Best Wall Quilt: Kolob Canyon

The Pacific International Quilt Festival was held in October in Santa Clara, California. This year's show included over 400 quilts and other items on exhibit. We're featuring some of our favorite pieces from the show!

p.s. 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.

Kolob Canyon, 37.5 x 34.5", by Sandra L. Mollon (California)

Zion National Park is a great destination for an adventure, especially in the fall when the trees in the canyon accentuate the glorious colors.

Winner of Best Wall Quilt at the 2022 show,  Kolob Canyon was derived from a photo by Gale F. Slot, with her permission.  This remarkable landscape quilt was raw edge fused, machine quilted, and enhanced with some mixed media.

 

Image credits: Quilts photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2022 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

 

Welcome to the 2021 Pacific International Quilt Festival - part 1

 Welcome to the Pacific International Quilt Festival! Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we could not view all the quilts this year! Therefore, we are showing a small sample of the quilts in this large show. Here is Part 1 of our photos.

Fleur de Leapfrog, 45 x 78, by Lys Axelson, California

 Winner of an Honorable Mention award in the Innovative Quilts category, Lys explains, "Everything about frogs and toads makes me happy. Their color, funny little legs, big giant eyes, the way they hop, swim, and sing. Sadly, in recent time, their has existence has become threatened by loss of habitat, climate change, pollutants, exploitation, and disease. "

Lys continues, "Chytridiomycosis, an infectious fungal disease, attacks the skin of frogs, toads, and other amphibians, causing mass mortality events. Recent evidence shows some species beginning to recover; others continue to experience ongoing decline."  Lys' brilliantly colorful original design is hand appliqued and machine quilted.

High chroma beaded embellishments and closely spaced machine quilting give an energetic appearance to this work and make the frogs appear to be ready to hop right off the quilt !  From the comments of the other viewers at the show, Lys' quilt was a real crowd-pleaser.

Sphere, 76.5 x 76.5, by Beth Nufer, Oregon . Quilted by Clem Buzick.

First Place winner for Best Mid-Century Modern Quilt, Beth notes, "[This quilt was made with all dupioni silk. My goal was to create a 3-D and modern effect."

Precision design and cutting really show off the multiple dimensions of Beth's spectacular quilt. An excellent sense of perspective is required to create this contemporary geometric look. Beth's original design is machine pieced, hand-appliqued, and longarm machine quilted.

Rainy Day Ballet  by Geri Patterson-Kutras, California

Geri writes, "Rain in the big city creates a kind of sidewalk ballet. Dancers perform rapid leaping steps trying to avoid colliding with other dancers and splashing in  unforeseen puddles. The joyful choreographed steps of the tiny ballerina's production of Swan Lake reminds us to slow down and relish the lost childhood gifts of imagination on a rainy day."

Long diagonal lines of quilting, along with an umbrella blown inside out show the effect of the wind and rain on the walkers as they scurry along in the storm. Geri's very imaginative original design includes machine finished edge applique, hand sewn specialty tear shaped and crystal beads, and metallic ink.

Pink Breath of Heaven, 55 x 55, by Allison Alexis Lockwood, California

Allison states, "My quilt designs have been greatly influenced by my love of travel. I am passionate about the color and pattern that I have observed in our exotic corners of the world, such as India, Myanmar, and Bhutan. As Covid-19 has curtailed travel, I find that I have gained months of time to continue creating at home, and my memories continue to inspire me."

One of the charming and lovely embellishments of Allison's work is the tiny little glass mirrors in the center block and in the orange flowers of the inner and outer borders. This type of traditional embroidery is known as Shisha and can be found in India, as well as China, Afghanistan, and Indonesia.

In Perfect Harmony, 36 x 47, by Sandra L. Mollon , California

 First Place winner for Best Wall Quilt, Sandra comments on her original design,  "As a traditional hand applique quilter for more than two decades, it was a leap for me to try a different, realistic, raw edge style. That style, with lots of machine work and some mixed media has become my personal new norm, and it has been a lot of fun."

