School Days

This time of year, the school bells ring again for so many of us and our children.  A house on a quilt is a symbol of our community and our lives together in society. It's no wonder that house quilts remind us of comfort and the togetherness of family, friends, and neighbors. They really appeal to us, maybe because "home is where the heart is." 

Little Old One Room Schoolhouse,  23 x 27", by Ruth Powers, at Ruth Powers Art Quilts

The traditional schoolhouse of the frontier, complete with a bell tower, beckons us back to learning, as leaves swirl in the early autumn breeze.  Quilt designer Ruth Powers offers this charming scene as a pattern, along with so many other beautiful designs.

Little Houses, 48 x 60", by Ruth Powers, at Ruth Powers Art Quilts

Ruth writes, "Much of my work is inspired by nature;  my daily walks fill my senses with color and design possibilities." In creating Little Houses, Ruth has done an excellent job of selecting different blues and greens for the sky and earth, while selecting the complementary colors of bright orange and orange-red for the homes. Ruth notes that this is a great pattern for using up fat quarters and scraps.

Welcome Home, 64 x 64", by Alex Anderson,at Alex Anderson Quilts

Here's a delightful neighborhood of cheerful houses done in russet and gold. Internationally-famous designer Alex Anderson has brightened the traditional fall quilt by adding contemporary colors of aqua blue and rose pink which make the maple leaves and houses sparkle against the dark background. Easily pieced using half square triangles, "Welcome Home" has become a classic best-seller from JWD Publishing. You can view all of Alex Anderson's books and patterns at Alex Anderson Quilts.

Schoolhouse Block, 19 x 22", from "There's No Place Like Home" by Sonya Chinn, at Sonya's Snippets

Long-arm quilter Sonya, creator of the Sonya's Snippets blog, sewed this charming applique scene as one of the blocks for a block-of-the-month quilt which she calls 'There's No Place Like Home'. This quilt was based on "Home Is Where the Heart Is", a block-of-the-month from The Stitch Connection.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of the artists.  These quilts appeared in a series of articles on house quilts, including Our Town and Our Town Part 2.

Free Pattern Day: Halloween

Here is our first Free Pattern Day ! We have a huge stash of free patterns in our Free Quilt Inspiration Archive (like more than 50 mb altogether) and we are excited about sharing them with you. We’ll be putting a new Free Pattern Index tab at the top of this page so you can see what we’ve posted as we go along. Of course, we’ll continue to add new free patterns we've found to our sidebar. Let’s get started with more than 25 free projects for Halloween*.

Jack-o-Lanterns and Pumpkins

Row 1: "Applique Jack-o-Lantern", free pattern, by Kimara and Michelle, at Wee Folk Art; "Jack’s Lantern", by Lyn Brown at LynBrown.com. Row 2: "Jack-o-Lantern", free pattern, by Sonja Callaghan at Artisania; Halloween Wall Hanging, free pattern, by Carol R. Zentgraf at James Thompson & Co. Row 3: "Oh pumpkin, My pumpkin", free pattern, by Jennifer Morgan and Linda Ambrosini for Hoffman Fabrics – Bali Batiks, free pattern download here. Row 4: "Country Pumpkin Patch", free pattern, at The Learning Channel

Li'l Pumpkin table topper, free pattern, by Tammy German and Brenda Bailey, at Pie Plate Patterns 

Black cats, pumpkins, and the moon

Halloween Applique Scene, free pattern, by Christina Sherrod at Crafts and Fabric Links

Stairway to Cat Heaven, by Marty Mason at Marty's Fiber Musings

The free applique templates and fabric requirements for "Stairway to Cat Heaven" are available from a McCalls Quilting Archive. The complete original pattern, by Barbara Dubovsky, can be purchased from the Quilt and Sew Shop.  This quilt also appeared in the Best of Cat Quilts series at Quilt Inspiration.

