QuiltCon Raleigh - Part 7 (Last)

When I attend QuiltCon, I'm primarlily there to see quilts, and attend lectures. Secondarily, I like meeting up with friends. Lastly, I'm there for browsing and shopping vendors. This year, for the first time, I didn't even take a workshop, though I was on a waitlist for a hand embroidery one. 

What little shopping I did happened mostly on Sunday afternoon, after the crush of people had headed home. 

Of course I made the obligatory purchase of the annual issue of QuiltCon magazine. My blogger-friend Patti Dudek @elmstreetquilts has a pattern in it - Lavender Marmalade - on page 90. I also discovered that some vendors offer discounts on Sunday, so I was able to pick up EQ Printables (for making quilt labels) for 30% off. The orange zipper was just 50¢ in Latifah Saafir's booth. A cone of Scanfil thread was full price at $55 - yikes. 

Fabric purchases: I couldn't resist the "Sugar Cone" print that will sew into a cute Cielo top for myself (Appropriate for wearing when I go to the new Twistee Treat when it opens!) The "Counter" print by ebond will be suitable for a new Sunshine Crossbody Pouch to go with the cork (above) and "Quilt Tattoo" fabric I bought from Salty Hippo. 

See the two orange fat quarters on the right? Salty Hippo prints lower and upper case alphabet letters - Ransom Mixed Letters - on Kaufman Kona fabric. I'm considering what I want to say on the side of my Sunshine bag. 

I would have purchased more fabric but QuiltCon vendors did not sell solid color fabrics by the yard. I specifically looked for Painter's Palette solids and Kaufman Kona solids, and none was to be found except in pre-made bundles. Only at the end of the show did I see several bolts of Riley Blake solids sold by the yard in the Modern Mashe booth. For this being a modern quilt show, and solids being used predominantely in modern quilts, wouldn't you think more vendors would sell solid fabrics?

My most exciting purchase was from LDH Scissors. This is a business that I like to call "mine" because LDH are my initials. Every pair of scissors from there have my initials printed on them. 😀

When I went to the booth and told owner Roy that my name was Linda and that, "I am LDH," he got a big grin on his face. He grabbed one of their tote bags for me, and invited me to pose for a photo with him. It was a fun moment.

Roy told me that though their business is based in Canada, they're now offering free sharpening services for LDH scissors (not rotary blades) out of Houston, Texas. Also I learned that LDH stands for: Love. Dedication. Happiness.

Honestly though, LDH scissors are the best scissors I have ever cut fabric with! Yep, they're better than Ginghers (Gingher shears are no longer sharpened in the US because that service isn't offered anymore.) I happily purchased 45mm and 60mm rotary blades (which I have yet to try); two pair of snips (if you were lucky enough to get a QuiltCon Swag Bag, a pair of LDH snips was included)... 

... 5" (end to end) curved blade scissors.

See my initials on them?! Ha, ha.

Since I missed my end-of-month (February) blog post where I share my monthly fabric tracking, I'll conclude my QuiltCon posts with that data. Incoming fabric totalled 3.50 yards, all purchased at QuiltCon. Outgoing fabric was not quite a half-yard of fabric used to make the Scrappy FPP Hexagon. 

I haven't been at my sewing machine since February 16, but I expect that to change soon. I have a paint chip challenge due in May! I see a bias tape project in my future. Linda

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

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.

Lemon & Blueberry, Carl Brown @quiltcarl, California

"...inspired by the prolific work of Anni and Josef Albers, pioneers of twentieth-century modernism."

Improv piecing quilted on a longarm.

Amber, Dawn Polomski @dawnfp1248, Delaware

This was inspired by clothing worn by Namibians, after a trip to that country. 

Improv pieced and domestic machine quilted. 

Split Seasons, Margaret Fleisher @margaretfleisher, Pennsylvania

Improv pieced and domestic machine quilted.

Jazz Quilting, Hannah Parks @halfsquarehannah, Vermont

Improv pieced, hand appliquéd, and hand quilted.

Random quilts from other categories will be shared in QuiltCon Raleigh, Part 6. Linda