QuiltCon 2016: Awards

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Plaid Portico

Well, in winding up the coverage of the Quiltcon West 2016 exhibitions, here we have some of the award-winning quilts. The charity quilts are all that is left, but I am going to leave that for a bit so we can cover some other exhibitions and spotlight some quilters.

First up after this will be coverage of the fifth annual Stitch Modern put on by the East Bay Modern Quilters.

But enjoy these acclaimed quilts first!

BEST IN SHOW (Sponsored by Northcott): my brother’s jeans by Melissa Averinos

“The denim in this quilt is from my brother Michael’s work jeans, which I rescued from the dumpster after his suicide in 2009. I improvisational pieced the crosses, which resemble a variation on the traditional nine patch. The pale ground includes subtle gold and white crosses. Grid quilting creates echoes of the cross motif, as well as references my brother’s work as a tile installer. I tucked vintage gold ribbon behind some of the tears in the denim. This quilt was a joy to work on, as I love worn materials and find beauty in forgotten and discarded things.”

my brother’s jeans by Melissa Averinos

FREESPIRIT QUILTING EXCELLENCE, sponsored by Free Spirit

The Other Side by Carson Converse

“I was thinking lot about why we work so hard to get “somewhere” while making this quilt. Life can feel like an uphill battle, yet we don’t always pause to think about what is on the other side. Is it worth the climb? I must have been optimistic at the time because a steep climb leads to a gentle slope with increased visual interest and hand-painted fabric. The children’s song “The Bear Went Over the Mountain” was stuck in my head for weeks as I worked on this quilt.”

The Other Side by Carson Converse

BEST MACHINE QUILTING, frameless, needle moves,
sponsored by APQS-American Professional Quilting Systems

No Value Does Not Equal Free by Molli Sparkles, quilted by Jane Davidson with design direction by Molli Sparkles

Design Source: “The scrappy, Trip Around the World quilt block tutorial comes from Bonnie Hunter at http://www.quiltville.com. The intellectual concept is of my own design.”

“I specifically made this scrappy Trip Around the World quilt to track the entire cost of making a quilt in Australia. When I published my findings at MolliSparkles.com suggesting $2252.40 USD, it set the blogosphere on fire. The corresponding posts have generated nearly 50,000 page views, and are often widely linked when discussing the cost of quilting. The quilt has become one of my favorites because of how it has changed my blog readership, has made me think about the intellectual responsibility of quilting, and has given others a foundation to find and value their self-worth.”

No Value Does Not equal Free by Molli Sparkles, quilted by Jane Davidson

BEST MACHINE QUILTING, frameless, needle stationary
Sponsored by Baby Lock

ABQMQG by Renee Hoffman
Quilted by Renee Hoffman, Pieced by Lois Warwick, Logo designed by Bob Lowe, appliqué by Sally Williams and Laurie Moodie

“This quilt is based off of the new Albuquerque Modern Quilt Guild logo. The quilting is inspired by things associated with Albuquerque, New Mexico: abundant sunshine, the international Balloon Fiesta, the Sandia mountains, the Sandia Peak Tramway (it is the longest tramway in North America and has the third largest span in the world). Hidden in the quilting are 10 tiny snails, see if you can find them all!

ABQMQG by Renee Hoffman, Lois Warwick, Bob Lowe, Sally Williams, Laurie Moodie

This may look familiar! This was the QuiltCon West 2016 Giveaway quilt, and was used in many of the promotional materials for QuiltCon West 2016.

Eidos, designed by Agatha June of Austin, Texas, pieced by Elizabeth Dackson of Tampa, Florida, quilted by Gina Pina of Austin, Texas. The pattern is available HERE.

Eidos, designed by Agatha June of Austin, Texas, Pieced by Elizabeth Dackson of Tampa, Florida, quilted by Gina Pina of Austin, Texas.

QuiltCon 2016: Group or Bee Quilts

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Plaid Portico

While we continue to cover the exhibitions from QuiltCon West that was in Pasadena, California in February of this year, we know QuiltCon East will be in Savannah, Georgia in 2017, AND we now know QuiltCon West will once again be in Pasadena in 2018. February 22-25, 2018 to be exact. Mark your calendars!

Here we have the Group or Bee quilts from QuiltCon West 2016 put on by The Modern Quilt Guild. Some beauties!

