"Little Hospitality" and the Empire Quilt Fest 2011

Empire Quilt Fest 2011

This past weekend, my "Little Hospitality," seen above, was proudly included in the Empire Quilt Fest, a multi-guild show in upstate New York. She earned "Second Place" in the Miniatures Category. She is a paper-pieced 14 3/4 inch square traditional pineapple block work which uses warm floral prints. The design was adapted from a pattern by MH Designs. Each block has over 25 pieces of fabric and there are over 400 pieces in the entire quilt. Created as a challenge to myself for this particular show, "Little Hospitality" now warmly greets visitors to our home from her place in our foyer.
To the right are all the quilts in the Miniature Category.
They included the following other quilts:
First Place: Martha Flanagan's "Spiraling Out of the Box"  (top left of photo)
Honorable Mention: Bonnie Maclean's "Mini Mariner's Compass" (Purple and white in the middle)
Bonnie Maclean's "Mini New York Beauty" (top right) &
Marcia Hajeck's "Pieces of Old" (bottom left)

This gorgeous quilt is called "Spiraling Out of the Box" by quilter Martha D. Flanagan. It earned the "First Place" ribbon in the Miniature category.
Mrs. Flanagan wrote "This quilt was designed and created while working with Ranae Merrill as she wrote her book "Magnificent Spiral Mandala Quilts." This quilt is shown in the book." It is machine quilted and I assume, paper pieced.

Look at this detail shot! Amazing! 
It is quite an honor to have my quilt by these other amazing works of art!

The Empire Quilt Fest Theme for 2011 was "When Life Hand You Scraps." I, naturally, answered the call with this little piece to be donated to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative: www.alzquilts.org
Called "Number 20 for AAQI" it will be the 20th donation quilt toward my $1000 Promise. So far, with 13 of the 20 sold, I've raised $530 for Alzheimer's Research as supported by the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.
Very exciting stuff!

Finally, my friend and new owner of "Blumen"-Maggie, graciously let me borrow her for this show. Please see my May 2011 post for the artistry behind this little piece of abstract art.

I'm already thinking and looking ahead to the Empire Quilt Fest 2013!! 
It's never too early to plan!!

Inspired by "Seven"

Remember "Seven"?

It was posted in July in my piece called "Seven and Friends." Since then, "Seven" has been donated to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative and has earned $50 for Alzheimer's Research (www.alzquilts.org).

Amazing for such a little piece of art!

This "Squiggles" technique, learned from Kris Gregson Moss (http://www.krisgregsonmoss.com)

and used with her permission for the Q.U.I.L.T.S. AAQI Challenge, reveals a new and exciting result each time.

The original layers of fabric, seen on the left here, are sewn with a free-hand drawn design and then cut away to reveal the gorgeous colors below. No one color touches itself in the work. The piece is completed with appliqué fibers sewn to cover the seams and free-motion quilting to accent the other design elements. 

Below is the final result for this new piece. Although quite abstract, I think it looks like a child waving palms on Palm Sunday.  What do you see it in?

Here is the next set of fabrics to be "Squiggled"!

Wait and see what beautiful piece of art they will become!

Kris Gregson Moss Website:    http://www.krisgregsonmoss.com

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative:   http://www.alzquilts.org/

Quilters United in Learning Together Schenectady:    http://quiltschenectady.org/