Flourishing Palms

Sunday, March 8, 2026

QuiltCon Raleigh, Part 6 - Other Quilts

Continuing with my QuiltCon review, I have only a few more quilt photos to share, most of which I took on Sunday afternoon when the show was winding down. That's when it was mostly just me, the quilts, and the vendors.

Since I wasn't fond of the colors of the Windham Artisan Fabrics Challenge chosen by keynote speaker Hillary Goodwin, I have only one quilt from that category to show.

Flight, Melinda Gerber @melindas.creative.journey, California

Domestic machine and hand quilted, and embroidered. I like the way Melinda hand stitched one color and then re-hand stitched in between the first stitches. Original, isn't it?

Balance of Light & Dark, Lauren Klementz-Hart @creativelifesampler, California

Lauren won 1st place in the Handwork category with Midnight & Noon, and the quilt below was in the Handwork category too.

Lauren says this work is "the creation of interesting composition given random remnants from my scrap collection." Hand appliquéd, hand embroidered, hand quilted.

Another QuiltCon challenge was the Diamond Quilting Challenge sponsored by American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. I adore this one, and would voted for it if I'd had more than one vote for People's Choice.

Bolt Loads of Fabric, Lindsey Eisenhardt @wildeandpurdy, Wisconsin

Foundation paper pieced and domestic machine quilted.

My friend from South Florida MQG, Sarah Muslim Lefebvre @sidestitchesdesign made the quilt below also for the Diamond Quilting Challenge.

Broken Splinters From Fallen Stars

Foundation paper pieced and domestic machine quilted. Sarah told me she thinks she used five color values.

Group & Bee Quilt - Hilma, Stephanie Ruyle @spontaneousthreads, Colorado

Participants made blocks that "channel the major artwork of Hilma auf Klint."

Other makers are: Leanne Chahley, Debbie Jeske, Karen Foster, Felicity Ronaghan, M-R Charbonneau, Marci Debetoz and Kari Barber.

While at QuiltCon, a special treat was getting to meet-up for the first time with two Bloggers whose blogs I have read for several years, and who read my blog!

On the left is Mary of ZippyQuilts. I recommend following her to see the creative quilts she makes. Here's her blog post about seeing quilted clothing at QuiltCon - something I didn't get into because... I don't have occasions to wear cold-weather clothing, and some of the clothing was way over-the-top. Prints, designs, colors in a mishmash that could be overpowering.

Another Blogger I met was Joy who blogs at The Joyful Quilter. When I met her I wasn't feeling well (a head cold) so I didn't get to hug her.

I also briefly talked with Doris Brunette, a long-time friend from Iowa. Doris and I knew each other when we both worked at Drake University in Des Moines, and then later, in 2010 we co-founded the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild, now the Central Iowa Modern Quilt Guild. Doris is currently the Editor-in-Chief of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine and presented awards to the winners of the Diamonds Quilting Challenge sponsored by American Patchwork & Quilting.

Lisa Ruble @quiltyzest DMed me on Instagram to come to the Benartex booth where she was promoting her fabric line. She wanted me to see the tote she'd made using my Confetti Pouch tutorial.

Lisa used leftover project scraps to make this. Didn't it turn out cute? If you're interested in the tutorial, go here.

This is Emilié Trahan, a Canadian who's a previous QC Best in Show winner, and who had several quilts at this QC. I stopped her to ask for a photo of her in her crocheted top. Of course, I shouldn't have been surprised to learn that she designed and made it herself! So cute and colorful.

Since I mentioned People's Choice several times, I'll add a photo of the quilt that received the People's Choice award. In nine QuiltCons, I have yet to vote for the winner which I suppose says a lot about my taste in quilts.

Frances, Jeanne Eileen Garcia @jeanne.garcia, Colorado

I don't have any quilt details except that this is a portrait of Jeanne's mother. She's certainly beautiful.

I've just scrolled through all the pictures I took of quilts, and realize I've shared them all. I'm sorry I missed taking photos of quilts in the Improv Category, but perhaps my psyche was subtly reminding me that I'm no good at improv. One more post about QuiltCon, and I'll call it a wrap. Linda

Saturday, March 7, 2026

QuiltCon Raleigh, Part 5 - Small Quilts

I probably spent the most time looking at quilts in the Small Quilts category. By my manual count, 53 quilts were displayed in Small Quilts. I certainly can't share them all, but here are 19 of those that attracted my attention.

Vari Blue, Betsy Vinegrad @betsy.vinegrad, New Jersey

This was a challenge quilt using a color from the maker's first initial, and a block design from the maker's last name initial (Variable Star). It's domestic machine quilted.

Below is the 1st place winning quilt in the Small Quilts category.

Shake it Up, Tania Tanti @tania_tanti_artist, Australia

It's domestic machine quilted, embroidered and hand quilted.

Another quilt by Tania Tanti is Wash Away the Blues

This quilt has heaps of hand stitching.

Joyful Study: Energy, Sarah Campbell @stitchmodequilts, Texas

I like the quilt because of the colors, and the impressive precision sewing!

Also by Sarah Campbell is Neon Quilts #2 (Strawberry)

Sarah said she asked herself, "Can I made a quilt light up?"

This quilt includes bias tape. Check out all the machine quilting that creates the glow. This quilt sold for $200.

Mediterranean Moonlight, Patricia Heath @mysterypoppy, Colorado

Though I'm not a fan of brown, I appreciate this piece, especially all that yummy perle cotton quilting texture from stitching about ⅛" apart.

Making Mayhem, Jo Wollschlaeger @jowoquilts, Oregon

This is one of those head-scratchers - How did she do this?

Jo said this quilt was inspired by inset strip quilts by Hillary Goodwin (the 2026 QuiltCon keynote speaker). Are multiple layers of fabric under each strip? It's domestic machine quilted.

Cuesta Inlet Kayaks, Rene Tallman @uniquilter, California

Such a colorful, simple design made with scraps hand appliquéd to a Kona Parchment background.

Domestic machine quilted.

Chameleon Radio Waves, Emily Kidney @tabbycatquilts, Oregon

I love the narrow piecing! Emily learned curved foundation paper piecing from Steph Skardal in a QuiltCon workshop.

Untitled, Liz Kuny, New Jersey

This design was inspired by an Art Deco plate seen in a museum.

The walking foot quilting creates movement.

Car Wash, Elizabeth Ray @elizabethkray, Arkansas

I think is perfectly named.

So Close, So Far, Juli Smith @zahada_mod, California

The title explains a friendship Juli has with a person who lives across the Atlantic. Domestic machine and hand quilted.

Subtle but effective, this is Pink Square, Ellen Meeker @elmeekerquilts, Michigan

Ellen said she set a challenge for herself, to use thread for pattern, instead of piecing. Domestic machine and hand quilted.

The quilt below was a favorite, and made me wish I could vote for two quilts for People's Choice award.

11.5% Emily, Emily Williams @emwilliamsfiber, Massachuesetts

Emily says, "Out of 52 Boston Modern Quilt Guild members, six are named Emily!"

Emily created the patchwork background with recycled denim from jeans, and hand appliquéd 52 circles (representing 52 guild members) made from discarded shirts.

Hand quilting is with thread reclaimed from the denim jeans. I like the "EMILY EMILY EMILY" embroidered around the perimeter of the circle.

Heart Matters, Sharon Hart @shrnhart, Arizona

"...our true heart is revealed in the many ways we reach out in the world - verbal, written, spiritual and artistic expression." Domestic machine quilted.