Simply Spooky, free pattern, by Pearl P. Pereira for Red Rooster Quilts

Haunted Jacks, free quilt pattern for the 2011 Spellbound fabric collection for Andover Fabrics, by Renee Nanneman of Need’l Love, free pattern download available at FabShopNews

Jack Patchwork wall hanging, free pattern by Sue Thornton-Gray for Janome

Autumn Whimsy wall hanging as seen at Fabric Mom, free pattern by Debbie Mumm

Henrietta Whiskers block-of-the-month quilt project, by Anne Sutton at Bunny Hill Designs, free patterns (until November 2011)

Spiders and SpiderWebs

Itsy Bitsy Spiders, Wall Hanging Tutorial**, at AJ's Bowtique

Spooky Spun Sugar Little Quilt, Tutorial, by Vickie E., at Spun Sugar Quilts

Spiderweb Quilt, Tutorial, by Jackie Reeve at The Orange Room 

Spiders in My Attic, free pattern, at QuiltBug (a kit is also available under Quilt Bug's Quilt Kits)

Witches, bats, vampires, and the Project of Doom 

Witch and Halloween Kitty, free patterns, by Sonja Callaghan at Artisania

 
Free vampire and Harry Potter patterns by Jennifer Ofenstein at Sewhooked

Row 1: "Vampire Fangs", by Jennifer Ofenstein at Fandom In Stitches and “Bats”, from the Free Patterns Page at Sewhooked. Row 2: “Hedwig” (Week 11 block)  and “Cauldron with Felix Felicis” (Week 29 block) for the 2011 Harry Potter “Project of Doom” block-of-the-week project.

True Blood, free block patterns by Lilja Björk Sigurdórsdóttir at Lilijabs and Catherine Magraith at Fandom In Stitches

The designers of these free paper-pieced patterns are members of Fandom in Stitches, a design collective started by Jennifer Ofenstein of Sewhooked, to pay tribute to book characters like Harry Potter. Their extensive and unique designs includes many that will delight the kids in your life at Halloween.

Applique motifs and more mini quilts

Row 1:  “Say Boo” wall hanging tutorial and pattern, by AnneMarie at GenXQuilters. "Haunted House on the Hill", free pattern by Elizabeth Hill, at Purple Kitty Yarns. Row 2: “Halloween Treat” mini quilt, free pattern, by Sandra E. Andersen at A Legacy of Stitches

Spiderweb free-motion quilting, free video tutorial, by Leah Day at The Free Motion Quilting Project

*Image credits:  All images are copyrighted by their owners.  Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs. Complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at Quilt Inspiration.  Looking for a particular free pattern?  Email us and we'll see if it's in our archives ! **Tutorials vs. Patterns:  We've debated this topic, and decided to include some tutorials if they are patterns for making complete quilts or blocks. For example, "Itsy Bitsy Spider", Spooky Spun Sugar Quilt" and "Spiderweb Quilt" are called tutorials but they are really online patterns that include fabric requirements and step-by-step instructions, as well as in-progress photos.

Western quilts Roundup !

~ Stay tuned for the September Giveaway  ~

~ Stay tuned for Free Pattern Day (tomorrow !) ~

It's time to lasso those Western quilts, and to celebrate the cowgirl spirit. Dale Evans once said: "'Cowgirl' is an attitude really. The cowgirl faces life head-on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands; they speak up. They defend things they hold dear." These designers make their homes in Missouri, Oregon, Texas and Montana, and these quilts make us dream of horses, cattle, and wide open spaces.

