The Best of Q.U.I.L.T.S. Autumn Inspirations 2012

Every other year my guild in Schenectady, New York has a quilt show. We assume the space of Proctor's GE Theatre and put up the most amazing and colorful show around. Yes, I am partial to our work. With 130+ guild members all showing their best quilting it's a wonderful display of talent, time, effort, technique and skill in one place for one very special weekend.

Here are the top few ribbon earning quilts in the judged portion of the show. The rest are, well, either my quilts or the work of my friends. Enjoy!!!

Susan Mezera's "A Tall Walk in New York" earned not only Best of Show, but a First Place Ribbon (for earning between 92-98 points on general appearance, design, workmanship and judge's recognition), Best Piecing and the Crickett Sweet Best Use of Color prize. Check out all those little points! WOW! Paper pieced by the maker and long-arm machine quilted by Eileen McCabe.

 "Hawaiian Dawn" by Laurie Collins earned a Vendor's Choice award as well as a First Place Ribbon and the new Best Overall Work (for design, piecing and quilting by one person).

 

 "Need'l Therapy (Sister's Quilt #4)" by Carol DiNuzzo earned a First Place Blue Ribbon, Vendor's Choice and Best Hand Quilting prize this year.

 "Under the Southern Stars" earned Pat Cunningham, maker, a Blue Ribbon and Quilter Joanne Hendrick the prize for Best Machine Quilting on a long-arm sewing machine. This lovely quilt was also the Viewer's Choice winner.

"Birds 'n Urns" (seen below) was also pieced by Pat Cunningham and earned the "Best Applique" prize. It was quilted by Laurie Collins.

"Best Quilting on a Traditional Machine" goes to this lovely, "By the Sea" by Carol DiNuzzo.

 We do not have a category for "Best Wholecloth" quilt, but we should. Check out these two.
The above is Laurie Collins' work "Feather and Swirl Wholecloth" which earned a Second Place Ribbon (earning between 85- 91 points) and a Judge's Choice award.

Below is Eileen McCabe's "Happy" which also earned a Second Place Red Ribbon. I think these are just stunning!

Now the gallery of my work and my friends.

"Poppy" was finished enough to show. She needs more quilting especially in the background, but here she is. Thank you, Mary, at Dying to Sew for the Vendor's Ribbon and prize. I really appreciate it.

 

"A Winter Evening Star" earned me a Third Place Prize ( for 80-84 points). I'm very happy as I know how stiff the competition for excellence was in this show. Thank you, Leslie Armando, for the beautiful long-arm machine quilting.

 Linda Cary's "Clematis" is going to be a donation for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative someday. YEAH!

Peggy Schou's "There's a Bear on my Quilt" (seen below) was a strip challenge for our friendship group, The Square Ones. I made the second row from the top with the little white blocks making a path through the woods. What a fun Adirondack quilt!

 "Orion, the Star Hunter" is Kathie Lutz's original design and gift to her niece, an avid horse woman. It utilizes photo transfer, paper-piecing and star-themed quilting to tie this gift together. It was quilted on a traditional sewing machine.

 Cara Molyneaux's "Jelly Roll Spring" makes me happy!

 Lee Poremba's "God's Mountain Creatures" was an original design for a friend who hunts, traps and fishes. The quilting (done by long-arm professional) even has animals within. I love the matching pillow.

 Kathryn Greenwold's art also makes me happy. Above is "Everything is a Blur," a digital photo printed on silk and then embellished creation. Below is "Peacock," an amazing example of machine quilting on a scrappy sampler.

Here are side by side examples of the same design. Above is my "Little Hospitality" (reduced to 14 1/2 inches square) and below Barbara Sacawa's "Pineapple Square" (about 20 inches square). We both used the same pattern by MH Designs. Amazing results!

Finally, "October Song" by Kathleen Morris is a stunningly beautiful quilt and a tribute to her favorite time of year. I can't wait to make one just like it!