Best of Utah quilts: The 2018 Springville show !

We had lots of fun seeing the pretty quilts at the 45th annual Utah Quilt Show in Springville, Utah. It's a juried show, featuring quilts of all styles and sizes. We hope you enjoy the "eye candy" below !

Note: For great deals on quilt patterns, fabric, and vintage jewelry, visit us on E-Bay - We're Top Rated Sellers ! And for continuous listings of free quilt patterns, please check us out on Twitter.

Vision Quest by Connie Healy, quilted by Wren Wookland

Connie says, "I am legally blind and mostly pieced by feel. I saw a wall hanging and thought it would make a beautiful bed quilt, so I just kept going. Someone else will have to tell me where any problems are, because I can't see them."
Our response would be that this is a daunting project even for quilters with perfect eyesight; so Connie's work, which she accomplished despite  her vision challenges, is exemplary. Congratulations to her for this wonderful accomplishment !

The quilt is based on the Convex Illusions quilt pattern by Kathleen Andrews.

Close-up, Vision Quest

In this close-up, you can see the interesting contrasts provided by the ombre green fabric of the inner borders and the textures provided by Wren Wookland's excellent quilting work.

The Circle Game by Patti Jacobs, quilted by Mindy Powell

Winner of an Award of Excellence, Patti writes, "I had this pattern on my shelf for a year or two and was afraid of the circle, y-seams, and many, many templates. Sewing another quilt from [designer] Jen Kingwell,  I was able to successfully make template blocks, which gave me the courage to begin this project. I loved the bright colors. It makes me happy to look at it !"
This blue ribbon-winning quilt is based on The Circle Game pattern by Jen Kingwell.

These happy, vibrant colors really pop out against the fun black and white background of the blocks. We admire Patti's ability in completing this intricate patchwork and applique.

Flying Home by the Quilt-In-Time group. Quilted by Marie Wiggington

This quilt has been cut, pieced, and stitched together by the Quilt-In-Time quilters, a very small group formed in 1998 in Monticello, Utah.
Flying Home is based on a pattern in the 1997 book, More Quick Rotary Cutter Quilts by Pam Bono. (Also see the post at Hidden Treasure Crafts.)

Close-up, Flying Home

The theme of flying geese is emphasized not only by the attractive patchwork blocks which represent actual geese, but also by the triangle motifs known by quilters as flying geese blocks, done here in autumn colors of caramel, gold, and cinnamon. There are hundreds of flying geese blocks in this quilt!

Tribute to Pele by Margo Faccini

Margo notes, "The floral fabric was purchased while on a trip to Portland, Oregon. It took a few years before I added the red and yellow fabrics and designed the background. The flowers are all hand appliqued. Pele is the goddess of Kilauea volcano, which was erupting during the making of this quilt."

Close-up, Tribute to Pele

Here's an excellent example of Broderie perse stitching, in which an entire printed motif is cut out and appliqued as a single pattern onto a background. These brilliant colors are a perfect reminder of the lush tropical foliage of the Hawaiian Islands.

Lap Quilt (Winding Ways) by Marjory Woffinden

Mary states,  "Always enjoying new quilt styles and challenges, I read about this beautiful, colorful quilt and tried it. I'm 97 years old and loved all the hand work of putting together the blocks and applique flowers."

Close-up, Lap Quilt

This patchwork design is the traditional "Winding Ways" pattern. We really admire Marjory's beautiful hand quilting work.  She has done an excellent job in creating this lovely project !

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Quilted in Honor

Today is Veterans Day, a U.S. holiday that honors all military veterans. In Commonwealth countries, today is Remembrance Day.  We thought that readers in many countries might like these Quilted in Honor poppy quilts. Inspired by the World War I poem, In Flanders Fields, the red remembrance poppy has become one of the world's most recognized memorial symbols of soldiers who have died in conflict. 