Row 1: Prairie Moon Ranch, Cowboy Christmas Stocking,  and Cowgirl Up, by Shelly Pagliai at Prairie Moon Quilts
Row 2: Royal,  The Guardian, and Mellow Meadow, by Toni Whitney at Toni Whitney Design
Row 3: Rodeo Gals and Working Cow Horse, and Wranglers, by June Jaeger at Log Cabin Quiltworks
Row 4: Boot Bash block-of-the-month for 2011, by Molly Fryer at Molly’s Place
Row 5: Texas Cowboy Crests Embroideries,  Bronco Embroidery, Dancing Boots Crest Embroidery, and Texas Wildflowers Embroideries,  by Susa Glenn at Susa Glenn Designs

Quilts of the Wild West Part 5

~ Stay tuned for the September Giveaway  ~

When we think of Texas, we think of all things Western: cowboy boots, hats, saddles, and horses. Oh, yes: and prickly pear cactus... steer skulls... and armadillos.  These Texas cowboy motifs, Texas Wildflowers, and more, can be found in Susa Glenn's fascinating embroideries and quilt projects. We love her intricate designs, one-of-a-kind themes, and inspiring tutorials.

Cowboys Crests Embroidery Project, 44 x 54", including The Bronco and Dancing Boots, by Susa Glenn at Susa Glenn Designs

Susa Glenn took up digitizing machine embroidery in 2005 because she wanted to embellish her bag patterns and quilt tops with it. She says: "All of the embroidery designs on my site were designed and digitized by me. I take a lot of time getting the design and the stitching just right. Sometimes the drawing/digitizing takes just a few hours and sometimes it takes days (examples: The Bronco and the Dancing Boots). I enjoy digitizing three dimensionality into my embroidery designs that makes them come to life when they are stitched using rayon thread. Rayon has a nap which gives it the same light reflective characteristics as velvet and corduroy. It reflects light if viewed from one direction and absorbs it if viewed from the opposite direction." Susa even includes one or more projects, such as the quilt shown above, with each of her embroidery collections.  For closeups of all of the cowboy crests, click here.

Texas Wildflowers, 30 x 36",  including Armadillos, by Susa Glenn, at Susa Glenn Designs

Susa Glenn tells us: "The Cowboy Crests collection was inspired by my group of Japanese Crests that I digitized and designed a quilt for several years ago. Immediately after completing my Japanese Crests quilt, I created my Texas Wildflowers embroideries." The downloadable wildflower collection includes Texas Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, White Yarrow, Black Eyed Susans, Wild Daisies, Indian Blankets, a Sulfur Butterfly... and the Armadillo crest, because "A Texas meadow is just not complete without an armadillo or two."

Armadillos are mammals that are known for having a leathery armor shell; the Aztec called them azotochtli, which means “turtle-rabbit.” Although they are interesting creatures, armadillos can be a big  nuisance to homeowners, because of the digging and the damage they cause with their powerful claws. Susa Glenn explains the inspiration for her armadillo: "I didn't have a satisfactory design with which to embellish the corner blocks, and I wanted to add some humor to the wall hanging. We were being invaded by armadillos at the time and they were wreaking havoc on my wildflower meadow. Early one morning it came to me as in a vision that what I needed was an armadillo crest for those corners, so I jumped out of bed and created one! The ones at the top are the 'bad' armadillos and the ones at the bottom are the 'good' armadillos as they have assumed the dead position (!)"

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of Susa Glenn.  At her site you can also find Hibiscus Cowboy Leather Tooling Designs, Cowboy Boot Stitching Feathers, Bodacious Sunflowers, an adorable ladybug Fly Away Home quilt project, and many beautiful Asian designs.

Batik Fabrics for Quilting, Garden Motif Black

Batik Fabrics for Quilting, Garden Motif Black.

Batik fabric sale:

108''Wide Quilt Backing Tonga Batik Garden Contempo Black Fabric By The Yard by Timeless Treasures.

Price: $ 16.98

Via: amazon

Quilts of the Wild West Part 4

Question: What is a "Boot Bash"? Answer: A free and fabulous quilt block-of-the-month for 2011, by Molly Fryer.  Molly is a creative quilter, rancher's wife, mom, Nana, and proud Texan.  She says: “In every man, woman and child on this planet, there is a person who wishes just once he could be a real live Texan and get up on a horse or ride off in a pickup.” Or how about the next best thing: a quilt with 12 different cowboy boots, one for each month? It’s not too late to start ! Molly's motto is “Remember--no bitchin, only stitchin !”

