Under the sea

Join us "Under the Sea" today, as we show some very intriguing aquarium and ocean life quilts. Who hasn't dreamed of being a mermaid at some time in life? Put on your swim fins and jump in the water !

Deep Sea Fantasy, King Neptune and Mermaiden, Diptic Quilt
Christina Belding,  Nova Scotia, Canada

Christina notes, "While working on Mermaiden, I decided that she needed an underwater date (thus King Neptune was created).  Both (these images) are mystical sea creatures whom I have yet to encounter in my scuba diving adventures.... The ocean is a magical experience, the colors beyond anything I have seen anywhere else.  Nature at its finest."  We love the innovated, wildly patterned seashell borders that frame these whimsical quilts.

Quilted by Christina Belding and Ken Grantham, inspired by the fabric collage techniques of Susan Carlson.

The Great Barrier Reef by Miki Murakami, Kawasaki-Si, Kanagawa Pref. Japan

Close up, The Great Barrier Reef by Miki Murakami

Miki notes, "The beauty of the The Great Barrier Reef in Australia in which I traveled was inspirational. I got the idea of the quilt design from the trip." For this original design, Miki used machine piecing and applique, satin stitch, fabric fusing, and machine quilting.  Her use of high chroma  complementary paired  hues such as blue and orange, pink and green, and purple and yellow, creates a vibrant, eye-catching display of color.

Aquarium by Yoshiko Miyamoto, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Ken, Japan

Yoshiko says, "The idea of a pair of quilts is adopted from traditional Japanese sliding doors. I especially tried to detail the muscles, which control the beautifully delicate movement of fins."  The two large quilts were hung exactly side by side, so they are just touching, and the fish were about 3-4 feet tall. Notice the rays of sun shining through the water and the realistic bubbles in this enchanting scene.

Close-up, Aquarium by Yoshiko Miyamoto

In this close-up, you can see some of the very subtle and effective shading of the fish and the background.  We were very impressed by the intricate precision used by Yoshiko to depict these elegant fish. Yoshiko's techniques include reverse applique, painting, and machine quilting.  Her original design was constructed of cotton and the edge fabric tape of a Japanese tatami, a straw mat.

The Magical Mermaid's Castle by Claudia Pfeil, Krefeld, Germany

Claudia notes, ...."Trying to catch my dreams in my quilts, not following the rules- just following my visions! Welcome to the Mermaid's Castle. It is a magical place filled with beauty and wonder. Here, at the Castle, you will find the beauty of the corals, reminders of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Look closely to discover the bubbles, plant life, and underwater wonderland. Watch as the Mermaids invite you in to visit this magical.... oasis."

Close- up, The Magical Mermaid's Castle by Claudia Pfeil, Krefeld, Germany

The Magical Mermaid's Castle was awarded 1st Place - Innovative at the 2013 Pacific International Quilt Festival. A large variety of very admirably done quilting patterns adorn the foreground and background, along with jeweled embellishments.  This fascinating original design is machine appliqued, machine pieced, and long arm quilted.

Mermaid Dreams by Shelli Ricci  Minnesota

Shelli notes, "The inspiration for this quilt came while on a cruise. I wondered, 'Where do mermaids sleep?' Background designs were quilted onto heavy-weight interfacing, trimmed, hand painted with Shiva paint sticks, then re-appliqued onto the quilt. Mermaid and baby were colored with inks, then hand beaded. " 

Close up, Mermaid Dreams by Shelli Ricci

Artistic wavy lines of parallel quilting perfectly symbolize the undulating and ever-changing ocean currents.  Shelli notes of her original design, "The cure for everything is salt water:  sweat, tears, and the sea."

Deep Blue Rhap-Sea-Dy, 30 x 30", by Terri VandenBosch

Wanting to challenge herself,  Terri VandenBosch designed this quilt - from piecing to embroidery designs - in Art & Stitch Software.  She says, "It was so worth the effort to try something outside the box!" The four compass points of the center medallion are embroidered with spirals resembling the nautilus.  The coral and blue fabric is printed with starfish.

Close-up, Deep Blue Rhap-Sea-Dy by Terri VandenBosch

We love these adorable dancing sea horses who appear to almost be kissing among the waving, embroidered seaweed. Terri's embroidery and quilting patterns work very well with the symmetrical curves of this quilt.

