This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to New Jersey to visit old stomping grounds, "old" friends and take in the Garden State Quilters' Guild Show in Morristown. This beautiful show had a huge variety of quilts of all types and techniques. Over the next few posts I will share some of the highlights, beginning here with the "BEST OF" category.
"Happy Clams" by Anna Macaluso began as a friendship group fabric swap. She made this quilt from the 120 pieces (size 7 by 9 inches) which she received. "Happy Clams" earned a blue ribbon and "Best Use of Color" prize.
The "Best of Show- Machine Quilted" went to this beauty- Megan Johnson's "Aunt Millie's Garden--Brown Is the New Black." What an amazing display of applique. and professional quilting.
A lovely surprise of this show was the number of big prizes which went to smaller sized quilts. This lovely round quilt, titled "non e altro che un sogno" by Carla Condori, earned "Best Machine Applique" for this Alice in Wonderland inspired piece which has a diameter of only 23 inches.
Returning to the garden theme, "Garden Trellis" by Mary Gruszecki earned "Best Professional Quilting" by Cheryl Simonis. WOW, you can see why in the close-up pictures below.
"Peptobismol" earned quilter Anna Macaluso the prize of "Best Machine Quilting." I believe those little tiny blocks are 1/2 inch or less in size. Amazing work.
My personal favorite of all the "BEST OF" quilts is "Baby Bella" by Dawn Hayes. Seen below, she measures only 24 inches square and is both machine pieced and hand appliqued. "Baby Bella" earned not only "Best Piecing" for the show, but also first place in the Miniature Quilts Category.
From the more whimsical category, the "Best Quilt That Tells a Story" is Shar Kennett's "Bunnies do Multiply in the Corner of My Garden." It was a challenge from the quilter's small group which had exchanged 1930s fabrics. What fun!
Last but by no means least, is "The Cutting Garden" by Dawn Hayes. Silks and cottons make the miniature dahlias in this amazing work. "The Cutting Garden" earned "Best of Show- Hand Quilting" and a first place ribbon. The quilt measures 72 inches square.
More inspiring quilts from this show to come. Stay tuned!
Lynn these quilts are stunning. It would be so hard to choose a best of show as I thought each one was outstanding. Were they selling these as well? Hope you had fun in Jersey.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - just amazing pieces and thank you for sharing. So glad to see minis get some recognition.
ReplyDeleteAwesome - I quilted that Millies Garden for Megan last December. How fun to find it has been entered in a show, and that it took BOS too!
ReplyDeletemargaret gunn