Sew Whimsical! The Quilts of David Charity

We first were introduced to the quilts of David Charity at the 2025 Quilt Arizona show.  David and Patricia Charity are husband-and-wife fiber artists working in Prescott, Arizona.  While sharing a studio, they have developed unique styles and outstanding bodies of work. Here are two of David's cartoon quilts, winners of top awards in the Theme category: Sew Whimsical.

Surf or Turf, made and quilted by David Charity 

David’s cartoon fiber art masterfully twists idioms and common phrases to create playful, thought-provoking pieces that delight the eye and mind. Winner of a blue ribbon in the Sew Whimsical (Theme) category at the show, Surf or Turf is a fun spin on whether you like meat or fish. Which will the monster fish pick?  The three fish who are terrified at the prospect of being lunch?  Or will it be the sea horse that appears oblivious to what is about to happen? (Note the sea "horse" which clearly belongs more on land than under the sea!)

David Charity always wanted to be a cartoonist, and decided to express his love of the art form through quilting. As shown with Surf and Turf and with Parrots of the Caribbean, below, his cartoon fiber art masterfully twists idioms and common phrases to create playful, thought-provoking pieces that delight the eye and mind. 

Parrots of the Caribbean, made and quilted by David Charity  

Winner of Second Place in the theme category, here is a really fun take on the beloved Disneyland ride called Pirates of the Caribbean with its memorable song: "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me." Who didn't love that ride and song? 

So many cute details can be seen here, including the smiling crab in the lower left of the piece, and the peg-leg parrot enjoying a bottle of rum. David says: "Growing up in Southern California we were able to visit the park often.  I took the ride idea and put my cartoon twist on the theme song.  What would a bunch of shipwrecked parrots do on a deserted island?" With his hook for a hand, eye patch, jaunty hat and sword, this Parrot of the Caribbean is ready to take on any and all challenges!  

 

Please visit David and Patricia Charity's website, From Edge 2 Edge, to see portfolios of their work and read about their backgrounds, awards, and upcoming events!

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

Feeling Happy (or Crabby?) Make a Quilt!

Quilting is not only an art form, but a way to express friendship, humor, and joy.  We especially love whimsical quilts!  These make us smile. We hope you enjoy these favorites from a 2025 show.

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Beads and Buttons and Quilting, Oh My! by Karen Fisher  

Check out the variety of colorful buttons, along with Karen Fisher's masterful machine applique! This original art quilt was made for the 2022 Cherrywood Fabric "Graffiti" challenge.  Karen says, "The words readily describe the majority of my quilts, and I used both my Tucks and Skinny Piecing methods to further highlight the words.  [This quilt is] a little nod to the "Wizard of Oz" (Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!) 

Last Mingo in Paradise by Katherine Verbeke  

This flamingo is incredibly stylish! The paper pieced pattern, designed by Lisa Fryxell for Katherine Verbeke, is an ode to Jimmy Buffet. Katherine Verbeke says: "The flamingo, palm tree and beach are calling... go grab a margarita!" The quilt is filled with embellishments, including beads, charms, and a Landshark beer bottle cap (can you spot it in the above photo?) 

Using Cherrywood Fabrics, beads, and other embellishments, this piece represents the carefree Caribbean lifestyle emulated by Mr. Buffett's lyrics and music. Sparkly beads and a tropical print "shirt" add to the festive atmosphere.

Feeling Crabby by Monique Baczewski, quilted by Linda Schwartz.  

Such cute crabs, in a variety of cool hues! Monique Baczewski says that this quilt pattern (Feeling Crabby by Wendy Sheppard) called to her from the rack at Cactus Quilt Shop.  "I raided my grunge stash from my sewing closet for the crabs.  [There were] lots of little pieces. I really enjoyed making this quilt!"

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Quilt Fiesta in Tucson, Arizona.

 

Ghastlie Quilt

It's a wonderful 'ghastlie' quilt! This an original design featuring the Ghastlies fabric line by Alexander Henry. Multicolored wonky stars add to the charm of this cheerful quilt.

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The Ghastlie Quilt Police by Maggie Nichols, quilted by Jessica Jones

Maggie Nichols says, "The Ghastlies have always made me laugh! These ladies remind me of the "Quilt Police" we sometimes hear about. It inspires me to 'Just Do You'! It'll reside in my quilt room, making me laugh every day." The professional quilting was done by Jessica Jones.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2022 Quilt Arizona show.