Sandra adds that her quilt was designed from a photo by Deb Simon, which was used with her permission.  This very intriguing, machine-quilted work has a texture which makes the bears, the water, and the rocks appear true-to-life.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2021 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

Highlights of the Road to California Quilt Show! part 3

Welcome to the Road to California Quilter's Conference and Showcase! The Road to California, as it is called, takes place in Ontario (Southern California), and features over 1,000 quilts by artists from all over the world. Around 40,000 people gather to see the show, take classes, and shop. Join us in admiring some of the stunning quilts from this year's show.

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, and collectible items !
For more free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.

The Elephant in the Room by Sandra Mollon, California

Third place winner in the category of Animal Quilts, Sandra remarks, " With its commanding gaze, the photo of a young bull elephant was one I wanted to work from. I wanted to add color, in the ears, and concentrating on value to convey the depth and texture."

Sandra's intriguing work is raw edge fused and  machine quilted, with some mixed media.We really admire Sandra's wonderful quilting work which accentuates the many features and textures of the elephant's face.

Spring Thing by Claudia Scheja, Germany

Third place winner in the Applique Wall Quilts category, Claudia notes, "Every year in early spring, I look forward to the first green leaves and flower buds. This quilt with a combination of traditional shapes and modern fabrics brings color and light and this feeling of the spring the whole year."

Claudia did all the sewing and applique by hand, then quilted her work on a longarm machine. We really like her elegant, flawless workmanship; and her award is well deserved.

Pensive Pause by Linda Anderson, California

Second place winner in the category of Human Image Quilts, Linda writes, "Traveling in India, our senses were alive with color, tastes, sounds and smells. Women were wrapped in stunning colors everywhere we looked, whether doing hard work or relaxing. This woman seemed to take a break in her efforts to sweep the area, quietly drawing into herself amidst the busy congestion all around her."

Linda's original design contains cotton fabrics, raw edge applique,  and all hand painted pieces,  It is machine stitched with bamboo batting. Linda has done a very expressive job of showing the contrasts of light and shadow in her fascinating work.

Gilded Star by Amy Allen, Hawaii

Amy explains, "This quilt was made by enlarging the templates from the [free] Star Gazer pattern, adding applique, a pieced border, and finishing if off with prairie points."

Amy continues, " I really enjoyed working with the mirrored fabrics through the quilt and tying it all together with original mirrored quilting designs." We really like the red ribbon inner border and the prairie points outer border which causes the quilt to "pop" against the neutral background.

Train to Nowhere by Cheryl See, Virginia

First place winner in the category of Applique Wall Quilts, Cheryl says, "My goal was to make a Hawaiian style quilt that was less traditional and innovative in design. The town center is surrounded by buildings and then a circular train track and train stations."

Cheryl adds, "As I progressed, the North, South, East, and West of the quilt became my personal NSEW and I included signs of every city I have lived in and every house number as well as my workplace. The four larger houses represent houses I have lived in." This is a wonderful design idea for a Hawaiian quilt, and we especially like the tiny embroidered flowers around the train stations, which add a charming touch to Cheryl's quilt.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2020 Road to California show.

Best of the Pacific International Quilt Festival 2019 (day 4)

Held annually in Santa Clara, California, the Pacific International Quilt Festival is the largest quilt show on the west coast of the U.S.A. It features a wonderful variety of beautiful quilts! Here are some of the highlights of the festival. Let us know which ones are your favorites!

P.S.  For quilt patterns, books, and vintage collectibles, please visit us on E-Bay quilt-inspiration !

Play With Me!, 90 x 90, by Inger Blood, California 

We are sure this dog will succeed in getting its owner to play... after all, who could resist that sweet face!  This original design quilt was created by Inger Blood from a photo, using commercial batiks for the motif and background piecing. In the lower border is a dog bone with the title of the quilt, Play With Me!  The quilting was done with a domestic sewing machine.

A Border of Flowers, 56.5 x 34", by Lois Evans, New Zealand

Lois Evans says, "This quilt is my personal response to the quote: "Art is like a border of flowers along the course of civilization." (Lincoln Steffens)  Like flowers, art comes in all shapes, sizes, and varieties, but hopefully all serve to make us stop, look and think... If only we would grow flowers and make art instead of creating borders."  This original design was machine appliqued and sewing machine quilted.