Pathways by Janet Schoenfeld and the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild

Layered Conversations by Amanda Leins, Sue Bishop, quilted by Penny Barnes

The Modern Strip Quilt by Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild

Twisted Sisters Quilt by Stephanie Ruyle and the Denver Metro Modern Quilt Guild

Piece Offering by Dionne Matthies-Buban and members of the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild

Mod Mood by Debbie Jeske with and in conjunction with Bee Sewcial

Enthusiasm by Rossie Hutchinson, pieced by Jenna Brand, Lynn Harris, Emily Schildhouse, Dorie Schwartz, quilted by Lynn Harris

Little Tents by Daisy Aschehoug and the Baton Rouge Modern Quilt Guild

Group Self Portrait by Gina Pina and the Austin Modern Quilt Guild

I Love Sewing by Neva Asinari and the Central New Jersey Modern Quilt Guild

Emerging Illusion by Allison Dutton and members of the Emerge Circle of Do. Good Stitches

Mistwraith by Rossie Hutchinson and the Ann Arbor Quilt Guild

QuiltCon 2016: Appliqué category quilts

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Plaid Portico

Today we are showing all the quilts from the Appliqué category of the QuiltCon 2016 exhibition. Next up are the Youth quilts. A strong showing this year in this category. I like the variety. Enjoy!

Windy by Emily Parson

5/325 by Hillary Goodwin

Black Lives Matter by Karen Maple

Cut & Keep by Gina Pina

Central Pivot by Kim Eichler-Messmer

Gwenny’s Woodpile by Karen Duling

Modern Wedding Ring by Katherine Dithmer

DripnSplash by Katherine Jones

Ebb by Carolyn Friedlander

Road Work by Debbie Grifka

Flower Doodle by Lindsey Neill, quilted by Sarah Wilson of Crinklelove

Roundabout by Nancy Thornburg, quilted by Natalia Bonne

Every Little Hungry Schoolgirl’s Pride and Joy by Rebecca Burnett

Forever by Debbie Grifka

Blurred Lines by Sandra Johnson

Alturas Carkai by Carolyn Friedlander

QuiltCon 2016: Piecing category Part 1 of 2

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Plaid Portico

Now for the piecing category from QuiltCon 2016. Here is part 1, enjoy!

Balancing Act by Stephanie Ruyle

Tesselation 4 by Nydia Kehnle, quilted by Gina Pina

The Hive by Jennifer Carlton-Bailly

Cheatin’ Song: Stripes by Rosalind Daniels

January by Liz Harvatine

Cat Face! by Megan Callahan

Fall For Me by Libs Elliott

Square Dance by Carol Dennis, quilted by Michelle Kitto

Spiky Molehills by Myrth McDonald

Let’s Connect by Christopher Thompson

Jungle Abstractions: The Lion by Violet Craft

Shattered and Mended by Lindsey Sanders

Summer Sunset by Heather Black

Pixels by Ashley Nickels

Piece 12 by Lissa Alexander, quilted by Maggi Honeyman

Trimmings 2015 – The Cog by Amy Gunson

Triangle Transparency by Yvonne Fuchs

Wings by Amy Friend

Jungle Abstractions: The Giraffe by Violet Craft, pieced by Jaime Young

QuiltCon 2015: Youth Quilts and Top Awards

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Plaid Portico

Well, it has been a journey blogging the exhibitions at QuiltCon 2015. This is the last of the QuiltCon curated quilts here, though we still need to cover a few of the special exhibitions: The Quilts of Gee’s Bend, and Quilts of the 70’s from the Collection of Bill Volckening. But first we will take a break and do some book reviews and some smaller exhibitions.

Last but not least is the very inspiring youth quilt category. It is a small group of quilts, but there are a couple things to note. These young quilters are learning to use long arms at a very early age! Can you imagine what their quilting will look like in 20 years? Quilting traditions passed down from generation to generation is no more evident than in these quilts as each young person has been helped or instructed along the way by their mothers, aunts, and the community around them. Something new and something old.

The final special award winners are here, and though they have been all over social media, take one more look. I have to say that after seeing every quilt both in person and then here on my computer editing the photos and posting them in wordpress, it was a surprising pleasure to take a look at these again. They are indeed remarkable.

Grapeshot by Maggie Johnson. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Quilted by Ann Olson. Inspired by Kaffe Fassett’s “Cutting Corners Quilt”. Improvisational piecing.

Grapeshot by Maggie Johnson. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Quilted by Ann Olson. Inspired by Kaffe Fassett’s “Cutting Corners Quilt”.

Staircase by Kate Ivie, Austin, Texas. Pattern: “Social Climber” from Villa Rosa Designs.Started at age 10. Quilted by Evie on a long-arm at The Cotton Cupboard in Lakeway, Texas. Binding by her mother, Jill Evie.

Staircase by Kate Ivie, Austin, Texas. Pattern: "Social Climber" from from Villa Rosa Designs.

Staircase by Kate Ivie, Austin, Texas. Pattern: “Social Climber” from Villa Rosa Designs.