Boot Bash BOM, Blocks 3, 4 and 5, by Molly Fryer at Molly's Place

We had a hard time picking our favorite Boot Bash blocks, as we love 'em all. Just look at the adorable blanket-stitched cardinal in the March block; the barbed-wire embroidery in April; and the realistic, cracked-leather boot for May.  The button-and-ribbon detail in the May block is the perfect touch. You'll find links to all of the blocks on the sidebar at Molly's place, plus recipes, tutorials, a Tree Time BOM (think: Christmas) and so much more.  Don't miss her comprehensive, easy-to-follow feathered star tutorial. In fact, there's so much to see that Molly says: "Hey, take a load off and stay awhile". We think we will... because Molly's Place feels just like home.

~ FOR A HAPPY HEART AND A BLESSED DAY, TAKE TIME TO QUILT AND A MOMENT TO PRAY ~ "Words to Live By", as seen at Molly's Place

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of Molly Fryer.

Bedcover set Batik Pekalongan Motif Wayang

Bedcover set Batik Pekalongan Motif Wayang. Batik fabric - Bedcover. Size 180cm (4 pillows, 2 bolsters). for order via sms to 0856 43222 107

Quilts of the Wild West Part 3

Toni Whitney is a pre-eminent wildlife painter and quilt designer. Her home and studio in Northwest Montana is nestled up against miles of wilderness, where a never-ending abundance of inspiration walks by her studio. Toni's wild west designs include moose, bear, elk, buffalo, cougar, wolf, and eagle. Of horses, she says: "I am deeply inspired by the beauty of the horse, whether standing, running, grazing... Any horse lover knows that a mere glimpse into the eyes of a horse can stir the soul."

Royal, 19-1/4 x 22-1/4", by Toni Whitney at Toni Whitney Design, as seen at the Bigfork Bay Cotton Company

"Royal" is (was) Toni Whitney's own horse, whom she rescued from the meat market at three years old.This magnificent palomino appears to be leaping right out of its quilted frame ! As for all of Toni's art quilt patterns, "Royal" is designed for fusible applique. For more beautifully realistic horses, check out "Guardian", "Pride and Joy" and "Lazy-Days" at Toni Whitney Design; and 4 Ever Friends, Spring Storm, Wild Girl, and Wild Horse Canyon at Bigfork Bay Cotton Company.

Midnight Glide, 13-1/2 x 21-1/2", by Toni Whitney at Toni Whitney Design

The Great Horned Owl is an impressive bird, with a wingspan of 40-60 inches (101–153 cm). Owls have spectacular binocular vision allowing them to pinpoint prey and see in low light; they hunt at night by waiting on a high perch and swooping down on prey. The eyes of Great Horned Owls are immobile within their sockets; their neck must be able to turn a full 270 degrees in order to see in other directions! Toni Whitney's "Midnight Glide" perfectly captures the majesty of this bird in flight.

Backdoor Bear, 8" x 10", by Toni Whitney at Toni Whitney Design

This little black bear hung around the back door of Toni's studio for days, just waiting for his close up. Two small black beads in his eyes give off just the glimmer that you see when they look right at you. "Backdoor Bear" is designed to be mounted on canvas (instructions included) or to be made as a wall hanging using the background fabric with thread play as borders. Right now, Toni is off teaching "Backdoor Bear" on a quilting cruise to Alaska (wow !)

Image credits: Images are shown with the generous permission of Toni Whitney. In addition to North American wildlife, her quilt patterns include an elephant, lion, giraffe, tiger and zebra. The quotation in the first paragraph is from an interview with Toni Whitney at whohub.

Quilts of the Wild West Part 2

"Cowgirl Up" is the female version of the old rodeo call "Cowboy Up", meaning that the rider was in the chute, seated on the bronco or bull, waiting for the gate to open to enter the arena. Over time, "Cowgirl Up" has evolved to mean that a challenge is awaiting and we are ready to tackle it. "Cowgirl Up" can mean : be your own woman, make your own path, and take responsibility for who you are and what you do. An extremely well-designed quilt,  "Cowgirl Up" sparkles with warmth and charm.

