Quilts Etc!: contemporary diamonds

Friday, March 16, 2012

Arizona Quilt Show

Last week I attended the annual AQG show in Mesa, Arizona where I was fortunate to get a very close look at the official Centennial Quilt.

It was made by a "team of quilters, historians and artisans from across the state" and it will become part of the permanent collection of the Arizona Historical Society. It depicts the history and various features of this diverse state from desert to mountain elevations.

I thought you might enjoy a closer look....click on any photo for even closer examination.

This is the back of it - the names of all contributors are listed. It was quilted separately so basically two quilts are joined into one to allow custom quilting on each side.

The design, artistry and workmanship is astounding. Cudos to those who had anything to do with its creation. It is truly a treasure for the state of Arizona.

I also snapped a few other photos......
Since I'm working on my diamonds these two caught my eye.

And....I was surprised to see this quilt made with fabrics from the 1970's. I recognized several exact prints in my collection. Maybe they are making a comeback!

Could the rapid rise in cost per yard of fabric today be encouraging us to take a new look at our stashes?

Next Weekend: Regional Quilt Study Meeting

Tucson, AZ

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Quilt in a Day II - Amish Bars

19" x 21"

Here's one I put together today; the 2nd in what I think will become a series. It's just too much fun! I think I could get into this size...it helps me feel better about the ones that have been in progress for years and years!

To decide what I want to do I look at examples in my books and on-line. I study their characteristics, variations and use of color. The bars design seems to always have an uneven number of strips.

I used five colors of solid cotton. The little corner squares are a slightly brighter purple. The vertical strips finish at 2".

Here are a few vintage bed size examples from the collection at the IQSC