Remember, 48 x 42", by Mary Hoover and Barbara Persing, pattern at C&T Publishing

The Remember Quilt pattern was created by designers Mary Hoover and Barbara Persing at 4th & 6th Designs.  This quilt also features the beautiful blue Island Batik Quilted in Honor fabrics.  All proceeds from the sale of the pattern benefit Quilted In Honor, a fund raising initiative for Operation Homefront.

close up, Remember by Mary Hoover and Barbara Persing

Mary Hoover and Barbara Persing are sisters and quilters best known for their designs made with strip-pieced backgrounds, as in this beautiful "Remember" quilt.  They also are authors of the highly rated book, StrataVarious Quilts  ("stratas" are made by piecing together strips, which are cut into squares or triangles to create quilts).  

Quilt of Remembrance, 77" square,  pattern by Pam Bono Designs, quilted by Mary Nordeng

Pam Bono has been designing quilt patterns for more than 30 years.  Her original Remembrance Poppy quilt pattern was officially recognized as Canada's Quilt Of Remembrance Day.  The batik "Quilt of Remembrance" shown above was designed by Pam and Robert specifically for the Quilted In Honor initiative.

close up, Quilt of Remembrance by Pam Bono Designs, quilted by Mary Nordeng

In this close up photo you can see the gorgeous feather quilting by Mary Nordeng, which adds extra dimension to the colorful poppies and the white areas of the quilt.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival.

Inspired by red and green - two

Red and green are the colors of Christmas, and of flowers.  The quilts we're showing today have both a floral and a Christmas theme !  They include holly, poinsettia, cactus flowers, and pomegranates to celebrate the season.

Holly Day Wreath, by Pam Bono, at Pam Bono Designs

The ancient Celts believed that holly, with its glossy, prickly leaves of green adorned with red berries, remained green all year due to its magical properties. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, is symbolic of eternal life. Combining the symbolism of the wreath with the believed magical powers of holly, the Romans exchanged holly wreaths as gifts. Once Christianity took hold in Rome, holly wreaths became Christmas wreaths as part of holiday decorations.

The festive Holly Day Wreath quilt by Pam Bono makes a perfect table topper for Christmas, and it reminds us of a real holly wreath (but the quilt is so much softer to the touch). When you visit Pam Bono Designs, also take a look at the radiant red-and-green Remembrance Poppy Quilt, which has been officially recognized as Canada's Quilt Of Remembrance Day . 

Christmas Memories, by Connie Sue Haidle, at Apple Blossom Quilts

Poinsettia is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Mexico and Central America.  The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.

We love the vibrant poinsettias and cactus flowers in the Christmas Memories pattern by Connie Sue Haidle.  We've also been following the handwork of a master quilter (and blogger),  Karen, who has just completed her magnificent Christmas Memories quilt.  You can see some gorgeous photos of the finished quilt in the October post at Karen's Quilting.

Cactus Wreath, by Georgette Dell'Orco, at Cozy Quilt Designs

The Christmas cactus is a common sight in many holiday homes in North America and Europe.  However, its history and origins are of more exotic and warmer climes.  The tropical cactus grows between 1000 and 1700 meters above sea level in the mountains north of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It has flat green stems called cladodes, which resemble leaves, and traditionally the cactus has deep red flowers.

The Cactus Wreath Quilt Pattern by Georgette Dell'Orco combines log cabin and half-square triangle "blossoms", and is shown in the bright reds and greens of Christmas. The quilt is made with 2.5" strips, and is one of the great Strip Club Patterns at Cozy Quilt Designs. 

Pomegranate and Posies, by Cheryl Almgren Taylor, in Deck the Halls: Quilts to Celebrate Christmas, at A Time To Sew Quilt Designs

In Greek mythology the pomegranate was a magical fruit, and in many cultures the pomegranate is cherished as a symbol of joyous times and good fortune. In Greek tradition, when one buys a new home, it is conventional for a house guest to bring as a first gift a pomegranate, which is placed under/near the ikonostasi (home altar) of the house, as a symbol of abundance, fertility and good luck.

"Pomegranates and Posies" by Cheryl Almgren Taylor, which is shown above,  features rich red tones and greenery on a cream and gold background, giving the quilt an opulent feeling. The quilt is one of the projects in the wonderful book,  Deck the Halls: Quilts to Celebrate Christmas.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of the artists.