California Fall Quilt Show: Part 5

The Diablo Valley Quilters 2013 show in California was so interesting, that we still have lots of lovely quilts to show you ! 

Sally's All Stars, 90 x 100", by Sally Socolich 

Sally says,  "Sandy Klop's (designer for American Jane Patterns)  updated interpretation of a strip-pieced star was a challenge and great fun. Loved using all my happy fabrics!"  We think that Sally did a super job of combining contrasting solid and print fabrics in such a way that these star blocks really sparkle.  An interesting print border really helps play up the soft apricot, peach, and gold tones of the blocks.

My Partner - My Pal, 30 x 36", by Lynn Hart 

Lynn notes,  "Andor [the German Shepherd] was my son's working partner on the police force for many years.  His Dad and I are very thankful that he worked beside our son, keeping him from harm. The dog is now retired and living out his retirement in the home of my son and his wife........ I began this project in July by taking a class in Sisters, Oregon, with June Jaeger. She's a wonderful teacher, and the class,  'Best Friends', was terrific."

Freddy's House, 70 x 72", by Debbie Pryor

Debbie writes,  "I took the workshop [to create the Freddy's House pattern] with Freddy Moran in April 2012 through Diablo Valley Quilters, and she was such an inspiration to just 'go with the flow'. I'm very pleased with all the colors in this quilt."

Close-up, Freddy's House by Debbie Pryor

If you look closely at the windows of these cute houses, you'll see all sorts of people and creatures peeking out of them. Debbie's very effective use of an array of rainbow colors has resulted in a vividly eye-catching quilt. 

Maryland Memories, 78 x 91", by Audrey Mantle

Log cabin quilts are always a traditional, beloved favorite pattern, and this expert rendition is no exception. Audrey designed, pieced, and quilted this spectacular creation herself. She has even added a log cabin pieced border to complete the graceful symmetrical look of her work.

Close-up  Maryland Memories by Audrey Mantle

In her excellent workmanship, Audrey used mostly cool blue tones and pale neutrals, always a winning combination.  The green vine  around the center medallion and the gently curved flower provide a very pleasing contrast to the angular geometric composition of the square blocks.

Grandma's Butterflies, 85 x 108", by Kathy Fitzpatrick

Kathy states, " The butterfly applique blocks were made by Bob Jellison's grandmother, Linda; and I chose the fabrics. I pieced the top and did the hand quilting for them."  We really liked this romantic design and the vintage, classic look of these graceful blocks.

Close-up , Grandma's Butterflies by Kathy Fitzpatrick

Soft pastels and muted prints enhance the delicate, ethereal look of these butterflies, which appear to float dreamily above the neutral background.

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

All wrapped up: simple, stylish holiday quilts

~Stay tuned for Christmas around the World!~

This year we've featured a medley of holiday quilts, ranging from quick-pieced blocks to appliqued motifs.  Now, as we're getting ready to share Christmas quilts from around the world, here's a wrapup!

Row 1:  Shopping’s done! Gift’s wrapped! by Sandy Gervais at Pieces from my Heart; Argyle Christmas by Natalia Bonner at Piece N Quilt. Row 2: Royaltry by Kay M. Capps Cross at Cross Cuts Quilting; Christmas Tree by Paris Bottman at Bigfork Bay Cotton Co.   Row 3: Gift Quilt by Brandon Mably at Brandon Mably Designs; Christmas reindeer by June Jaeger at Log Cabin Quiltworks. Row 4: Peace by Norma Whaley and Joyce Weeks at Geoff’s Mom Patterns; Yonder Star by Ann Lauer at Grizzly Gulch Gallery.

Christmas reindeer

Happy Saturday! It's Day 6 of our "simple, stylish" holiday quilts and we wanted to share our favorite reindeer (quilt).  He could be Dasher, Dancer, Prancer or Vixen. The image reminds us of the cover of the classic children's book, The Night Before Christmas,  which depicts Santa's reindeer silhouetted by the moon.

Christmas Reindeer, 23-1/2 x 33",  by June Jaeger at Log Cabin Quiltworks (Oregon)

This reindeer is silhouetted by a shiny green Christmas ornament; the graceful red ribbon that adorns the deer is echoed by the red ribbon on the ornament. 

June Jaeger is a renowned designer, entrepreneur and teacher. We first featured her work in our series on Quilts of the Wild West.   Many of her patterns have animal silhouettes, which we love; the silhouettes portray the animals in their simplest forms.  At Log Cabin Quiltworks you can find June's artistic patterns for winter, wildlife and birds, including Gambel's quail. Last but not least, if you are a cat lover you will enjoy her cat quilts such as Here a kitty There a kitty.

Image credits: The image is shown with the generous permission of June Jaeger.

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

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.