Now sing along with us..... ~~~ Under The Sea ~~~

Image Credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the : 2014 Road to California Quilt Show, 2014 American Quilters Society Show, 2013 Houston International Quilt Festival, and the 2013 Pacific International Quilt Festival.

Highlights of the 2014 Arizona Quilters Guild show : Day 1

This is our 5th year attending the spring Arizona Quilters' Guild show.  It's always like finding treasure in the desert!  As you can see, many folks from around North America agree.  It was fun to see cars from Alaska, California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota... plus Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario (among others!)

Agave Sunset by Jo Ann Kilgroe

Jo Ann says, "Working from an agave (cactus) in my yard, I created this design. I pieced, appliqued, and painted colorful batiks." We loved this stunning quilt which depicts the flora of the Southwestern U.S. so well.

Close up, Agave Sunset by Jo Ann Kilgroe

Agave Sunset won the City of Mesa, Arizona Award exemplary work and also won Second Place for Best Mixed Technique in the small quilts category. Here's a great example of how to blend traditional techniques with a contemporary motif:  Jo Ann made a "flying geese" patchwork panel and spiky piecing to enhance the colors of this vibrant quilt.

O Burrito Mia by Margot McDonnell

Second place winner for Large Pictorial Quilts, Margot says,"From children and a donkey, inspired by a 1970 greeting card, I added background details, employing applique, paint, and embroidery for a folk art effect."

Close- up, O Burrito Mia by Margot McDonnell

This adorable landscape quilt, showing a peaceful village by a mountain lake and darling children off to an adventure on their pet burro, really inspired our imagination. We were impressed by Margot's use of vibrant, clear colors.

Purple Agave by Vicki Bohnhoff

Second place winner for Digital Imaged Quilts, Vicki notes of her original design, "I used a negative, purple, variegated Agave image by photographer Camille Spurlock to print with archival inks onto silk charmeuse for a cactus beaded quilt."

Close up, Purple Agave by Vicki Bohnhoff

Vicki embellished her work with elegant, tiny blue beads which outline and enhance the luminous quality of these spiny, symmetrical leaves.

Koi Pair by Georgia Heller

First place winner for Pictorial Small Quilts, Georgia explains, "[This original design was] made for a 2013 exhibit at the Phoenix Japanese Friendship Garden. A vital part of the beauty and ecology of a Japanese garden are the colorful koi [fish]."

Close up, Koi Pair by Georgia Heller

We enjoyed this lovely machine applique work, along with the pretty thread painting of the undersea plants along the bottom of the quilt.

Roman Tiles, 76 x 76", by Ann L. Petersen

Best of Show and First Place - Large Pieced Award winner this year, Ann writes, "My original center star, borders, layout, and painted quilting designs were added to Norah McMeeking's  St. Mark's Wallhanging  pattern of Roman mosaic tiles."

Close up, Roman Tiles by Ann L. Petersen

Ann notes that after quilting the motifs around the star, she painted them with metallic paint to give them added luster and clarity. This show stopper also won the award for Excellence in Machine Quilting at the 2013 Road to California Quilt Show.


Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

California Fall Quilt Show: Part 4

Happy Friday!  We hope you're in the mood for some more quilt inspiration. Here is Part 4 of our photos from the recent Diablo Valley quilt show. As you can see, there was an incredible variety of fabulous quilts at this show!

Calligraphy Quilt, 87 x 87", by Layne Rahbar

Layne Rahbar is a fiber artist in the San Francisco Bay area in California. She has been quilting and weaving for decades and most of her designs are original (she designs in EQ). Her “Calligraphy Quilt” was inspired by a small black and white graphic design of Islamic callligraphy; each triangle spells the word Allah in Arabic.

close up, Calligraphy Quilt by Layne Rahbar

Layne Rahbar designed, pieced and quilted this outstanding quilt, which features an ornate trapunto design in the borders.

Cathy's Quilt, 90 x 108", by Netty Soares, quilted by Suzi Dillinger

Netty Soares made this gorgeous hand appliqued floral quilt for her sister Cathy.  We enjoyed her beautiful hand work, the 18 different pots and flowers, and the pieced and appliqué border. (We recognize the pattern as Floral Delight by Lori Smith at From My Heart to Your Hands).

close up, Cathy's Quilt by Netty Soares

The background was quilted by Suzi Dillinger who echoed the floral shapes and then filled with waves and swirls.  In this close up photo you can also see some of the charming prints that were used by Netty Soares; the bright blues and coral reds really light up this quilt.