Just for fun : Humorous quilts

Did you know that humor boosts health in six different ways ? Humor reduces stress and can help us to put situations (including the daily news!) into perspective. Laughter can even help lower the risk of heart disease.*  We hope these whimsical quilts will make you smile. :-)

Upcycle Cat by Ann Horton

Ann notes,  " [I was] inspired to use recycled shirts, buttons, trims, and pieces from my stash. This fun cat shows how an art quilter's mind works ! His belly is made from a blouse belonging to my 93 year old mother."  The cat is even carrying a book titled "Art Quilts" (see closeup below!)

Upcycle Cat won the Most Humorous Quilt award at the 2018 Road to California show.

In the sewing world, "upcycle" means to take previously used materials or fabrics and re-use them in a new project. By showing this cute kitty pedaling a bicycle, Ann makes a humorous pun by relating "upcycle" to "bicycle".  Ann's original design is very well done and most deserving of the "Most Humorous Quilt" award.

Wonky Houses by Martha Baltram

Third place winner for Best Scrap Quilt at the 2018 Quilt Arizona Show, Martha states, "This original house design was inspired by hairdos, curls, and colors. Buds and flowers were created to give it life and humor. "

Close-up, Wonky Houses

It's really  fun to stand and observe Martha's quilt for awhile, as there are all sorts of zany, very imaginative details !   Here's an owl perched in the air between the house that looks as if it's wearing a wig for a roof, and the house with valentine heart windows.

Sewing Bee by Diane Robinson, quilted by Irene Talmadge

Diane explains, "This was a block-of-the-month from an online vendor. I used the laser-cut bee [appliques] that were supplied, and I used my own fabrics for the blocks."
This adorable quilt is based on the Sew Busy Bee block-of-the-month quilt at Stitches of Love.

The center block shows a queen bee with heart-topped antennas sprouting from her crown. The expressions on the bee's faces really made us smile !

Wrinkly-Irony by Connie Griner

Connie writes about her original design, " [This quilt was] Inspired by an internet posting that defined the word 'irony' as the opposite of 'wrinkly.' My hope is to bring a smile to the viewer !"  We like the way that she very creatively divided the quilt into two distinct parts to emphasize the difference between the "wrinkly" side and the "irony" side.

Detail, Wrinkly-Irony

Connie's techniques include machine piecing, hand and machine applique, fusing, hand embroidery, improvisational piecing, fabric texturizing, and piping.

Octopus by Gay Young

Gay says, "A red octopus seemed like a fun idea ! She floats peacefully in her garden."

For her original design, Gay used hand-dyed cottons and silk broadcloth. Her techniques include machine applique, fused applique, hand-dyeing, painting, and Thermofax printing. This cheery octopus looks as if she is dancing along with the starfish in an under-the-sea party ! 

Pickles All in a Row by Nancy Walter

Nancy remarks, "Several members of the Betweens Chapter ( of the Arizona Quilters' Guild) decided to do a row challenge ! We each provided basic fabric, made a row, and pass it on with the group."
These Pickles quilting and sewing cartoons on fabric are guaranteed to bring a smile!

These cartoons are hilarious -- and very relatable to any quilter who's ever shared a space with a non-quilting but supportive friend or relative.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2018 Road to California (Upcycle cat), the 2018 Quilt Arizona show (Pickles in a Row, Sewing Bee) and the 2017 Houston International Quilt Festival.

*Hayashi et al. 2016. Laughter is the Best Medicine? A Cross-Sectional Study of Cardiovascular Disease Among Older Japanese Adults. See: J. Epidemiology 2016.
* Yim J. 2016. Therapeutic Benefits of Laughter in Mental Health: A Theoretical Review. Tohoku J Exp Med.

A Tribute to Women in Fabric

International Women's Day (March 8) first started about 1910 in northern Europe and the U.S.A. as a tribute to women in the labor force. In 1977, the United Nations adopted a resolution commemorating a day to celebrate women's rights and international peace. To our quilting sisters and to all women around the world, we say thank you for all the hard work that you do and thank you for  all the ways which you make such a meaningful contribution.

Blossoms, A Tribute to Women in Fabric by Peggy Fetterhoff, Texas, U.S.A.

