My Favorites from the IQA Houston

Here are the first of my favorite quilts. Art-Naturescapes was the category in which I won an Honorable Mention. Some categories had only one HM, others such as this one had two. Below is the second HM. It leads me to believe the competition in this category was particularly strong. I think the piece is stunning. I personally thought it better than the 2nd and 3rd place, which goes to show how differently judges evaluate and place work in quilt shows. I did not photograph all of the quilts in the show and not even all of the winners but rather those I found outstanding or interesting in some way artistically.

Here’s a photo of mine with the pretty pink HM ribbon–just to prove I really won it.

This is the first place award winner in my category. Striking!

Great composition. Among the pieces juried into this category, this piece was clearly the one outstanding.

The title says it all.

I love the big stitch quilting Susan did to fill in the background. It reminds me of the embroidery I did on my piece in the show. I saw her at the show with her quilt explaining to people how she fears background quilting, because she is not adept at it and so searched for a different way to quilt the background while adding to the overall effect of the top.

I haven’t seen anything new from Cynthia England for some time. After looking at the show a number of times, I absolutely think this was deserving of BOS. I took a class from her nearly twenty years ago while living in Des Moines. She’s a wonderful teacher whom I recommend.

Outstanding exuberance through movement of color. I also think the background patterning is a great contrast to the organic lines of “paint.”

Each year well-known artists are asked to donate miniature quilts to a silent auction. There were a number I would have liked to have won and this was one of them. I tried bidding the first time I went three years ago, but unless you are at the show on the last day, Sunday, someone outbids you. This year I didn’t bother. No sense being frustrated. I simply admired.

Jerry showed the evolution of his quilt on FB. He did fabulous work. A few years ago, I judged his “Samson and Delilah” quilt at the National Quilters Association show in Columbus, OH and have followed his work ever since.

Personality really shines through in the dog’s face.

I interviewed Pat in Paducah for her first place finish in the Miniature category when I was a contributing editor for American Quilter magazine. I think she won it three years in a row. She is the master or perhaps mistress of miniatures.

Charming piece. Wonderful wallpaper.

Here’s a piece done by one of the nicest, most talented couples I have ever interviewed. Their love for the grandchildren and pets comes through again and again in their work, whether done jointly or individually.

Janet’s contribution features the alphabet and sheep, the same motifs from her ongoing series.

This piece is by my friend Barbara Lies. I did two articles with her for American Quilter. I was pleased to see she is still working with her dimensional bars in a most effective way.

I like the way this maker of this quilt moved color over the surface successfully, much as Barbara did above. I also think both quilters achieved great texture through the quilting design.