Harmony Within by Sue McCarty won the 2011 Handi Quilter Best of Show award in the IQA judged show in Houston.

The $10,000 Handi Quilter Best of Show award went to Sue McCarty from Roy, Utah for Harmony Within, above. The gold you see on top of the red fabric is very dense quilting. I remember that at least some of the gold thread was metallic. See more of Sue’s quilts.

Flourish on the Vine by Kathy K. Wylie of Whitby, Ontario, Canada won the Founders Award sponsored by International Quilt Festival

The $7500 Founders Award sponsored by International Quilt Festival went to Kathy K. Wylie of Whitby, Ontario, Canada for Flourish on the Vine, above and below.

This photo gives you a closer view and a different sense of the colors.

Remember last week when I mentioned the taupe quilts often created by Japanese quilters?

Bouquet by Keiko Morihiro from Sanda-City, Hyogo, Japan won the Robert S. Cohan Award for Traditional Artistry sponsored by RJR Fabrics

Here’s one to admire. Bouquet by Keiko Morihiro of Sanda-City, Hyogo, Japan won the $5000 Robert S. Cohan Master Award for Traditional Artistry sponsored by RJR Fabrics. See a detail photo from this quilt.

You can see all of the winning quilts here. Quiltmaker is pleased to annually sponsor the Art/Whimsical category. Watch for a post on that category and its winner soon.

Canopy by Maggie Weiss, Evanston, Illinois

I used to look at the show and be completely blown away by all the talent and skill on exhibit. I’d ask myself, “Why do I even try?”

Detail of Canopy

But eventually I realized those thoughts were self-defeating and demoralizing.

Taking Leave by Melanie Borne, Covington, Louisiana

Instead I have learned to be inspired, to greatly appreciate the talent and skill, and to aspire to discover more of my own creative path.

I have learned not to be intimidated by such a show of quilted wonder, but to let it pull me forward into freer thinking, more curiosity and lots of brave exploration. Let the inspiration begin!

Feelin' Groovy by Candace West, Floral City, Florida

Detail of Feelin' Groovy

Detours - Green Shoots by Susan Willen, Redondo Beach, California

Detail of Detours - Green Shoots

This is an amazing quilt. I love its composition.

While on the Way to the Sun by Joanell Connolly, Huntington Beach, California

Detail of While on the Way to the Sun

This quilt inspires me to use some of the gorgeous silk fabrics I’ve bought along the way. The colors in this piece are electric!

More to come!

Fiesta by Norma Schlager, Danbury, Connecticut.

And a detail of Fiesta, quilted swirls galore:

After the Rain by Sandra Gregg, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The composition of this quilt really appeals to me. Definitely some shibori going on, too.

Tropical Radiance by Rachel Wetzler, St. Charles, Illinois.

And a detail of Tropical Radiance:

I love the details of this next quilt.

It’s called My Stash at 50 (aka Log Cabin with an Attitude) by Karen Eckmeier, Kent, Connecticut. My question is fifty what? Fifty different fabrics? Fifty years old? Stash weighs 50 pounds? Stash consumes 50 yards of space? Or possibly, all of the above?

Detail shots:

And this is All Good Things by Leslie Hall of Longboat Key, Florida:

The subtlety in the light areas of this piece is amazing. Here’s a detail:

That’s it for today. More to come!