"Show us Your Best Blooms" challenge quilts on display

 A beautiful group of quilts is currently hanging at the Richmond Memorial Library  through the month of February.  Visitors are invited to cast their ballots for the "Viewer's choice" awards.  Guild members are also invited to fill out a ballot in several categories for awards in addition to those selected by judges Patty Cline, of Chestnut Bay Quilting, and Penny Marble of Penny Marble Designs . Each judge chose a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, plus a judge's choice award.  Winning quilts are pictured with their ribbons.

Tracy Jachimowicz putting the final touches on the display

  A total of  18 guild members created  21 quilts in answer to the "Show us Your Best Blooms" challenge.
In addition to including flowers, each quilt had to use a piece of this fabric.  There are some which require careful study to identify this fabric!

Val Schultz: Despite the Dog Gone Blues

                                                     Just try to find the challenge fabric!
 

"Happy Birthday", by Tracy Jachimowicz

 Tracy Jachimowicz was inspired to recreate a beautiful birthday card given to her by a friend.  It opens up to reveal more exquisite embroidery and embellishing.

"Abandoned" by Elaine Ross

 Elaine was inspired by an old piece of farm equipment left abandoned in a field

"The Best Blooms are Ragged Blooms", by Ann Renica

Ann has discovered she really loves the look of the big stitch "sashiko" quilting

"Crazy Blooms", by Kate Martin

Kate's crazy quilts are always full of beauty to draw you in for a closer look

"Blue Coneflowers" by Mary Ellen Casey

Mary Ellen had always wanted to make this pattern, she just didn't know it would be blue!

Jamie's Blue Flower Pot", by Kevin and Alex Hammon

Kevin and Alex's daughter, Jamie, painted the picture inspiring this piece at art camp last summer.

"Forget-me-not" by Martha Lorshbaugh

                                A cheery little bag to make us dream of spring!

"Garden Jewels" by Martha Lorshbaugh

             Martha used several fun techniques to create this piece, including just a bit of glitter.

"Zinnia Burst" by Chris Kuehl

 Chris found the center of her zinnia much more interesting than then flower itself. Beautiful quilting!

 

"Fuchsias in Bloom", by Melanie Watson

                                                    Melanie's hand applique is just perfect!

"Bloomin' Frogs", by Mary Anne Watson

Mary Anne also had fun playing with a pattern she had wanted to do for a long time.

"United States of Flora" by Bethany Anderson

                                            Each state has a crystal at the capital.

"Floating Blooms", by Jennifer Grimsley

                              Jenny used her stash of Kaffe Fasset fabrics to make her blooms bright.

"A Mother's Day Memory", by Susan Rathbun

A tile she found at the Roycroft Inn when she and her daughter visited inspired Susan

"Mom's Stash of Zippers", by Susan Rathbun

Using old zippers her mom couldn't bear to throw away made Susan think her mom would ask why she wasted them this way.

"Flower Child 1975" by Cynda Watroba

Cynda hand painted the background on this piece.  See the challenge fabric peeking out of the jeans?

"Forsythia", by Gloria Crittenden

              Gloria was inspired by a free form poem she found in an old magazine

"Summer Marsh", by Gloria Crittenden

Gloria enlarged the hexagons to 3/8 of an inch to make this a little easier to piece.

"Chaos Blooms" by Connie Grimsley

Connie has no idea how many fabrics are in the background of this piece.

Thanks to all the members who worked so hard to create this beautiful display!!

Congratulations to the winners- so far!  I'll be back to list the member awards later in the month.