AQS Quilt Show in Grand Rapids - Part 2

Arcus by Monica Johnstone - Wall Quilts - Machine Quilted

Today I am going to start by sharing some more of the quilts that were hanging in the juried show portion of Quilt Week by the American Quilters' Society in Grand Rapids a couple of weeks ago. These quilts are quilts that, in my view - you might disagree with me as I am no authority on the boundaries of modern quilting - are also quilts that might have been put into the Modern Wall Quilt category of the show but were in other categories.

My post of the quilts in the Modern Wall Quilt Category is here.


Summer Fling by Doris Larson

I really enjoyed the opportunity to go to this show in person. I visited it three of its four days and took two classes as well. My favourite part was to see the quilts.


Pineapple Log Cabin by John E. Putnam - Wall Quilts - Machine Quilted

There were basically three separate areas of quilts. One was the juried show quilts which were competing for prizes. Secondly there were a number of quilt showcases on display. Thirdly there was a section that featured the Quilt of Belonging and show and demonstration by Aileen Stannis. For the most part, I took pictures of the quilts in the juried show part of the exhibits.


Coloring Outside the Lines by Mary Kay Price

Now, I did like many of the quilts that had no white in them, but then they seemed to contain some clearly modern elements - improv, alternative grids, negative space, etc. Again, there was little debate in my head about whether or not these quilts were "modern" quilts - while there may be grey areas around the edges of what the modern quilters feel is modern, I do feel like I know modern quilting when I see it.


Amoeba by Jackie Perry - Wall Quilts - Hand Quilted



Morning Star by Heidi Teachout - Bed Quilts - Made by Machine



Modern Art in Quilt Form by Sue Cortese - Wall Quilts - Machine Quilted



Altar Stone by Jennifer Emry - Wall Quilts - Hand Quilted

I took a few photos of the quilts from the Modern Quilt Challenge as well. These quilts were not in the competition part of the Grand Rapids show. Rather, this was the last stop on the tour that these quilts have been on since they competed in an AQS show in the fall of 2013.


 Ripple Effect II by Marianne Haak - this quilt won first place in the Piecing category of the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge

It was so nice to see Marianne's quilt, she blogs at The Quilting Edge and is a real life friend who I get to visit with in person often (but not often enough).


Common Affection by Debbie Jeske - this quilt won in the Creative Use of Neutral Fabrics category in the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge in the fall of 2013.

It was so nice to see this quilt, by Debbie, who blogs at A Quilter's Table. Debbie is one of my real internet friends and I  hope one day to meet her in person too.


Modern Mirage by Lee Heinrich

This quilt was part of the Modern Quilt Challenge showcase. At the very end of the Grand Rapids AQS show, you can collect your quilt from the show if you like. Since I was there, I arranged to pick up my quilt, Snowfall. As I waited, I saw Lee, who came at the end of the show in time to get her quilt as she was in town visiting some family. It was great to visit with her and catch up - I was able to meet her in person in Pittsburg last spring. Lee blogs at Freshly Pieced.


Modern Views by Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Victoria, who blogs at Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilts, had this lovely quilt in the travelling Modern Quilt Challenge too. I had a great time with Victoria at Sewdown Nashville both in her class and getting to know her better.

 
Buckles and Belts by Linda Hungerford

I have gotten to know Linda on Instagram, and she blogs at Flourishing Palms. It was so lovely to see her quilt in person. It was also part of the Modern Quilt Challenge showcase.


The Road to Love by Elizabeth Dackson.

Elizabeth has been a long time blogging friend, she blogs at Don't Call Me Betsy. It was great to meet her in person at Sewdown Nashville. Her quilt was also part of the travelling exhibit of quilts from the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge.

There were many more beautiful quilts in the Modern Quilt Challenge, but I was not able to photograph them all. I hope that you have enjoyed the ones I have shared here. I have a few more thoughts to share about this lovely quilt show, but they are for another day.

If one of these photos is of your quilt and you would prefer I not show it off here, please just email me and I will take it down.

And if you have not yet entered the lovely giveaway of some of Violet Craft's Brambleberry Ridge fabrics sponsored by the Fat Quarter shop, go here to enter before tomorrow - Thursday at 6 pm MDT.

Best,

Leanne