KusudamaMichael Michalski of Brooklyn, New York201116″ x 16″Quilt Alliance’s Alliances: People, Patterns, Passion contest Materials: Commercial cotton prints and batiks, cotton and poly batting, cotton cord, foundation paper piecing, faux trapunto, couching. Artist’s Statement: Kusudama are decorative paper balls made for special occasions. They show the mastery of the origami artist in using simple paper squares. Likewise, the quilt maker uses fabric as a way to express an inner vision, of showing others how we see things. Quilts function as both an artistic viewpoint and a way of showing others we care. Kusudama represents how a craftsman and his medium work together in that expression, an alliance of artist and material.

Blest Be the Threads that BindMichelle Flamer of Wynnewood, PA201320″ x 20″Quilt Alliance’s TWENTY contest Materials: Raw edge machine appliqué and hand quilting Artist’s Statement: Whether we are old, young, black, white, “plain,” “English,” rich, poor, or quilt traditional or modern, we are all quilters united by that desire to create something wonderful from a lifeless pile of fabric! Blest Be the Threads that Bind celebrates Quilt Alliance’s twenty years of service to the American quilting community, a community that transcends time and endures even now in the 21st Century.  

A.J.Maggi Gordon, Shahnaz Khan, Chad Lindsey, Ritchy McFadden, Michael Michalski, Michele Reisch, Eric Sciotto, and Melanie Vaughan201320″ x 20″Quilt Alliance’s TWENTY contest Materials: Commercial cotton, decorator fabrics, yarn, embroidery thread; machine and hand piecing and applique, embroidery, inkjet printing Artist’s Statement: Like a quilt, American currency (even though it has evolved over the years) wears its tradition proudly. It is useful yet also decorative, full of meaningful symbols harkening back to an earlier time. While often overlooked as just a part of everyday life, careful study shows the handiwork of many artisans. This is our first try at a ‘slice quilt’. Though quite diverse, our myriad viewpoints and talents came together quite nicely, our own American melting pot. Makers are members of the Broadway Gentlemen’s Quilting Auxiliary.

Soul SistersJamie Fingal201116″ x 16″Quilt Alliance’s Alliances: People, Patterns, Passion contest Materials: Commercial cottons and batiks fused, painted, free-motion machine quilted. Buttons sewn on by hand. Artist’s Statement: My closest friend and I often send each other e-mails that have “coffee break” in the subject line. It is our way to sit down at the computer with a cup of coffee, tea, or even a glass of wine and read each other’s catch-up news. What could be more fun than cups and saucers on our heads? Dedicated to women friends!

Tulip GardenJeff Lovin201016″ x 16″Quilt Alliance New from Old contest Materials: Hand appliqued, hand pieced and hand quilted. Artist’s Statement: I am a native of Madison County, North Carolina, and started quilting over 23 years ago for extra income. I am a self-taught quilter, though many have contributed to my knowledge of quilting. Mrs. Brown from Middlefork taught me how to punch rugs, and I sort of shifted from rugs to pillows to quilts. Many I make are vintage patterns, and some are my own creations. I have quilts for sale at Fiddlestix in Mars Hill, NC.

Ciao Bella LimoncelloMichele Muska200916″ x 16″Quilt Alliance Crazy for Quilts contest Materials: Silks, cottons, glass beads & felted postcards, sterling silver and glass enamel button, silk bias tape ruching and grosgrain ribbon flowers. Artist’s Statement: When my son returned from Sicily he made Limoncello from our friend’s organic Meyers lemons. He had to peel many lemons and go through a long process to get to the end result. I helped him strain the citrus libation several times and now it sits in my freezer for special occasions. This little block evokes the brightness and contrast that this special brew and experience represents to me.