HIghlights of Quilt Arizona! (1)

The annual Quilt Arizona show is a highlight of spring!  Here are some highlights of this year's show (part one of 4)!

p.s. Please visit our E-Bay shop for great bargains on jewelry, clothing, and collectibles! For blog highlights and free patterns, follow us on Twitter!     

Zerschmettert (1), made and quilted by Victoria Nelson  

Winner of the Exemplary Hand Quilting award, and 1st Place in the Art - Abstract category, Victoria Nelson says: "I started Zerschmettert (Shattered) in a workshop with Maria Shell. "Working from my own photo, I created a simplified composition, drafted shapes for the major areas and improvisationally pieced each area of the quilt.  Largely hand quilted after machine stitching to stabilize the main sections."

 

Pedal Power and Petal Pushers, made and quilted by Patricia Charity 

Winner of Best of Show - Solo and 1st Place in the Pictorial-Medium category, this art quilt was inspired by Patricia Charity's photo of a quiet street in Syracuse, Sicily. This quilt captures the charm of everyday life - the ever-present Italian bicycle leaning against a stone wall, backpacks, and sunlit textures. She layered fabrics to evoke the time-worn beauty and warmth of Mediterranean light and color.

 

 

Color Wheel Cha Cha by Kathi Shunn, quilted by B'nae Pulve.  

 

 

This stunning English paper pieced quilt is based on the Dresden Dance Party pattern by Sami Casanova for Darty Kite Pattern Co. Kathi Shunn says, "While creating a version of my company's Dresden Dance Party pattern, I was inspired to explore the color wheel. I love playing with color, fussy cutting, and whimsical motifs, using saturated hues and circular movement to celebrate color theory through rhythm, repetition, and joy." Winner of a 3rd Place ribbon in its category (Pieced - Duet - Medium). 

 

 

Tucker, made and quilted by Leilani Purvis   

 

Such a clever quilt! Winner of 1st Place in the Pictorial - Small category, and Award of Merit from the NACQJ,  Leilani Purvis based this original quilt on a photo of her grandpuppy, Tucker. "He has brightened our family for eight years. The gear-patterned background honors our maintain-biking daughter.  This quilt is a tribute to his love, energy, and companionship."  Leafy fabric was used to represent Tucker's furry ears.

 

 

Here's the original photo that inspired this wonderful quilt:

 

  

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2026 Quilt Arizona show.

 

 

Circle of Comfort

Therapy dogs provide strength and joy to many people in need, including children undergoing difficult cancer-related treatments. Here is an award-winning quilt that honors their service.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on jewelry, clothing, and collectibles! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter!    

Circle of Comfort "Bringing Joy to Kids with Cancer" made and quilted by Kelly Godbout 

Winner of a blue ribbon for 1st Place in the Art-Realistic category, Kelly Godbout made this original quilt from her photo. The quilt features some of the original therapy dogs from Shine On! Kids, a nonprofit in Tokyo that she has proudly supported for more than 20 years. 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2026 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

Our Canine Companions

Our canine companions bring us joy, energy, and unconditional love. It's no wonder so many talented quilters have chosen to honor their companions with a quilt. Here are four quilted tributes from the U.S., Canada and Brazil, using a variety of styles and techniques.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on jewelry, clothing, and collectibles! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !     

Boundless Spirit by Alessandra Volker (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).  

Boundless Spirit was hand painted and finished with machine quilting and thread painting.  It was based on a photo by Annette Shaff, which Alessandra Volker bought at Shutterstock. This artwork captures the zest for life emboided by a dog in its most exuberant state. Its expressive face, wide eyes, and playful tongue convey pure joy and boundless energy.  The vibrant colors radiating behind it mirror the dog's dynamic spirit. 

Tinker Bell by Karmen Brister (Texas)

Karmen Brister says that she started with a photo of her son's bulldog, Tinker Bell, while she was snoozing.  "I knew I had to paint this picture and bring it to life. As ink flowed, painting her sleepy folds was irresistible; then, thread painting detailed each crease meticulously, mimicking her skin's texture."  The red and white rug is a wonderful backdrop for Tinker Bell!

Hercules by Margery Hedges (Texas) 

 Margery Hedges says, "Hercules is one of the many granddogs we've had over the years.  We were lucky to have him stay with us for about 6 months when he was about a year old.  This image is a perfect example of how fun and enjoyable he was.  He will always be remembered as one of our favorites." Hercules was created with hand painting, machine applique and quilting. 

Blue by Amber Mitchener (Saint John, NB, Canada)  

Amber Mitchener honors Blue, a calm and sweet dog with a distinctive white mark in one eye. The background has various blue blocks, symbolizing his serene and loyal nature. "His friendly personality and love for food are subtly reflected in the design, capturing the warmth and joy Blue brings to all who know him... This artistic piece is a beautiful tribute to his gentle spirit and unwavering companionship."