Transported, 56 x 55.5", by Ann Horton, California

Ann Horton says, "This quilt began immediately after wildfire swept across our property, leaving us without water, electricity, or neighbors.  We saved our home but it was a terrifying experience.  I reached for some  fabric in my smoke-filled house and began stitching by hand, knowing I would eventually use my machines to finish the piece. The colors, animals and exotic feel transported me from the blackened earth and shock to a world of color and joy." Transported was machine pieced, machine appliqued, and sewing machine quilted.

Baker Beach, 38.5 x 53.5", by Sandra Mollon, California

Featuring the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach was derived from a photo by John Slot.  Sandra Mollon says, "This quilt was my attempt to interpret the movement and reflections of water of this very iconic Northern California landmark and beach." The fabric was mostly hand dyed, raw edge fused and sewing machine quilted.

Crazy In Love, 40 x 40", by Diana Vandeyar, South Africa

Diana Vandeyar says, "This flamboyant quilt was inspired by Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" song and music video featuring Jay Z.  It uses a vibrant selection of African wax prints, gold lame fabric and an improved minimalist wedding-ring pattern (a technique I developed and which I thought fitting for the theme of the quilt.)  It is machine quilted with orange thread in a freeform grid, and hand stitched with electric blue Perle cotton for texture and color juxtaposition."

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2019 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

Welcome to the 2017 Pacific International Quilt Festival: Day 3

Welcome to PIQF! This annual quilt show takes place each October in Santa Clara, California. Here are some of the highlights of this show including more top award winners (and some that should have won). We'd love to hear which ones are your favorites!

Note: For great deals on quilt books, fabric and other treasures, please visit our eBay store!

Fractal, 85 x 92”, by Claudia Pfeil (Germany)

Fractal won a blue ribbon as the Bernina First Runner Up. Claudia Pfeil says, "The term “fractal” was first used by mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot in 1975, based on the Latin “fractus” which means “broken.”

The pieced background was overlayed by painted circles (acrylic paint and alcohol based ink).  It was machine appliqued, organza and silk elements. The layers are enhanced by the choices of quilting designs. Finally, the quilt was embellished with 30,000 Swarovski Crystals.

Ammonite Confusion, 54 x 80”, by Kimberly Lacy (Colorado)

Winner of a blue ribbon for Best Use of Color – Innovative, this quilt was made by painting many ammonites on silk dupioni. They were then sliced horizontally and reassembled with different colors like a puzzle, then fused to the background. They were then sliced again vertically and assembled in their final positions. Kimberly Lacy says, "Because this piece is heavily fused applique, it named itself Ammonite Confusion."

Liz, from a Selfie, 24 x 24”, by Sandra L. Mollon (California)

Winner of an Award of Merit from the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (NACQJ),  Sandra Mollon says, “My daughter Liz has taken many “selfie” shots. I borrowed this one from her social media site, posterized it, and made a quilt. Best viewed at a distance, this quilt looks just like her.

Liz is made from fused batik and hand-dyed fabric.  Up close, you can see the bits of fabric that are hand cut.

Dancing at the Pow Wow, 63 x 40”, by Marty Boles (California)

This original design quilt was machine appliqued and sewing machine quilted. It was based on a photo taken at the Great Mohican Pow-Wow in Loudenville, Ohio, 2013. Marty Boles says, "The dancer celebrates his culture with his interpretive steps. The quilter celebrates the spirit of our Native Americans."

Nobuko: Believe, 43 x 43”, by Edwina Ow (California)

This quilt's theme was based on the fabric design called Kimmidoll Nobuko (Believe).  It includes Dresden plates, flying geese, origami flowers, and Swarovski beads. It was machine pieced, machine appliqued and sewing machine quilted.