Pinwheels by Kate Ivie. Austin. Texas. Pattern, “Mardi Gras” from Villa Rosa Designs. Started ar age 9. Quilted on a long arm at The Cotton Cupboard in Lakeway, Texas.

Side Step by Kate Ivie. Austin, Texas.Original design at age 10. Quilted by Kate on a long arm at The Cotton Cupboard in Lakeway, Texas.

Rothko’s Dream by Evie Guigley, Hernando Mississippi. Mom helped cut the rotary strips. Original design, 1st time using a long arm with instruction from Mrs. Teresa Pino, Quilts2aT Studio. 3rd Place, Youth Quilts, QuiltCon 2015.

The Overgrown City by Cadence Jenkins, Ovilla, Texas. 2nd quilt she ever made, original design, quilted with her aunt’s long arm.

The Overgrown City by Cadence Jenkins, Ovilla, Texas. 2nd quilt she ever made, original design, quilted with her aunt’s long arm. 2nd place, Youth Quilts, QuiltCon 2015.

Rainbow Magic by Mollie McMahon. Sutton, New South Wales, Australia. Quilted by Mollie and Mumma (Jules McMahon) 1st Place Youth Quilts, QuiltCon 2015

Eames Blocks designed by Lorena Maranon, pieced by Jen Carlton Bailly, quilted by Gina Pina. Winning design for the Modern Quilt Guild Giveaway Quilt Design Challenge.

i Quilt by Kathy York, Austin, Texas,. Best in Show, QuiltCon 2015. Award sponsored by Gammill.

Coral Reef by Marla Varner, Sequim, Washington. Improvisational hand quilting. Quilting Excellence Award, sponsored by Make it Coats, QuiltCon 2015.

Diving Geese, designed and pieced by Katie Pederson, quilted by Krista Withers. Seattle, Washington. Best Machine Quilting award, sponsored by Interweave. QuiltCon 2015.

QuiltCon 2015: Applique category Quilts

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Plaid Portico

Here we are again, back to our final sets of quilts from the exhibitions from QuiltCon 2015. Next up we have the Applique category sponsored by Cherrywood Fabrics. Later this week, we will have the Michael Miller Challenge and the Small Quilts category. Some pretty amazing quilts here!

Lost and Found in Translation by Victoria Findlay Wolfe. New York, New York.

Bowls and Balls #2 by Rachel Kerley. Hillsboro, Oregon.

Outside the Box by Jenny Voss. Nampa, idaho.

[The American Context #68] by Luke Haynes. Los Angeles, California.

Tiki Dilemma by Jodi Robinson. Enon Valley, Pennsylvania.

Turn Down For What by Lauren Palmer. Lexington, Kentucky.

Rocket 88 by Latifah Saafir. Los Angeles, California. Quilted by Lisa Alexakis.

The Conan Quilt by Alison Chambers. San Antonio, Texas.

The Conan Quilt by Alison Chambers. San Antonio, Texas

Chosen 2 by Catherine Redford. Naperville, Illinois.

Catenary by Carolyn Friedlander. Lake Wales, Florida.

Self-Study #4: The One for T by Chawne Kimber. Easton, Pennsylvania.

Sticks and Stones: The Border Test by Rachel Kerley. Hillsboro, Oregon.

Hometown Quilt by Gina Pina. Austin, Texas.

[The American Context #16] Christina’s World by Luke Haynes. Los Angeles, California.

Off The Chart by Lynn Harris. Chelsea, Michigan.

Off Center by Charlotte Noll. Lauderhill, Florida.

33 by Gabriela Kirst. Grass Valley, CA.

Survivor by Jennifer Benoit-Bryan. Cicero, Illinois.

Grand Canal by Casey York. St. Louis, Missouri. Quilted by Ann McNew.

Botanics in Green by Carolyn Friedlander. Lake Wales, Florida.

Typewriter No. 5 by Jessica Toye. Kansas City, Missouri. 3rd Place, Applique Category, QuiltCon 2015.

The Dishes Can Wait by Rachel Kerley. Hillsboro, Oregon. 2nd Place, Applique Category, QuiltCon 2015.

Anniversary Quilt by Katrina Hertzer. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 2st Place, Applique category, QuiltCon 2015

QuiltCon 2015: Piecing category, Part 1

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Plaid Portico

We will cover the Piecing category, sponsored by Aurifil, in two parts since there are so many quilts. Remember that quilts for the QuiltCon competitions are accepted into the show first and then put into categories by the judges as part of the judging process. This group has so many interesting original compositions. The category winners will be shown at the end of Part 2 later this week.

Enjoy!