Quilting with Kaffe Fassett fabrics! (1)

What do we love about Kaffe Fassett's fabrics? Their vibrant colors! For more than two decades, Kaffe Fassett has inspired quilters to go wild with color and texture. Here are some gorgeous quilts showcasing fabrics from the Kaffe Fassett Collective.

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Color Garden, made and quilted by Jana Knutson  

Bring on the color in this garden of trees and flowers! Some of the "branch" fabrics blend with the "tree" fabrics, while others have a strong contrast. The overall effect comes in and out of focus as you look at the quilt. Horizontal bands were created by grouping blocks with similar colors. Jana Knutson says that Color Garden was based on a quilt design called Arboretum by Springleaf Studios.  

Queens Cross by Elizabeth Sonnenfeld, quilted by Quality Quilterz 

This stunning New York Beauty-style quilt was based on the Queens Cross pattern by Jen Kingwell. We love the color combinations, spiky points, and contrasts! Elizabeth Sonnenfeld says, "This pattern really appealed to me, especially using colorful Kaffe Fassett fabrics.The process of making the blocks was longer than usual but very enjoyable." Check out the teal blue and olive green combination below!

Hot Tucson Nights, made and quilted by Linda Cote  

Wow, this quilt is as hot as the summer nights in Tucson, Arizona! So many wonderful fabrics were used. The orange and red blocks are interspersed with pops of blue and purple, providing a respite and focal points for the design. Linda Cote says that Hot Tucson Nights was based on a "Scrappy Surprise" pattern by Virginia Robertson Designs.

Note: If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy dozens of *FREE* patterns for Kaffe Fassett Quilts:  CLICK HERE for Part 1 and CLICK HERE for Part 2!

 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson (Arizona) Quilters Guild show.

Welcome to the Quilt Fiesta! (2)

We 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 admire. We hope you enjoy our photos of the show! Here is part 2.

Note: Please check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on patterns, jewelry, and collectibles. You also can follow us on Twitter!

We Chose Arizona by Maine-ly Quilting Sisters (Karen Chrisman, Betty Jordan, Mary Lucas, Katherine Kenwood & Susan Baxter); quilted by Betty Jordan & Katherine Kenwood.

This incredible landscape quilt was constructed in parts, then assembled.  Each part was made with Seminole piecing. The description says, "Our group began practicing Seminole piecing together. Betty, Katherine & Mary are from Maine; Susan is from Oregon and Karen is from Arizona. We live in this beautiful state by choice. The work shows our skills and our bond as quilters."

 Queen of the Night by Trish Hastings-Sargent  

This is a framed work of art, representing a relatively new category called Rigid Finished Art Quilts (RFAQ).  They are supported by a frame, stretcher bars or other means rather than a sleeve.  When art quilts are stretched onto a rigid frame, or matted and put into a decorative frame, they resemble a fine-art piece.

We were captivated by the translucent quality of these flower petals and the embroidery representing the pistil and stamen in the center. Trish Hastings-Sargent says, "Once a year in June, the night-blooming Cereus (cactus) turns into a stunning display of fragrant white blossoms! The show begins just after dusk and is usually over by midnight. By morning, the blooms are all gone."

Tucson Five-O by the Tucson Quilters Guild Quilt Fiesta Committee, quilted by Athena Taylor.  

 Pattern source: Inspiration from TQG opportunity quilt blocks over the years.  In 2026 the Tucson Quilters Guild will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. This quilt was created with this milestone in mind (hence the name, Five-O).  It will be the guild's 2026 opportunity quilt (wow!)  The quilt center showcases the stately saguaro cactus of the Sonoran desert, along with an ocotillo and prickly pear, highlighted against the mountains and the colorful sky.

Various local birds can be seen including an owl, hummingbird, and a Gambel's quail (below). 

Sonoran Baltimore by Judy Tenen, quilted by Linda Cote 

This gorgeous Baltimore album-style quilt was designed by Nancy Landon.  Judy Tenen says, "As always, I enjoy making quilts that Nancy Landon designed.  I modified her pattern slightly and enjoy the elements that represent Tucson while still being a traditional "album" style quilt.  Linda Cote furthered the desert theme with her custom quilting. Thanks to both Nancy and Linda!"