Peggy writes, "Traditions in America's melting pot are about change. As each ethnic group is integrated, women blossom with the knowledge that they can be anything they want to be. Cultures are merged, creating new traditions."  Peggy's quilt is made with a large collection of fussy-cut fabric images of women created by textile manufacturers.

Below, are close-ups from Peggy's quilt  that feature many different facets and faces of women through the years. Although some of these images are whimsical, we think they exemplify the many different roles that women have taken around the globe throughout history.

Close up photos, Blossoms, A Tribute to Women in Fabric by Peggy Fetterhoff

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

Best of Halloween 2013: Part 4

We love Amy Bradley's whimsical quilt designs, so we were excited to see this beautiful rendition of Happy Halloween at a recent quilt show.

Halloween Quilt by Maryann Maiorana

Maryann Maiorana said that this quilt was made for her daughter-in-law and son's annual Halloween party... “My daughter-in-law and son have an annual Halloween party with fabulous decorations, costumes and fun. When [she] saw this pattern she asked if I would make it. It was terrific fun choosing the fabrics and assembling the monsters. Now they and their guests can enjoy it.”

close up, Halloween, made and quilted by Maryann Maiorana

The close up photo above shows the clever way in which Maryann Maiorana echoed and enhanced the letters with her quilting

close up, Halloween, made and quilted by Maryann Maiorana

 
Each one of these monsters has a quirky personality.  Just look at the smile on the mummy's face... even the grim reaper is not-so-grim after all!

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.The pattern for Happy Halloween can be found at Amy Bradley Designs.

The Best of Humorous Quilts

~The May giveaway starts tomorrow... Monday!~
Here's a wrapup of the humorous quilts we've shown over the last week.  Enjoy!

Row 1, L-R:  Woof meets Warhol, by Kelly Gallagher-Abbott, at Jukebox Quilts; Mad as a March Hare: I Put My 'Hare' Up to Show Off My 5 'Carrot' Necklace, by Laurie Ceesay, at Artsy Chick Quilts; Quilt in the Headlights, by Boo Davis, at Quiltsrÿche.
Row 2:  Three women at the Hilton, by Pamela Allen, at Pamelart; Sunbonnet Sue sends text messages on her cell phone, by Bonnie MacGregor, for the Alliance for American Quilts; Don't Piss Off the Fairies, by Ruth Powers, at Ruth Powers Art Quilts.
Row 3: Mermaids like Margaritas with Salt, by Ellen Edith, at Ellen Edith;  March Madness, by Christine Porter and Darra Williamson, from A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue by Martingale & Company; Sunbonnet Sue meets her modern counterpart, by Dorothy Day, at the Alliance for American Quilts.
Row 4: Sue kicks the snowman, at Bad Sue Quilts; Chain Gang, by Rosalie Gray, at Quilts Kingston.
Row 5:  Traffic Jam, and Paris- Wish you were Hair, by Pam RuBert, at pamrubert.com.

Funny Sunbonnet Sue !

~ The May Giveaway starts Monday, including Hoffman fabrics ! ~

It's our ultimate Humorous Quilts post and we think you'll love these Sunbonnet Sues. Of course, Sue dates from the 1800's, and she is a highly respected icon in the traditional quilting world. But some creative quilters have given thought to what Sue might be doing if she were here today....

Sunbonnet Sue meets her modern counterpart, 16 x 16, by Dorothy Day, for the Alliance for American Quilts

Dorothy Day says: "I can just see stocky Sunbonnet Sue when she sees a super thin model in this day and age". Dorothy used calicos for Sue’s clothing, and batik for the modern girl and the background. The quilt was made for a "New from Old" contest (see Quilt Index Record 1-6-FC).

Sunbonnet Sue sends text messages on her cell phone, 16 x 16, by Bonnie MacGregor, for the Alliance for American Quilts

We love the combination of traditional redwork and the modern theme. Hand embroidered redwork, fabric pen, machine pieced and machine quilted. (see Quilt Index Record 1-6-14C).

A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue, by Christine Porter and Darra Williamson, published by That Patchwork Place/Martingale Publishing

Sunbonnet Sue can schuss!  This quilt was made as a sample for the 2011 book,  A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue: 12 small quilts.  At Amazon you can see a preview of each quilt-of-the-month. Our favorites are March Madness (Sunbonnet Sue shoots hoops) and July (Sunbonnet Sue at the barbecue!)