Assorted Blocks, 80 x 112", by Jerry Theobald

Jerry Theobald states that "Assorted Blocks" was inspired by a book of Kaffe Fassett quilts.  In this sampler quilt there are 21 different blocks including stars, pinwheels, flying geese and squares within squares.

close up, Assorted Blocks by Jerry Theobald

Here is a close-up photo of one of the sparkling paper-pieced stars done in colorful Kaffe Fassett fabrics, set off by purple millefiore print sashing.

A Mermaid's Dream by Cyndy Rymer

Cyndy Rymer is a former book editor at C&T Publishing, as well as a quilt designer, teacher (at Wooden Gate Quilts) and author. She says that the seashell fabric, used in the border, inspired her to design this original quilt. Each block features a different underwater theme with a shark, dolphins, anemone, a turtle, jellyfish starfish, and a boy and girl mermaid.  Laura Fraga helped with a few of the applique blocks.

close up, A Mermaid's Dream by Cyndy Rymer

Our favorite block was this mermaid holding the world in her hands. Cyndy Rymer says: "This is the first quilt I quilted on a longarm machine with Deb McParland’s help."

Sedona Circles by Cindy Sloneker, quilted by Genese Hoskins

Cindy Sloneker says: "My daughter moved to Phoenix, Arizona and wanted a quilt depicting the desert. The quilt is based on the pattern  'Autumn Luster' in the book Quiltastic Curves by Tammy Kelly."

close up, Sedona Circles by Cindy Sloneker, quilted by Genese Hoskins

Cindy Sloneker chose gorgeous low-contrast batik fabrics for this subtle, rich design. If you look carefully you can see the pieced circles that are formed at the intersections of the blocks.

Image Credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

Quilt Show catch up: Part 3

One of the things we love about quilt shows is the chance to see a broad range of quilt styles and techniques, from traditional to modern.  For our impromptu Summer Quilt Show, here are some more intriguing quilts in a variety of styles! 

Autumn Wonders by Carolyn Morris

Autumn Wonders was created by Carolyn Morris to focus on the salmon. She says: Autumn is a favorite time with salmon spawning, larch trees, and colors”.  The quilt was embellished with real stone and fuzzy yarn to represent the river bed.  This quilt won honorable mention in its category at the 2013 Arizona Quilters Guild show.

close up, Autumn Wonders by Carolyn Morris

In the close up photo you can see the detail of the cutwork salmon, which were raw-edge appliqued with a straight stitch.  The batik diamonds create a perfect watery background for the fish.

Jo and Friends in the "Heartland" by Sue Maitre, quilted by Linda Hrcka

Sue Maitre is a lifelong quilter who has been featured in the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame.  She says: “Wanting to learn to applique small pieces, I took a four-day workshop from Pearl Pereira. After four months, this is the final result.” The pattern is the American Sampler Quilt by Pearl Pereira. Sue won 1st place and a blue ribbon in her category, plus the Mayor's Award!  Details of several of the 12 blocks are shown below.

close up, Jo and Friends in the Heartland by Sue Maitre

Our favorite block was this charming gray cat.  He has an embroidered face and is surrounded by flowers and vines.

close up, Jo and Friends in the Heartland by Sue Maitre

Each of the blocks was quilted differently, but all of them featured some form of feathers. In addition, Linda Hrcka quilted in the ditch around each of the applique pieces.  Here is a lovely fruit basket with a pineapple, pears, oranges and cherries.

close up, Jo and Friends in the Heartland by Sue Maitre

Pearl Pereira is renowned for her Baltimore album-inspired quilts, and this heart-shaped block with two birds represents a lovely classical design.

close up, Jo and Friends in the Heartland by Sue Maitre

The border was particularly lovely; it was quilted with feathers that next under the scalloped banners.

Stars Over the Rockies by Lolly Platt, quilted by Sherry Jack

The greens and blues of this quilt, and the triangle design, really drew us in.  Lolly Platt says:  "This Judy Martin pattern is packed with interest, especially in the borders."

close up,  Stars Over the Rockies by Lolly Platt, quilted by Sherry Jack

Lolly Platt says that she made this quilt for her grandson, who was born in a Rocky Mountain state.  The pattern is "Mountain Vistas" as featured on page 42 of Judy Martin's 1994 Pieced Borders book.