Moon Dancer | Super Moon Migration, 56 x 54”, by Joanne Howe (Wisconsin)

Joanna Howe says this quilt began in 2016 at a time of immigration, migrations, and the Super Moon. The blue circle represents the Super Moon, and multi-national women immigrating with their flocks are represented by the multi-colored lame. The flying geese go from ½” wide at the top to 1” wide at the bottom. The quilting includes flying geese motifs and thread painted accents.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Quilting in the Garden Quilt Show

Organized by renowned quilter and television personality Alex Anderson,  "Quilting in the Garden" is a yearly show that features nationally known quilters as well as local quilt guild members in Northern California. Join us on a sunny autumn Saturday as we visit the outdoor quilt show on September 24, 2011 at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore, California.

In this inspiring setting,  the quilts wave happily in the breeze, suspended high above the ground from clotheslines hung between giant oak trees.

Dresden Plates, by Mary Walcher, Amador Valley Quilters

Mary Walcher brings a fun, fresh, approach to traditional Dresden Plate blocks. She has done an excellent job by designing a sampler quilt where the plates are arranged in a contemporary, original setting, like a bouquet of giant, colorful flowers.

Australian Wedding, by Lou Ann Smith at Lou Ann Smith Art

We loved this contemporary take on traditional log-cabin blocks, done in lavenders, grapes, golds, and cocoa browns.  Lou Ann Smith started out with solids, then added Kiwi prints and Aboriginal-inspired patterns to form the centers. An accomplished print-maker and ceramicist, Lou Ann shows a fabulous sense of color and composition. We really regret that the plants and shrubs in the way prevented us from moving in for a close-up of these blocks.

Faded Glory, by Verna Mosquera at The Vintage Spool

Here's an applique tribute to an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration, featuring bunting, balloons, skyrockets, flags, and an antique wagon and tricycle.  The lively, realistic figures provide an energetic contrast to the subdued, ice cream sherbet-colored pastels in this very eye-catching quilt. The beautiful detail can be seen in the close-up photo, below.

By concentrating the quilting on the background fabric and leaving the applique figures relatively untouched, Verna's creative applique figures really pop off the quilt. The "Faded Glory" pattern is available at The Vintage Spool.

Roseville by Sandra Mollon at Sandra Mollon Quilts

A prolific designer and teacher, Sandra Mollon became fascinated with Baltimore style appliqued quilts about twenty years ago, and has been winning awards for her fabulous hand applique work ever since.  What makes this quilt so entertaining is the diverse array of containers and flowers represented in the Roseville design by Maggie Walker.  This stunning heirloom hung in the trees about fifteen feet above our heads, waving back and forth in a strong breeze,  otherwise we would we have gladly provided some close-up shots for you !

Rose Cottage, by Verna Mosquera at The Vintage Spool

One of the Featured Guest Artists at Quilting in the Garden, Verna Mosquera has created an adorable cotton-candy cottage surrounded by a fanciful garden of flowers and trees. Notice how Verna ties together these charming elements by using the border fabric for the roof of this little fairy-tale home.

IBS Sampler, by Paulette Williams

We love basket sampler quilts, especially when they are updated in a modern medallion setting like the ones shown here.  This clean geometric lines of the baskets and inner borders are complemented by the high contrast ribbon border of navy and yellow.

IBS Sampler by Paulette Williams

A staff member at Livermore's local quilt shop, In Between Stitches, Paulette shows a keen eye for arrangement and composition of traditional Amish blocks done in Bali batiks.  Paulette has provided lots of neutral background space to the medium value Balis, so that each block pattern can be appreciated.  With its intricate patchwork and cool colors,  this quilt is both serene and intriguing.

A beautiful braided border of periwinkles, aquas, deep greens, and lavenders provide great visual interest and the perfect complementary balance to the neutral background of the body of this lovely quilt.

Scuba Time, by Rob Appell

A Featured Artist at this year's show, Rob Appell very kindly took some time to talk to us about his brilliantly colored quilt,  Scuba Time.  Michael Miller Fabrics commissioned Rob to create a landscape quilt with an undersea theme and designed fabrics specifically for this quilt. Based in Morro Bay, California,  Rob has incorporated his love for the ocean into many of his quilt designs; and his work has quickly become nationally and internationally known.  For further information about Rob's fascinating work, please see Quilt Inspiration's interview with Rob Appell here.