IT'S A WIN!!

The quilt that filled so many blogs for the past year was juried in to the Quilt Odyssey Show in Hershey, PA.  I looked at the pictures that filled their FB page and figured I was way out of my league, but at least was juried in.  Imagine my surprise when the quilt arrived back home with a Third Place prize ribbon tucked inside.  I am ecstatic to say the least, and now I can show it to you, all finished.

Roman Candle

Sew some happy seams this week.  Do your very best and you will always be a winner!

AQS Albuquerque

One of the first things I did in going to Albuquerque was learn to spell it!  That accomplished I walked into the beautiful Convention Center and drank my fill of gorgeous quilts by award winning quilters.  I was greatly humbled.  I didn't take pictures of all the top winners because I have seen some of them at other shows as well as published in one or more of the magazines to which I subscribe.  It is likely many of you have seen them too.

Best of show was for "Stars on Mars" (85"x85") by Gail Stapanek and Jan Hutchinson.  This was very striking with its high contrast, difficult construction and level of perfection.

Stars on Mars

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Best Longarm Machine Quilting was for "Majestic Mosaic" (87"x86") by Karen Kay Buckley and Renae Haddadin.  The appliqué was impeccable and the quilting was unbelievable.

Majestic Mosaic

The winner for Best Home Machine Quilting (82"x96") was "Snow Flowers" by Susan Stewart.  The photos may not show how pristine white this quilt was, but believe me it was white as fresh snow.  The introduction of lace as a border element was unique and very beautiful.  The quilting is magnificent especially considering how large the quilt is.  It proves that we can do it on a domestic machine if we just keep practicing.

Snow Flowers

"Sunset Sentinel" (44"x39") by Cathy Geier. was a first place winner, but I don't know what category.  The tree was quite unique, made with black lace.  It had flecks of blue fabric encased behind the lace and was quilted with tiny pebbles.  What a great way to represent a tree in silhouette and suggest the myriad tiny branches and leaves.  I love it!

Sunset Sentinel

That's is for this week.  I will show some more next week.

BTW and OT another great personal accomplishment as a result of this trip was teaching the dog to ride and behave in a very frightening cage called an elevator, which bumps, moves, pings, has flashing lights and a very dangerous door that appears to be self-motivated.  She rode it like a champ by the time we headed home.

Quilt Colorado Show

One week of total fun with a great bunch of cousins and another week opening boxes that have been in storage for 20 years.  It was like Christmas in July.  Now to recover and get back to work.

Before tackling the unpacking my daughter and I absconded and went to see Quilt Colorado, which is a great show put on by the Colorado Quilt Council.  This year it was open to members only, but with over 800 members there were lots of beautiful entries.  There were numerous categories and lots of winners so I didn't take photos of all the winners, just the quilts that struck my fancy.

The "Best of Show" was awarded for "Fire in the Sky," which was absolutely exquisite.  Alice Kay Arnett's piecing was excellent and Sherry Reynolds' quilting was, once again, impeccable.  I wish I had a photo of the back as it was as beautiful as the front.  I also wish I had taken detail photos.  Live and learn!

Fire in the Sky by Alice Kay Arnett, pieced by Sherry Reynolds - Best of Show

Here is another quilt with beautiful quilting, which won "Best Home Machine Quilting."  I did get photos of the details, which follow.

Sunlit Circles by Ann Petersen.  Best Home Machine Quilting

"Affairs of the Heart" reminds me of a "Dear Jane" quilt with all the small blocks, each different from the others.  All the blocks have a heart theme.  I was especially attracted by the black background, which made the many colors glow.

Affairs of the Heart by Barb Donaho

I loved this kitty just because.  He looks like he is ready to jump out and catch a fly...or something.

His Arms Open Wide by Teresa Rives - Meritorious

This is a stunning, artistic quilt with the orchids beautifully highlighted against a dark background.

Orchids by Sharon Schlotzhauer - 3rd place Mixed Media Innovative

I think this was the most colorful quilt in the whole show.  It jumped right off the rod and made you want to dance and exclaim, "Wow!"  It deservedly won "Best Use of Color and Design," and is a lovely example of the Modern Quilt with color, line, movement and dimension.

Second Encounter by Shirley Gisi - Best use of Color and Design

Enough for today.  There are a few more, which I will share in the next post.