Cowgirl Up, by Shelly Pagliai, at Prairie Moon Quilts

We love this quilt because of its authentic "cowboy colors" of dusty red, chambray blue and cocoa, its symmetrical, eye-pleasing patterns, and its blend of applique and patchwork. The American vintage look is perfectly enhanced by the center cowgirl image and the images inside each of the cottage star blocks. The designer, Shelly Pagliai, tells us that these vintage quilt block prints are from Olde America Antiques.  Rounding out the frontier theme of this quilt is the prairie points-style border, which ties all the elements together. If you love cowgirl projects like this one, check out the Cowgirl Club at Prairie Moon Quilts.

Cowboy Blessing pattern or kit, by Shelly Pagliai, at Prairie Moon Quilts

Shelly lives with her family on the Prairie Moon Ranch, in the midwest state of Missouri.  She named her quilt business after the ranch, and her western themes are genuine reflections of her family's life and values. Available at Prairie Moon Quilts, here is the endearing Cowboy Blessing, complete with a barbed-wire inner border and horseshoes, surrounding an embroidered wish that reads : "May your belly never grumble, May your heart never ache, May your horse never stumble, May your cinch never break."  This pattern would look wonderful as the center of a table runner or table topper, a wall hanging, or a pillow.

Cowboy Christmas stocking, "Prairie Paisley", by Shelly Pagliai, at Prairie Moon Quilts

What could be cuter than a fancy western dress boot used as a Christmas stocking? Shelly introduces a new cowboy Christmas stocking each year, and "Prairie Paisley" is her offering for last December 2010.  This project uses applique and some hand embroidery in festive red and and cream colors to make a very original stocking. It has a lined body, and stands about 16 inches tall and 10 inches wide at the widest point.  Here's a very unique and thoughtful holiday gift for a cowboy or cowgirl in your life.

And finally, to go along with these great projects from Prairie Moon Quilts, we have found some fun old time western music: "Roll Along, Prairie Moon". Click on the center arrow below to start the song, so that all of us can saddle up our ponies and ride off into the sunset, dreaming of another day of inspiration.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of Shelly Pagliai.

Batik Fabric, Cotton Stationery Butterfly Motif

Batik Fabric, Cotton Stationery Butterfly Motif.

Origin: Indonesia

Price: Rp. 150.000, - s / d Rp. 200.000, -

Payment Method: Telegraphic Transfer (T / T)

& Delivery: PLASTIC

Description: FABRIC BATIK WRITE STANDARD AND SMOOTH WITH LONG cotton 2, 10 MTR S / D 2, 5 MTR VERY SUITABLE FOR subordinate KEBAYA, SARUNG, ROK LONG ETC.

please buy here: indonetwork

Quilts of the Wild West

If the cowboy is the quintessential symbol of the Old West, then the cowgirl is the symbol of the New West.  Dale Evans once said: "'Cowgirl' is an attitude really. The cowgirl faces life head-on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands; they speak up. They defend things they hold dear." This week we're celebrating the cowgirl spirit, with cowgirls and horses in quilts.

Rodeo Gals, 74 x 86", by June Jaeger, at Log Cabin Quiltworks

June Jaeger has been in the quilting business for over 25 years. Her quilt designs feature cowgirls, cowboys, horses and other timeless images of the West. A long term resident of Central Oregon, June works at a veterinary hospital and lives on thirty-five acres in a log cabin at the foothills of the Ochoco Mountains (you can see a photo of her cabin at Log Cabin Quiltworks).   She also has designed over 20 patterns for the Prairie Girls Quilt Shop of Prineville, Oregon, including "Wranglers", shown below.