Image credits: Photos of Boundless Spirit, Hercules, Tinker Bell, and Blue were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Houston International Quilt Festival.

Prefurred! The Paper-Pieced Designs of Lisa Fryxell

Pets are family, and we love seeing quilts that honor them.  We also love the paper-pieced designs of Lisa Fryxell at PreFurred Quilts!  Her Etsy pattern shop includes pet portraits, Southwest designs, and more!  

The Doxie Race - Who Let the Dogs Out? by Lisa Fryxell 

 

 

What's more fun than a bunch of racing dachshunds?  Lisa Fryxell says she made this foundation paper pieced quilt just for the fun of it. Check out the humorous "sponsor ads" on the fence, featuring the Chow Hound Grill, Hund & Katz Veterinary Clinic, and Fetch's Sporting Goods.  Check out this cute doxie with his big ears:

Note: The pattern for The Dachshund Race is available at Lisa's Prefurred Quilt Shop on Etsy. 

Howdy Pawtner, made and quilted by Lynn Rubel, design by Lisa Fryxell  

How cute is this smiling Corgi?  Lynn Rubel says, "This banner is my corgi, Phryne, with her cowboy hat on ready for some boot scootin'."  We love the use of recycled denim, made from jeans Lynn collected from family members. Lynn says that the faded bandana is "from many miles on a horse in the Arizona sun."  There are lots of fun details in this quilt, including Phryne's button eyes and a silver concho on the cowboy hat.

 We didn't realize how many of Lisa Fryxell's designs we've photographed at the Tucson Quilters Guild shows!  Here are more quilts from posts at Quilt Inspiration:

Attention! by Lisa Fryxell (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST)

 

Painted Ponies by Lisa Fryxell (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST) 

 

Four Little Cowpokes by Lisa Fryxell (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST)

 

Rocky Mountain Trout by Lisa Fryxell  (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST)

 

  Phread on the Run (Running Afghan) by Lisa Fryxell (CLICK HERE FOR OUR ORIGINAL POST)

 

 

 Image credits: Photos of The Doxie Race by Lisa Fryxell and Howdy Pawtner by Lynn Rubel were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

 

Welcome to the Quilt Fiesta! (3)

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 3.

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

Retro Living, made and quilted by Tami Graeber

This fantastic, large art quilt was one of the top award winners at the show.  The original design was awarded 1st Place - Viewers Choice, Judge's Choice, and 1st Place - Art Whimsy.  Tami Graeber says, "I grew up in the 50's - sat in front of a TV like this.  The good old days! [It was] fun creating the mid-century modern iconic images." Check out the retro wallpaper, a pole lamp (on the right), stylized cats, a French poodle, and even a martini glass on the arm of the sofa. 

The black poodle has a daisy collar and a real bow in her hair. She sits next to a modern potted plant.

Tami says, "I wanted to use "I Love Lucy" on the TV, but copyrights made me use the NBC peacock that was first used in color in 1957."

Summer's Night and Day by Caroline Ellermann, quilted by Glenda Davis

Multiple borders surround this fabulous medallion quilt with its lollipop flowers, houses, Dresden plates, hearts, and more beautiful elements. Caroline Ellermann says, "After seeing this Sarah Fielke pattern made by one of our accomplished guide quilters, I decided to make it. With all of the machine applique, it was a very big challenge.  However, I now have new skills." Pattern source: Sarah Fielke with adaption.

The Blue Door, made and quilted by Lisa Fryxell

Lisa Fryxell is known for her original paper pieced quilt designs.  She says, "This quilt is based on a photo I took in France in June 2024.  It is foundation paper pieced and quilted on my domestic machine."

Psychedelic Carpenter Square, made and quilted by Penny Boese 

A stunning color combination with its an ombre effects truly light up this modern quilt.  It is made with numerous brightly colored batiks. Penny Boese says that her design was inspired by a traditional pattern and Carpenter Square pattern.  The detailed machine quilting adds considerable interest to the design.

 Firewall by Carol W. Carpenter, quilted by Kris Neifeld  

A wonderful stained glass effect is achieved with this design, thanks to the vertical black borders and bright geometric fabrics. The pattern Source is Free Spirit Fabrics' "Play Quilt" by Adrienne Leban (this is a free download).  Carol Carpenter says, "I'm unsure why these wild, swirly fabrics from Adrienne Leban captivated me, but they certainly did. I had a great time under the tutelage of Susie Weaver, making sense of diverse directions, shapes and colors with a cohesive, beautiful result."

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 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.