Seduced by Quilts: An Album of Art-stitch-tic Inspiration

Best of Show: Tink's Choice (96" x 96") by Laura Trenbeath

arch 1. In anticipation of the show, here are some selected quilts from last year's show to inspire you!

Quilts from the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival

Best of Show: Tink's Choice (96" x 96") by Laura Trenbeath

Innovative Category, Third Place: Fairy Garden (60" x 80") by Cathy Wiggins

Best Use of Color: It All Comes Around (55" x 43") by Karlyn Bue Lohrenz

The following three quilts won ribbons in the "Traditional" category. However, when I started quilting in 1982, ALL of them would have been considered "innovative"! We've come a long way, baby!

First Place Traditional category: Celebrating my INFJ by Judith Heyward

Second Place Traditional category: LZ8 by Sharleen Fields

Best Use of Color, Traditional category: Murdererskill Crossing (83" x 83") by Janet Atkins

Honorable mention in the Innovative Quilts category: Put a Ring on It, by Michael Michalski. This colorful wall quilt is an innovative a variation on the Traditional Wedding Ring design, The theme of the show was "Silver Lining." This quiltmaker's touching comments, which accompanied the quilt, were: "Modern marriage, so many ways to define it but still based on principles of love and trust. Built on a framework as strong as the steel structure of a building, the moments of joy flow as a rainbow. My silver lining is that someday I can now have this as well."

The following quilts won ribbons in the "Wall Quilt" Category:

Best Wall Quilt: Shenandoah Falling (35" x 51") by Margaret Solomon Gunn

Third Place, Wall Quilts: Woodland Visitors (27" x 31") by Barbara McKie.

Best Pictorial Quilt: No Place Like Om by Meryl Ann Butler (author of this article.)

"Plumage" by Rami Kim won First Place for Full Ensemble in the Wearable Art category.

Two which won "Judges Choice" ribbons:

Hope (40" x 48"), by Sandy Curran.

Celestial Splendor by Rachel Wetzler (62" x 62", Innovative)

Other fabulous quilts on exhibit at that show include these inspiring works:

Nokomis (grandmother) (66" x 44") by Laura Gilmartin

Wimpy's Little Chic (36" x 28") by Robin Phillips.

Nelson Mandela (37" x 26") by Aretha Henderson

Heidi's Schlowers (31.5" x 44.5") by Andrea Brokenshire

It's About Time (68" x 68") by Robbi Eklow

So, if you need inspiration, get thee to a quiltery! Quilters and quilt shows around the country, including several listed below, are waiting to show you their art!

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival 2015, Feb. 26 - March 1, Hampton, VA.

The Quilt Fest of New Jersey, March 5- 8, Somerset, NJ.

AQS Quilt Week, March 11-14, Lancaster, PA

AQS Quilt Week, April 22-25, Paducah, KY

International Quilt Festival, Oct. 29- Nov 1, Houston TX