Wranglers, 30 x 48", by June Jaeger, as seen at Prairie Girls Quilt Shop

June was first introduced to quilting by her sister, Jean Wells. June Jaeger was the inspirational instructor for the 2011 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. She also designed "Timeless", the 2010 Sisters' raffle quilt; you can see the quilt and pattern at The Stitchin' Post.  June Jaeger's stunning "Vision of Horses", below, won Judges' Choice at the Northwest Quilting Expo.

Vision of horses, by June Jaeger

As an entrepreneur, designer, and Westerner, June Jaeger embodies the cowgirl spirit. She says: "I am 65 years old, still cutting my own firewood, and still obsessed with quilting and teaching. There are so many quilts to design and make."

Image credits: Images are shown with the generous permission of June Jaeger.  At Log Cabin Quiltworks you can also see her Saddle Up and Horsin' Around patterns, and at Prairie Girls Quilt Shop you can see Forever Sisters, Rodeo Queen and Annie Oakley.

Art in Quilts --- Quilts in Art

One of our favorite quilt patterns is Storm at Sea. We love the way that the straight seams create the appearance of waves and circles. When we caught a glimpse of this dazzling storm-at-sea quilt.... somewhere... it took our breath away.  Just look at the tall ship, with its quilts for sails, in the center panel. We simply had to find out more.

On a Quilted Breeze, 87 x 109", by the Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild, with artwork by Dennis McGregor

 "On a Quilted Breeze" was designed around a glorious painting, by Dennis McGregor, called "Women on Board" (see the detail image below). The quilt designer, Nan Scott, cleverly integrated the artwork into the quilt by selecting the colors of the storm-at-sea blocks to match the colors in the image, so that the center panel appears to flow seamlessly into the blocks. If you look carefully at the quilt you will see a horizontal band of apricot-and-peach blocks, which match the colors on the horizon. The golden tones in some of the blocks match the colors in the clouds and sails, while the cerulean and aqua blues match the colors of the sky and topsail.  There is even a circular motif, reminiscent of the sun, in the upper left corner of the quilt.

Women on Board, 19 x 25", limited edition print, by Dennis McGregor

We'd love to climb on board this magical ship, with its flying geese, feathered stars, and other quilted sails.  Dennis McGregor, award-winning artist and singer-songwriter, makes his home in central Oregon - the home of the famous Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  In fact, Dennis has created many of the posters for the quilt show (and the Sisters Folk Festival.... and the Sisters Rodeo).  You can see the fabulous collection on his website.

Annie, 28 x 18", by Dennis McGregor at DennisMcGregor.com

In the background of "Annie" are the majestic Three Sisters volcanic peaks, each over 10,000 feet in elevation, that dominate the skyline.  The town of Sisters, Oregon was named after the peaks, and the stunning scenery of the region is brought to life in Dennis McGregor's painting.

There are wonderful gifts for quilters on Dennis' website, where you can find note cards, t-shirts, and even Quiltoos. Check it out, here (you'll be glad you did).  And, if you are curious to find out more,  you can see a 2004 video of Dennis in action -  singing, and painting, and talking about what inspires him -  courtesy of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Image credits: Images of "Women on Board" and "Annie" are shown with the generous permission of Dennis McGregor. "On a Quilted Breeze" was designed by Nan Scott and pieced by 48 guild members of the Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild. The quilting was done by Lisa Taylor and Mechelle Johnson.

200 posts and 200,000 page views

We recently hit two milestones:  200 posts (on July 18) and 200,000 page views (this week).  We're very pleased, and we think it's time to say THANKS to our readers, and to the many talented artists and designers who inspire us all.  We moved up the index on today's sidebar so that everyone can see what - and who -  we've featured so far.

Readers have said that they love the free patterns on our sidebar. Unfortunately, we're running out of room! We're considering adding a new blog page, where we can post all of the free patterns in an organized way that is searchable. So, for example, if someone is looking for a free Dresden Plate quilt pattern, they'd be able to find it easily. What do you think? Please leave us a comment. We'd also love to hear your ideas about themes, and anything else you'd like to add to our brainstorming session.  Many thanks !

~Marina & Daryl at Q.I.