The historic San Xavier Del Bac mission is shown in the closeup photo above. Sitting just south of Tucson, the mission is not to be missed if you are visiting the area. It is Arizona’s oldest European structure and a masterpiece of Spanish Colonial architecture, completed in 1797.  

Beautiful applique work can be seen throughout this quilt, including the doves, squirrels, and vines in this photo.

Happiness by Sandra Schuster, quilted by Rick at Sunset Quilting

Sandra Schuster won a blue ribbon for her brightly colored beauty.  She says, "It pulses - from small to big, from thin to thick, with such saturated colors, and OH! Those feathers that are quilted on it! Brought together they equal happiness."  Pattern source: Prismatic by Gina at Gem Hill Quilts. 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

It's Modern Quilt Month! (1)

 We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I. This is the first of FIVE posts, and we couldn't be more excited!  So, what makes a quilt modern? According to The Modern Quilt Guild, the characteristics include the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and/or expansive negative space.  Enjoy!

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, fabric and jewelry items !
You can also visit us on Twitter. 

Patterns of the Heartland, made and quilted by Cathy Lillie.

We love the composition, colors, and flowing lines of this original design. Cathy Lillie says, "Patterns of earth and landscapes fascinate me. I created this pattern from an aerial photo.  During Sheila Frampton Cooper's class, I learned how to put this together.  It is 100% cotton with cotton batting." The machine quilting, resembling natural forms, adds so much to the effect.

Once in a Blue Moon, made and quilted by Cherie Swanson. 

Churn dash, maple leaf, flower, and house blocks make up this colorful sampler! The white spaces give plenty of room to show off the quilting. Cherie Swanson says, "A variety of blocks and techniques made this sampler quilt fun.  It was a good place to practice free motion quilting!" The pattern source was Autumn Acres by J. Wecker Frisch. 

Fascinating details can be seen under the blue moon, shown above. This house sports an American flag and a smiling puppy dog. Note the quilted "smoke" coming out of the fireplace. Further examination shows some very creative quilting in the blocks and open spaces. In the closeup photo below, an embroidered bee sits on the flower block.

Synopsis Spring 2023, made and quilted by Diane Hartman

Spring was in the air when Diane Hartman made this fun, colorful quilt assemblage (it's an original design!) Diane says, "Each small quilt (square within a square) was inspired by the painted fabric.  The intention was to make the whole greater than the parts but still make the parts distinguishable." Small fabric flowers and embroidery were used as embellishments.

Elemental, made and quilted by Jolene Ficklin

In this original 4 x 4 sampler, each small quilt is an art quilt. The eye is drawn to the different forms: triangles, circles, and lines (horizontal, diagonal, and curved.)  The mini quilts are connected by square tabs made from a graphic batik print. Jolene Ficklin says, "This quilt began as monthly prompts of art elements in my art quilt group.  Inspired by an installation at the Boise Art Gallery, it became an expression of elemental design."

Sharp Women Heart by Colleen Babcock, Diane Bootes, Alice Catallini, Cheryl Collins, Linda Cote, Natalie Furrey, Kenci Lewis, Laura Steiniger, & Judy Tenen. Quilted by Linda Cote. 

A puzzle of beautiful blocks create this dynamic heart quilt. This quilt was a collaboration by the Sharp Women Quilt Bee, hence the title (Sharp Women Heart). Each member of the group selected fabrics to complete the blocks in the Boho Heart pattern by Jen Kingwell and Andrea Blair. The quilt was pieced together by Alice Catallini, and quilted by Linda Cote.

Linda Cote quilted vertical columns of connecting hearts along the background strips, made from a medley of black and white fabrics, shown below.

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

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!

p.s. Please see our E-Bay shop for great bargains on patterns and vintage collectibles. For continuous free quilt patterns and blog updates, please visit us on Twitter.

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.