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Margery Hedges' goal was to, "create a colorful, bright, fun, and somewhat fanciful image to make you smile." You get all of those things, plus some great machine quilting, in her quilt Teacups and a Parrot.
Teacups and a Parrot by Margery Hedges of Austin, Texas was featured in the Animal Kingdom category at Houston 2019.
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Over the course of The Art of Quilt Design we have presented many quilt examples to illustrate an idea or concept. But there is one subject that we have not touched on until now-- the Masterpiece Award quilt. What exactly is considered a masterpiece quilt and who determines that a work deserves this title?
Gail Stepanek and Jan Hutchison met online and became fast friends and collaborative partners in the world of competetive quilting. They each bring a wealth of knowledge and tremendous skill to a project.
Selected as a Masterpiece Quilt at the Houston Quilt Festival in 2017,
Cardinal Points was the sixth quilt they collaborated on together. The design for the quilt, which took a year to complete, was based on an antique quilt. Gail loved the original design, but decided to scale the blocks down to a much smaller size. The quilt top took an entire year to complete. The top was then handed off to Jan for quilting, which took three months due to the fact that each circle was stitched in a different design.
Cardinal Points has won several prizes, including First Place Large Quilts, Pieced AQS QuiltWeek Paducah Fall 2017, Third Place Traditional at Houston in 2016, and the Marie White Masterpiece Award at Road to California 2017. Let's look at some details of this masterpiece quilt.
(Images from The Secret Life of Mrs. Meatloaf & Telling Stories Through the Needle's Eye)
What is the Masterpiece Award, and what do the judges look for when selecting a recipient? NQA Certified Quilt Judge, Beverly Fine, shares some insight into the process.
(images courtesy of Beverly Fine, unless otherwise noted)
In 1980, certified quilt judges created a special honor for quilts that surpass the highest expectations for development of design and exemplary workmanship. As these judges travel the country while judging large and small quilt shows, they are on the lookout for quilts that could be evaluated as possible Masterpieces. There are only a few absolute requirements for a quilt to be nominated for an evaluation: that the quilt be at least 25 sq. ft. in size, that the quilt must have been completed within the previous five years, and that the quiltmaker(s) be living.
In considering a nomination, a judge is not looking for perfection, but they are looking for a quilt that will stand the test of time. Colors can be subtly shaded, as in Diane Guadynski’s “Through a Glass Darkly”, or high chroma, as in the case of Pat Holly’s “Saffron Splendor”.
Designs can be elegant and classically traditional, such as Gail Stepanek and Jan Hutchinson’s “Cardinal Points”, or charming and whimsical such as Mary Buvia’s “The Loading Dock”.
Some characteristics are shared among the winners, such as intricate details, excellent contrast, a sense of proportion and harmony, and the freshness and creativity born of an experienced quiltmaker.
Shirley Kelley’s story of a series of quilts leading up to “Flowers of the Crown” bears this out. These are the quilts that cause a gasp upon first glance and demand a much longer viewing to take in all that is shown.
In all, 33 quilts have been designated Masterpieces. These quiltmakers share the knowledge that they have achieved the very highest distinction among award winners. Collectively, their names are a veritable “Who’s Who” in the quilting community.
A quiltmaker may also nominate their own quilt for evaluation as a Masterpiece for a small fee. When a nomination is accepted, a team of five certified judges then evaluates the quilt. The evaluation is highly structured and usually lasts almost two hours to complete. A full evaluation is then written and sent to the quiltmaker, whether the quilt achieves a Masterpiece designation or not. Quiltmakers appreciate the detailed and positive nature of the feedback. Up to three quilts per year are accepted for evaluation.
For more information abot the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges www.NACQJ.com.
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Join the Quilt Alliance for Quilters Take a Moment (QTMo), a one of a kind experience to help you get through this challenging year. The nonprofit Quilt Alliance typically holds their biennial fundraiser in the Big Apple, but this year we’ll be together on the Big Screen—your screen. No travel required and this year, the ticket includes an expansive and unique quilt exhibit. In addition to two days of live programming via Zoom with speakers like Anna Maria Horner and interviews with distinguished fiber artists like Dindga McCannon, you will have full access to the Known & Unknown quilt exhibition, 34 stunning quilts from two centuries. We’ll be together to hear incredible quilt stories, see beautiful quilts and meet fascinating people, like Ricky Tims, who recorded a special musical performance just for QTMo!
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Alex saw it in the Shop and took one home to try out. Here are 3 things she loves about it. When she first showed it on her LIVE broadcast it instantly sold out. We were able to get a new delivery finally. However, we couldn't get all we wanted of this $22.39 product. Hurry, if you want to give it a try.
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Jennifer really wanted the fabric to speak for itself in this quilt, so she used a simple octagon pattern to emphasis how important choosing your fabric is when making a quilt. Enjoy the stunning color and fabric from the view of Sunset Lake.
Learn from Jennifer in Show 2706.
Original Photos: Kristin Goedert
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We continue our selection of quilts exhibited in 2019 at the Houston International Quilt Festival as part of their 45th Anniversary, the Sapphire Anniversary. The Sapphire Celebration exhibit is described as:
"Quilters have long used the color blue to symbolize trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven. Sapphire is also the chosen gem to celebrate 45th anniversaries—which International Quilt Festival is doing this year (2019)! These new and antique blue and white quilts will be suspended from the ceiling in a spectacular and unforgettable display."
To be a part of the exhibit, quilts had to fit the following criteria:
Please enjoy the thirty-first quilt from the exhibition by an Unknown Maker.
Title of Quilt: Texas Star
Quilter's Name: Unknown Maker
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Combining her loves of quilting and gardening, Pamela Seaberg wanted to depict her favorite rose in a quilt. She did this with her quilt Belle Story, "named after the first of three nursing sisters to serve as an officer in the Royal Navy in 1884."
Belle Story by Pamela Seaberg of Kenmore, Washington was featured in the Naturescape category at Houston 2019.
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With less than a hundred days till Christmas, it's a perfect time to get a head start on your holiday decor. Anneliese at WeAllSew has a quick and easy Holly Berry Pillow for you to make to get ahead of the game.
Get The Holly Berry Template PDF
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The Quilt Show is so excited to share the 2020 Viewers’ Choice Award Winner from The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, sponsored by SewBatik. Congratulations to Barbara E Nagengast Lies from Wheaton, Illinois, whose quilt, A Garden is a Lovesome Thing, received this year's award!
Here is Barbara’s artist statement: "Every element, including the critters, was developed from my own photos. Everything, except the fence, the trellis, the background trees and the salvia, is needle turned. The trees and salvia were created by stitching tulle over shapes. I also used tulle to shade the flowers, particularly the yellow daylilies."
Barbara has been quilting for nine years. She said she was born with a needle and fiber in her hands and has been manipulating fiber with sewing, knitting, needlepoint, quilting and weaving ever since. Barbara’s mother has been her inspiration for all things textile. This quilt is dedicated to her mother, Dorothy E Leech Nagengast.
(Photo: The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show)
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We Are the Story is a multi-site initiative of quilt exhibitions curated by Carolyn Mazloomi, and presented by Textile Center & Women of Color Quilters Network.
Curator Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi and Textile Center Director Karl Reichert will join Women of Color Quilters Network member Michelle Flamer in conversation about We Are the Story on September 30, 2020 at 2 pm EDT. Click the photo below for more details about We Are the Story.
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