Cute quilts for kids: it's a wrap

We're wrapping up our series on cute quilts for kids.  In case you just joined us, here are the original posts: Cute quilts for kids (a new series),  Cute quilts for kids (Don't Look Now),  Legends and dreams: Noah's ark, Cute quilts for kids... it's Playtime, All God's critters got a place in the choir, A Quilt Story by Heather & Megan, Cute quilts for kids?  Piece o'cake, Cute as a button:  Buttons and Bees, Top of the Range Designs, Just Dandy, and Quilts for kids by Mrs. Moen.

Three of these designers are from Australia, one is from Norway, and the rest are from North America. Patterns are available for all.  Hope you enjoyed these fabulous artists as much as we did ! Row 1, L-R: Sand Castles, by Rebecca Johnson at Chasing Cottons; Peak Hour, by Kellie Wulfsohn at Don't Look Now; Critters Dancin' in the Moonlight, by Linda Hohag at Brandywine Design. Row 2: Playtime, by Sandy Klop at American Jane; Rhymes to Remember, by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins, at Piece O'Cake Designs; Hootenanny, by Kim Gaddy at Buttons and Bees.  Row 3: Circus Stack, by Heather & Megan, at Quilt Story; Funky Birds and Flower Angel, by Nina Lise Moen at Mrs. Moen's patterns. Row 4:  Just Dandy, by Vanessa Christenson, at V and Co; Spell-Caster, by Tracey Campbell, at Top of the Range Designs; Noah's Ark, by Laura Nownes, at Laura Nownes.com.

Quilts for kids, by Mrs. Moen

Anna, Birte, Clara, Dorrit, Edvarda, Fredrikke, Gyda, and Hildur.  These are the names of birds designed by Nina Lise Moen, a textile artist based in Norway.  Just as certain artists - most notably, Charley Harper - became famous for their stylized birds, Mrs. Moen’s birds reveal her original, artistic style. Her brilliant mini quilt, "Comfort",  is one of 8000 art panels that will be connected side by side to wrap the Saturn V Moon Rocket.  The birds also are featured in her outstanding collection of patterns.

Comfort, 24 x 24”, Dream Theme panel, by Nina Lise Moen, at Mrs. Moen

Clara & Fredrikke (left) and Dorrit (right), by Nina Lise Moen at Mrs Moen Patterns

Here is some good news: eight of Mrs. Moen’s funky birds come in a pattern that can be used to make a slew of projects, such as the pillows shown above, mini-quilts, and more. You can mix and match the projects, as you wish. Shown above are Clara, Fredrikke, and the majestic Dorrit, with her red cape.  These birds are so lovable, they are guaranteed to make you smile.

Flower Angel (left), and Flower Bouquet (right), by Nina Lise Moen at Mrs. Moen Patterns

These flowers will last for a long time ! These are two of the charming patterns that can be found at Mrs. Moen's Patterns; you can see the projects in additional colors on the patterns page. Mrs. Moen says, "Make a few extra bouquets and you'll have flowers ready for the next time you need some to give away".  What a great idea.

Image credits: Images are shown with the generous permission of Nina Lise Moen. She has been quilting for 12 years, and she also designs patterns and teaches classes. Her blog can be found at Mrs. Moen's blogspot. Also, check out her fabulous Mix and Match for Christmas pattern.

Long Beach International Quilt Festival - Part 3

Here is Day 3 of the Long Beach International Quilt Festival, with an emphasis on international quilts and contemporary depictions of traditional patchwork patterns.

Portugal Folkloric Dancers, 92 x 118", by Leslie Gabrielse, The Netherlands,  at Gabrielse.com

Leslie Gabrielse writes that she was inspired to make this "upbeat piece" in remembrance of the folklore festivals she observed in several villages and towns as she traveled through northern Portugal. She explains, "All the village roads were decorated with colorful arches, and I tried to capture the movement of the dancers... and the variety of the colors of their folkloric costumes."