Spirits of the Southwest by Judy Peters

"Spirits of the Southwest" features machine appliqued batik animals with metallic thread.  Judy Peters incorporated ultra suede material and embellished the quilt with copper nuggets and buttons from her collection.  She received honorable mention in her category at the 2013 Arizona quilt show.

close up, Spirits of the Southwest by Judy Peters

We recognize these animals as a variation of the Native Flair designs by Sindy Rodenmayer at Fat Cat Quilting. Judy Peters has created an authentic Southwestern wall hanging with her choice of colors, fabrics, quilting and embellishments.

Image credits: All photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2013 Arizona Quilters Guild show. 

Quilt Show catch up: Part 1

Are you ready for a Summer Quilt Show?  (Or a winter show, for those down under ?) Much to our surprise, we discovered a large cache of 2013 quilt show photos on our camera.  Let's catch up !

Midnight in the City by Linda Matteotti

This quilt won a ribbon and Honorable Mention, Pieced-Medium, at the 2013 Arizona Quilt Show.  Linda Matteotti, who is a professional longarm quilter, says:  "Inspired by Flavin Glover, this quilt is made up of 224 blocks. I designed it using EQ software. Each log cabin block is foundation pieced." You can see the original EQ design at Linda Matteotti's web gallery.

close up, Midnight in the City by Linda Matteotti

If you look carefully you can just pick out the monochromatic log cabin blocks surrounding the little black squares.  This close up photo shows that Linda quilted diagonal trapunto "ribbons" in a woven ribbons design with micro stippling in between. We think the quilting is fabulous.

The Golden Bluefish by Joan E. Salik

This realistic quilt caught our eye because of the lovely design and colors, and the beautiful batik fabrics. The border, which was cut in scallops along the printed design, complements the fish and the undersea theme. Joan Salik, who is also a quilt teacher, says: "I’m an Aquarian and have always loved the Sea, hence my Golden Bluefish! If you are really quiet, you can almost hear the surf."

close up, The Golden Bluefish by Joan E. Salik

This bluefish is done in really elegant blue and gold fabrics. The wavy quilting in the background adds a very realistic look to the watery blue sea.

Heaven and Earth by Carol Plath, quilted by Janice Bahrt

Carol Plath won a third place ribbon for this Pieced-Small quilt at the 2013 Arizona Quilt show.  She says: “I took a Bargello class at Amazing Quilts in Pinetop, Arizona; the class taught me the skills necessary to create this quilt.”

close up, Heaven and Earth by Carol Plath, quilted by Janice Bahrt

In this close-up you can see that Janice Bahrt enhanced the lines of the bargello design with her simple yet elegant quilting.

Scrappy Wrench Blocks by Carolyn Edwards, quilted by Sandy Holderness

For this fun quilt, Carolyn Edwards created four different sizes of churn dash (monkey wrench) blocks.  She says: “This is a Birthday Quilt in my favorite colors! Fourth in a series of pink and brown quilts."   She did a wonderful job in arranging and distributing the light and dark blocks across the surface of the quilt  (it looks more planned than scrappy!) 

 close up, Scrappy Wrench Blocks by Carolyn Edwards, quilted by Sandy Holderness

Here you can see some of the fun calico, paisley and polka dots fabrics in a range of pink and brown hues.  Sandy Holdernessquilted this quilt in large loops and swirls which add interest; the quilting also helps to soften the angular blocks.

Dirndl Dress Shop by Daniele Tanner

Dolly dresses are so much fun, and this three dimensional wall hanging features 16 traditional German and Austrian folk dresses.  Daniele Tanner says: “I saw [this pattern] at the Sewing Festival in January 2012 in Phoenix and I had to make it. The challenge was to find the different fabrics and trims."  Here are some close up photos of Daniele's cute blocks and trims:

close up, Dirndl Dress Shop by Daniele Tanner

Quilting around the dress and attaching the apron only at the waistband creates the charming 3-D effect.  Here is a classic Austrian-looking dirndl in forest green:

The "Dirndl Dress Shoppe" Pattern is by Alison Tichenor and Diane Carter at Cowgirl Quilt Designs.   You can be your own designer by choosing blouse, skirt, bodice and apron combinations; the pattern includes seven different bodice designs.

Image credits:  All photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2013 Arizona Quilters Guild Show.