bag Challenge [in my guild] required me to use the 12 different items/collections a fellow quilter had placed in the bag in a wall hanging." We enjoyed seeing the crocheted doll (in the lower left corner), the clothes line and pins, and decorative buttons.

Look at how tiny these little quilts are, compared to the gloved hand (below)!

Extra, Extra, Read All About It by Millie Burgheimer, quilted by Millie Burgheimer

Extra, Extra won a first place ribbon in the Mixed Technique category.  Millie Burgheimer based the quilt on a story of her dad selling newspapers.  The newsboys in this original design were created with thread painting.  The background is made of newsprint-themed fabrics.

Dresden Elegance by Gail Witt,quilted by Jessica Gamez
 

Dresden Elegance won the award for Exemplary Professional Machine Quilting, along with Third Place in the Mixed Technique category.  Gail Witt says, "I am inspired by Di Ford medallion quilts. My original design features hand appliqued center star, swirls and Dresden plates. Jessica Gamez' trapunto feathers and border Gothic arches are beautiful." Here are two closeup photos of her lovely quilting.

Treasures of the Southwest by Judith Tobias, quilted by Karen Toomey

This wonderful quilt features a hot air balloon, pueblo, saguaro cactus, and more.  The pattern is Enchanted Lands at SW Decoratives. Members of Quilts N More, a Fountain Hills (Arizona) group, created this quilt to donate to Quilt for a Cause which raises funds for research, education and treatment of breast and gynecological cancers. The beautiful batik fabrics lend so much beauty to this quilt.

See What You See Under The Sea by Magdalena Castillo-Cockrum, quilted by Eunice Hill

Magdalena Castillo-Cockrum won a First Place ribbon in the Pictorial - Non Original Design category for this collage-style quilt.  She says, "Turtles are beautiful and peaceful. I love watching them swim. Exploring fabrics to fulfill my expectations for this turtle was fun, exciting and adventurous. I am excited with my turtle’s uniqueness." The turtle brings to mind Laura Heine's Seawell Collage Sea Turtle design, enhanced with many other design elements and fabrics.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Arizona at the 2019 Quilt Arizona show.