We would call this piece more than 'upbeat'.... we would call it jaw-dropping in terms of its lifelike qualities !  Notice how the dancers almost seem to be illuminated from behind, as Leslie has very skillfully placed the lighter values of fabrics in the center of the piece to create a focal point for the viewer's eye.

Portugal Folkloric Dancers, close-up

Take a look at the incredible detail of the fabric piecing in this close-up.  Beautiful hand embroidery accentuates the outlines of the dancer's costume.

Orphan Blossoms,  app. 60 x 60",  by Timna Tarr, at Q Tailored Quilts

The International Quilt Association used Timna Tarr's "Orphan Blossoms"  on the cover of the program and the tote bags for this year's Long Beach Festival, which was a great idea, because these traditional Dresden Plate blocks just about jump off of the vivid lime green, pink, and lavender background.  Timna found the antique Dresden Plate blocks on e-Bay and wanted to use them in an updated setting. She notes, "I took the Dresden Plate off its original muslin background and laid it on top of fabrics on my cutting table. When I saw how well the Plate fabrics looked on top of green hues, I knew I had to keep experimenting. Even though the Plates and center Arcs are made of old fabrics, I used new fabrics for everything else, including the one inch circles around the plates."

Orphan Blossoms by Timna Tarr, close-up

We loved the lively, swirling energy of this happy quilt, including the very cheerful "bubbles" carefully appliqued around the outside of the Dresden Plates. Timna has done a fabulous job updating one of the most popular traditional quilting patterns in the history of fabric art.

Majestic Bugs, app. 90 x 90 by Irena Bluhm, at Irena Bluhm Designs

Irena Bluhm writes, "This quilt was stitched first, then color was applied using colored pencils. Double batting was used to create the raised design effect for each colored piece of fabric."

What our camera does not show here, is the exquisite hand-embroidery stitching on each one of the stars, points, and apricot shapes. So many enthusiastic quilt fans were standing and admiring this piece, that we could not get near it for a close-up. This was one of the prettiest traditional-design quilts we saw at this show.

First Snow in Kyoto, by Christina Lauchenauer,  Switzerland, at Quilt-Art

Here's a very original and effective use of hand-sewn and hand-quilted blocks, done in elegant apricots, oranges, and cocoa tans and browns. Christina Lauchenauer says, "I tried to capture the feeling of a first cold ( autumn)  morning in Kyoto, Japan. A little snow covers the last bright leaves, and the rooftops of old houses." Christina adds that she wanted to create a beautiful hushed, muted atmosphere, evocative of the "contemplative quiet and peace of its (Kyoto's) temples."

First Snow in Kyoto, close-up

Christina explains that her inspiration to create this quilt was based on her fascination with sashiko stitching and patterns. In this close-up, you can see the variety of lovely embroidery designs she has created for each block. 

My Double Wedding Ring, by Keiko Goke, Japan,  at Quilt Wonderland

From Miyagi, Japan, Keiko Goke created this beautifully colored machine-pieced, machine-quilted, and hand top-stitched contemporary version of the beloved Amish double wedding ring pattern. Keiko worked without any templates to create sophisticated oval shapes that show off a variety of purples and lavenders against the solid gold and green backgrounds.

Autumn Splendor, by Susie L. Anderson

Susie notes that she was inspired by a Kaffe Fassett design to create this traditional baby blocks pattern in a fantastic color-saturated rainbow of monochromatic solids. We're very impressed by the quilter's fabric selection, as her careful use of light, medium, and deep values allows the viewer to clearly see each face or side of the baby block, thus enhancing the three-dimensional effect.

Birds Return, by Kayoko Oguri, Japan

Here's one of several magnificent quilts we saw with the theme of birds in flight. Kayoko Oguri says, "I like red colors. The pattern of the curves was arranged in my own way. The birds that returned to their nests in the evening sun was depicted." As you can see above, the birds seem to be flying through waves or streams of sunbeams, which were created by the use of shiny gold quilting threads applied to mirror the shape of their wings.