Sue kicks the Snowman, by Natalie S. from South Dakota, at Bad Sue Quilts*

Once in a while, Sue does something bad.  In fact, there is an entire website devoted to Sue's bad behavior, based on contests held from 1997-2005.  Let's just say that kicking the snowman is the least of Sue's infractions.  You can also see Sue drags her quilt through the mud; Sue colors on walls; Sue shaves her cat; and many, many more. Of course we know that Sue is not a bad person; she just makes bad choices. :-)

Chain Gang, by Rosalie Gray, at Quilts Kingston 2008

Does this remind you of the opening scene in O Brother, Where Art Thou?  We're always afraid that this will happen at the quilt show. Not that we would touch any quilts, oh no, not us.   "Chain Gang" won a blue ribbon for most humorous quilt at the Quilts Kingston show.

Also, don't miss the hilarious articles by Barbara Brackman: Sunbonnet Sue's Dark Side and Sunbonnet Sue Wrecks.

Sunbonnet Sue variations

These books have some really cute Sues. L-R: A Year in the Life of Sunbonnet Sue, by Christine Porter and Darra Williamson (mentioned above); International Sunbonnet Sue, by Debra Kimball; Sunbonnet Sue and Scottie at Play, by Suzanne Zaruba Cirillo.
*The Sunbonnet Sue blog, the Sunbonnet Sue website, and the Home of Bad Sunbonnet Sue are the websites of Kim Bunchuck.

Joke of the day.  What do you get when a quilting icon takes legal action against a famous doctor?  Answer:  Sunbonnet Sue sues Who ?

Humorous quilts: Three Women at the Hilton

~ The May Giveway starts on Monday ! ~
It's day 6 of our humorous quilts series, and we are having so much fun ! We have a chance to chuckle at some really humorous quilts from some of our favorite artists -  like Pamela Allen, an award-winning artist, quilter and teacher based in Ontario, Canada.  Her "Three Women at the Hilton" won Most Humorous Quilt at the Road to California, 2010.

Three Women at the Hilton, 48 x 40, by Pamela Allen, at Pamelart

"Three Women" is a wonderful example of Pamela Allen's collage-style quilts. Here is Pamela and her two friends as they enjoy every minute of their time at the Houston Quiltfest in 2008.  Take a look at the clever decorative embellishments on the (er, chest) of the lady in orange (below).

If you like "Three Women"  you will also love Pamela Allen's newest works.  Check out her series of portraits - called Profiles - in which the female figures are rendered as geometric abstractions reminiscent of Picasso (we're partial to "Bedhead having Breakfast" and "Matron with her former Self"). Finally, Pamela Allen has a wonderful DVD called Think Like an Artist.  Here's a YouTube excerpt which shows how engaging Pamela is "in person":

Image credits and links:  Images are shown with the generous permission of Pamela Allen.  At her website you can also obtain information on her acclaimed workshops (she has an online workshop coming up in August !)

Humorous quilts: the art of Pam RuBert

Pam RuBert is an amazing artist who makes contemporary and humorous art quilts, and also draws and explores other forms of mixed media. Her cartoon-style quilts are out of this world.

Paris - Wish you were Hair, 38 x 57, by Pam RuBert, at pamrubert.com

This scene from Paris is just perfect: the woman and her poodle both have mini Eiffel Towers atop their heads. This is one of a series of quilts and drawings, in which Pam RuBert morphed the idea of vintage post cards titled “Wish you Were Here” into crazy hairstyles that look like famous world landmarks. For more information see the Paris - Wish you were Hair web page; also check out St. Louis - Wish you were Hair which is showing at Fiber Art International.

Traffic Jam, by Pam RuBert

Click on the image to see the detail of the jam jar, and what is crawling out of it.

About her humorous works, Pam RuBert says: "I’ve always believed that humor and creativity are linked — they both seem related to the ability to step outside of ourselves and look at things from a different or surprising viewpoint. In many of my quilts there is a woman I call PaMdora — she views the world around her with a strange mixture of astonishment, dismay, and amusement."

Pam RuBert's work has been exhibited at solo and group shows, and in national and international exhibits including Quilt National, FiberArt International, the International Quilt Show (Houston) and the Best of SAQA. You can read about her art adventures on Pam’s art blog, PaMdora’s Box, and see a gallery of her work at Pam RuBert.com.