Pacific International Quilt Festival

Oh my! Talk about an amazingly inspirational day!!! Sometimes I go to quilt shows and feel overwhelmed in the sense that I am a mere speck in the quilt world and my work is less than dust. That doesn't happen often, but it's happened enough that it bothers me. I am happy to report that yesterday was NOT one of those days. My preferred response to a wonderful show is to examine and appreciate the skill and vision of other quilters and the encouragement their work provides. They are an inspiration! Yesterday was a day filled with amazing quilts, each more spectacular than the last. Every technique known to quilters was there on display, and I was captivated.

I've never been much for taking pictures at quilt shows. I'm always afraid I'll end up trying to copy someone's work. But since I began the blog, I've been asked which quilts attract my attention. It's easiest to show you, rather than to try to describe them.

But first, I have to share a little story.

Leslie and I walked into the show and looked at the wall quilts to the left of the entrance. When we moved to the right of the entrance, I saw two women who looked familiar. I touched them each on the arm and announced, "I know you!" They were Aileen and Jean, two women I met earlier this year in Cynthia Corbin's class at Asilomar. They both had quilts in the show, but they had just arrived, so they did not know where they were hanging. We parted ways, and went on to enjoy the show.

It wasn't 5 minutes later that we found Jean's quilt. oh my!! It was hanging in the Best of Show display! I was so pleased for her, I didn't think to ask her what she'd won! I'd seen this quilt in March, and it is fantastic!

Jean Jurgenson and "Hong Kong Taxi"

One of my show assignments was to find two quilts and photograph them for Sharon. I found her quilt first. I had a terrible time trying to get a picture, there were so many people crowded around it I snapped it in a hurry during a lull.

"Beautiful Beulah" - Judge's Choice

Sharon Schlotzhauer

She'd asked me to find Sherry's quilt, which was easier said than done. Finally we turned a corner and there it was. I'd seen this quilt earlier, at the Rocky Mtn Quilt Festival, where it won Viewer's Choice. When we turned around, there was Sherry, glowing with excitement, basking in the glory of being awarded a juicy red rosette. :)

"Reynolds Crossing"
Sherry Reynolds

As usually happens at a show, whoever I am with will spot a quilt and announce, "There's Pete's quilt!" I'll look, and there will be a cow. :) Of course I took a picture, to share with him when I got home. This quilt is completely hand appliqued and hand quilted. It is AMAZING.

"EIEIO"
Nancy S. Brown

I found quilts made by two of the SAQA artists whose work I purchased last year and this. For excellent pictures and descriptions, I refer you to Del Thomas's blog. She is more familiar with their work than I am, and her photos and descriptions are terrific! Be sure to check all of her PIQF posts. Phyllis Cullen and Franki Kohler are the artists whose work I own. (Franki is the Gingko queen! :)

I am smitten with quilting, and loved the feathering on this machine-quilted beauty. :)

This one was also exquisite. What is it about 2-color quilts that make me covet them?


Finally, I bumped into a friend as I was shopping the vendors. She asked, "What have you seen that inspires you today?" What an excellent question! I hadn't thought to ask myself that. I pulled out my camera and flipped through until I found these two pictures.

The first is a very simple quilt. The detail is in the beading. I have no idea what it is called, but I know the artist. The beads truly look like it is raining.

The work of Thom Adkins

And finally, this was the show-stopper for me. I LOVED this quilt!!! The attention to detail was incredible. I felt like I was at the tidepools. I could have stood there for an hour examining each and every lovely thing. Be sure to click on the picture so that you can see the detail as well!

"Tide Pool Souvenirs - Littoral Memories"
Isabel Downs

wow. The only things I bought from the vendors, other than a book and some cones of thread were a few pieces of flotsam and jetsam to make my own ocean wonderland. Perhaps I'll post the picture tomorrow, this post is much too long.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to recall yesterday's trip to paradise! The show was fantabulous, and if you weren't there, I'm sorry you missed it!!!