Thursday, May 17, 2012

Blogger’s Quilt Festival, Spring 2012: Arizona’s Centennial

Welcome intrepid travelers of the bloggisphere and from Amy’s Creative Side to Always, Queenie Believe and my entry in the Spring 2012 Blogger’s Quilt Festival:
Arizona’s Centennial
This quilt was inspired by this faboo Arizona fabric I happened across last summer while fabric shopping with the Queenie Mother, (A talented seamstress in her own right!) Little did I know at the time that it was the Arizona Centennial Quilt Challenge fabric… 
The great state of Arizona turned 100 on Saint Valentine’s day, 2012. Needless to say, I walked out of the store with a yard or two of the fabric intrigued by the idea of creating an art quilt in celebration of my beloved Arizona’s birthday.
Queenie adventured on a flight of fancy with Arizona research in one hand and fabric in the other, coming up with this rough sketch centered around the Arizona fabric with design elements throughout from the state’s flag, seal, motto – ditat dues (God Enriches), and the major developing industries – copper, cotton and cattle. I then drafted a full size pattern 40” x 40” working out proportions to please...
Queenie selected various fabrics from her stash and purchased several more who would play well with the Arizona fabric and be best friends with the design...  
I auditioned several fabrics for the sunburst and rays. With the finalists selected and order of appearance decided the cutting commenced with stacks of strips…
Becoming many so many squares, of two sizes in fact…
Then transformed into half square triangle strips...
Forming radiating sun beams...
Until there was a sunburst...
The bountiful blue horizon fell into place; followed by hand appliquéd birth dates, golden shining star and the great state of Arizona.
Next up the interior of the shining star and Arizona’s motto appliquéd its way on there too…
Followed by even more fun appliqué… Saguaro cacti standing tall…
Cotton at its peak, ready for harvesting into more quilt fabric...
A pick and shovel, a salute to the Copper industry...
And big bull horns, a nod to the Cattle industry.
With the top complete…
Queenie had a full tilt, marathon machine quilting and finishing week of sewing flurry and fun. Just in time to submit it to the Arizona Quilter’s Guild’s Annual Quilt Show.
On that 2nd Saturday in March as I meandered around the show, I rounded the bend and spotted a red ribbon on Queenie's wee quilt...
To my complete surprise I won second place in the Centennial Fabric Challenge category!!!! Surprise and much effort holding back tears I stood and stared soaking it in... My first quilt show and I win a prize Yay!!! and Hurray!!!
A very special thanks to my followers, regular visitors and especially Honey Man and the Delicious for without your awesome words of encouragement and support I would not have mustered the courage to enter the quilt show. Royal waves and kisses to all!!
To see a bevy of beautiful quilts beyond belief Queenie invites you to head over to Amy’s Creative Side to lose yourself in a visual vacation at the Spring 2012 Blogger’s Quilt Festival (Starting Friday May 18, 2012). Click here to be magically transported to quilt heaven complete with giveaways galore.
Thanks for visiting Queenie’s wee blog!!!

Have a great day!

post signature

42 comments:

Karen Valentine said...

Queenie that quilt is fabulous, of course you won a prize!!!!! Congrats!!!
xo,
Karen

Carole Reid said...

Queenie! Wow! Your quilt certainly deserves to have a ribbon! Thanks for taking us through the process and explaining the symbols along the way. It is a beautiful quilt, one you should be VERY PROUD of! xo

Lynn B said...

Queenie how awesome! It's always great when your work is appreciated. I have always wanted to quilt but never got around to it. Your quilt is beautiful. Congrats on your win. Hugs, Lynn

CitricSugar said...

Beautiful. Lovely work.

MonikaC said...

Your quilt is amazing! And so is your attention to detail! Great job!

carol fun said...

Fantastic quilt! It certainly deserved a ribbon.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Wow!! a lot of work and lovely

Mom said...

How fun!

Margaret
http://quiltsoflove.blogspot.com/

Kathy said...

Great quilt! I love the use of Arizona fabric and Arizona symbols. And of course, I love the Latin motto!

Sarcastic Quilter said...

Love it!

Elaine said...

Wow!! What a quilt. It's great to do something like that to help your state celebrate.

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh Queenie,
This work of art is beyond gorgeous--it is totally fabulous and you deserved an award--WOW!!! Such a prize for such exquisite work--You are a quilting master...amazing!!!! XO Cindy

Jennifer Michelle said...

Oh my gawwww!!!! QUEENIE! That is amazing! You are so flipping talented, congratulations on your prize! But if you ask me, it should have had a blue first place ribbon on it coming home! YEP! Definitely :) Fantastic job, you're really brilliant!

Fabric Warrior (aka Amie) said...

Wow! Your quilt is amazing.

Melinda said...

Great quilt - you certainly deserved a ribbon for the creative quilt.

Robin said...

Truly-- a work of art! You surely earned that ribbon! I love the attention to detail in every aspect of this design. So cool!

Michele said...

oh so happy for you! my goodness your quilt is genius beautiful. whoo hoo for Queenie! xo

Anonymous said...

Wow...impressive and cool to see. Thanks for sharing!

Living In Williamsburg Virginia said...

Beautiful quilt. That's quite a talent.

Darryl and Ruth :)

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh wow! How beautiful! You are very talented!!
Cindy

Janet said...

Your quilt is a fantastic tribute to the state of Arizona. So much detail! I love quilts that hold many meanings. I can see why you won a ribbon. Fantastic!

Jan Hutchison said...

Queenie - congratulations on your ribbon! Love your blog.

Kleep said...

Congrats, that seems it was a lot of work!

Teresa F. said...

Your quilt is stunning! No wonder you got a ribbon, you totally deserved it. Thanks for sharing.

Eileen said...

impressive!! love your quilt and reading about it's creation. and congratulations on the results at quilt show. thanks for sharing and have a great day

Plush Possum Studio said...

Oh, Queenie! What wonderful news! Congratulations from all of us over at PPS!
Rose

Jean Knee said...

What a beautiful quilt.

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

What a fun quilt. I'm in Arizona right now at my son's!

Sandra said...

Wow, congrats on the win. Your quilt is perfect for the challenge, very impressive.
Come see my entries.

Sue Daurio said...

wow that is like seriously amazing.

Gerry said...

I am SOOO very proud of you sweetie.

I am so blessed to experience, first hand, your abilities to create.

Your imagination is limitless and I am looking forward to what comes from you tomorrow, the next day, and the next...

mmWah!

Angie in SoCal said...

Fabulous quilt, Queenie - a well deserved ribbon. And thanks for the process - that was cool.

audrey said...

thanx for your lovely comment on my blog! i had to come check out your quilt and be amazed! great ribbon!!

Kelli said...

Wowzers that's amazing. So much work!!!

Quilthaze said...

Stunning! What a beautiful design - the prize was well deserved!

kathy said...

Not surprised to see a ribbon on your quilt. Nice work!

pinsandneedles said...

What a fabulous first art quilt and story to go along with it! Congratulations!

Myric said...

Congratulations!! Your quilt is an amazing work of art! You deserve it!

xo
Myric

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Now that dear Queenie I believe is a work of art!!!

Woohoo...CONGRATULATIONS sweetie. A well deserved honor for sure!

God bless ya and have an amazin' day sweetie!!! :o)

Seams Sew Together said...

Congratulations on your riboon, it is well deserved.

Unknown said...

very interesting work! and congratulations for you!
hugs from Russia,
Masha

Karen@littlebirdiequilting said...

That's a magnificent quilt!

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