Thank you to everyone that sent emails about the last post.  I'm happy to share the gorgeous work that was at the show for those that can't get there to see them in person.  I know that when I was just starting out, seeing what others were creating around the country and entering into quilt shows was pure inspiration to me.

So here is part 2, with lots more quilts to drool over. 

This quilt is titled "Robber's Roost" and it is by Joann Beath of Bonanza, OR.  It won the Wallhanging Large Second Place ribbon as well as the Viewer's Choice Award.

 Next up is "Grape Soda" created by Theresa Olson of Port St Lucie, FL. It sports an award too...the Wallhanging Large Third Place.

 I like the use of contrasting thread on the dark purple fabric.

 This beautiful quilt contains oodles of teenie tiny hexagons and is the work of Patti Sandage of Middleton, TN.  She named it "Capricho".

 She won a Wallhanging Large Honorable Mention ribbon.

 This is "Music of the Night" by Diane Evans of Schenectady, NY. 

 Again the use of subtle contrasting thread works well to show the beautiful details of her quilting.  She was awarded a Faculty Award ribbon.

 "Hummingbird" is the name of the next quilt and it is the work of Nick Williams of Rochester, NY.

 The pebbles in the background are soooo tiny!

"Fawkes" is the masterpiece created by Deb Boucher of Edgecomb, ME. 

 It's hard to see in the photos but there is a layer of tulle on top of the fabrics that she then quilted over. 

 Here are a few more of the Alfred Shaheen panels that were on display, this is "Respect" one by Donna James of Canada.

 I really love the motifs she put on the sides of this.

"Pretty in Pink" is by Kim Stotsenberg of Aberdeen, WA. 

 The details are just awesome.

 "Looks Like My Husbands "Ink"" is by Pamela Dransfeldt of Camarillo, CA.

 She added in tiny bits of bling scattered throughout the piece.

 The next quilt is "Spring Bouquet" and it was painstakingly created by Patricia Pfeifle of St. Petersburg, FL and was quilted by Nancy Fishpaw.

 They are another Faculty Award ribbon winner for their terrific work.

You may have seen photos before of Victoria Findlay Wolfe's "Mr. Swirl E. Bones" around the web but that doesn't compare to seeing it in person. 

It was quilted by Shelly Pagliai and their joint efforts resulted in the Machine Quilting the Modern Way First Place ribbon.  Well done ladies.

Next is "Bosque del Apache" by Diane Dixon of Palermo, ME.

Judge Cindy Erickson awarded her Judge's Choice ribbon to Matt Maccomber of Seattle, WA's "Double Doodle".  It is a fun quilt which incorporates lots of curves (not my personal favorite).

It also won a Faculty Award ribbon.

I love that this quilt is more about the quilting itself instead of the piecing.  It is "Diamond Mine" by Krista Withers of Seattle, WA. 

I took a class from Krista this year and looking at this quilt now, I can understand how she came up with her quilting designs.  BTW...her class was great so if you ever get a chance to be one of her students, don't pass it up.

Here is another quilt that is less piecing and more quilting and it sports a Faculty Award ribbon too.  It was pieced by Ellen Simmons of Chestertown, MD and was quilted by Jane Hauprich.  It is titled "Can you Canoe?".

Another Faculty Award ribbon hangs on this quilt by Vicki Ruebel of Las Vegas, NV.  Vicki named it "Color Crystals".

Vicki incorporated lots of different pretty designs into the quilting of all the negative space.

"The Disintegration of the Persistence of Artichokes" is the creation of Sylvia Schaefer of Athens, GA and she was awarded the Machine Quilting the Modern Way Third Place ribbon.

She did all this gorgeous quilting on her sit down machine.

Christa Watson of Law Vegas, NV won the Machine Quilting the Modern Way Second Place for her "Fractured Puzzle" quilt.

Here is a close up of the quilting designs Christa incorporated.

Last for today is this masterpiece. The name of this quilt, "Tropical Punch" by Ann Horton of Redwood, CA certainly deserved its "Embroidery at Its Best" ribbon.

Her work is just jaw dropping fantastic.

I have one more recap post to share with more gorgeous quilts so check back in a couple of days for the last of the eye candy.

As promised and as I did for the past 2 years, here pictures of some of the quilts from this year's MQX East.  The gorgeous work again at this year's show was just awe inspiring and really makes me want to practice more so that maybe someday I can do this kind of work.

First up is "Magical Moments in Time" by Lois Podolny of Tuscon, AZ.  The card says that the largest kaleidoscope has 800 individually cut pieces.  Unimaginable!

I love the subtle color she used for some of the quilting that makes it stand out without overwhelming the overall design.

Next is "Impermanence" by my friend Valerie Smith of Ashtabula, OH and it won a pretty green  Faculty Award ribbon.

Until you get up close to this quilt, you don't see all of the exquisite detail of the quilting.

Valerie added just enough bling to the center mandala.  It is really stunning.

This is "Against All Odds" by Jane Hauprich of Centreville, MD and her initial goal was to use up the leftover Flying Geese she had from another project.  I'd say that this idea is very successful.

Oh such pretty quilting!

Because this quilt was not hanging on an end of a row, I couldn't get a good straight photo of it but it really is breathtaking.  It is titled "Exuberance" and it is by the seriously talented Marilyn Badger of St. George, UT.

This quilt won the Solo Artist Third Place ribbon. It was well deserved.

Pictures just can't do this quilt justice.  It is Sue McCarty's "After Hadrian" and it won the Solo Artist First Place ribbon.

Can you imagine what it took to add in all this wording in the borders that explain the center panels of the quilt?

The tiny, tiny quilting details she used are fabulous.

Cathy Wiggins of Macon, NC is well known now for her quilting with leather and this piece is just one of the fabulous creations she has made.  It is "Western Roundup" and it sports the Solo Artist Second Place ribbon.

From the response I heard during the MQX days, many people are becoming interested in trying this technique themselves.

This year one of MQX's special exhibits was the Alfred Shaheen panels which were quilted by quilters from all over the US and Canada.  These are a couple of my favorites.

This one is "Deco Garden Delights" by Deb Levy of New Orleans, LA.

And this one is "Poppies" by Mandy Applebee of Port Byron, NY.

I love how each quilter put her own personal and unique spin when she quilted her designs.

Next we have "Compass Fire" by Melissa Heys of Pepperill, MA.

The subtle color of the contrasting thread highlighted the center of the quilt nicely.

My friend Andrea Brokenshire of Round Rock, TX won a number of ribbons with her "Beauty Is In The Blues".  I saw her immediately after the awards ceremony and she was so happy she was practically floating on clouds.

Her gorgeous quilt won Wallhanging Small First Place, the Surface Design Award and a Faculty Award ribbon.  Her creations boggle the mind with the immense subtle details she incorporates into every piece.

This next quilt garnered a ton of astonished comments from everyone that saw it.  It is "Magical Toys" by Flora Joy of Johnson City, TN.  Depending on which angled you viewed it at, you saw a different image. 

I don't think anyone could figure out just how she did this.

Such a fabulous idea and so well executed!

The pretty pink Wallhanging Small Second Place ribbon is hanging on "Luminous Splendor" by my friend Heidi Merrill of Clifton Park, NY.  I can't imagine the amount of time it took her to create this masterpiece. There are 888 pieces in the center star.

Just look at all this pretty quilting.

While viewing this stunning quilt, I got to speak to it's creator and learn a bit about her dad, who is the person depicted.  This quilt is titled "Dad" and it is by Ree Fagan of Bow, NH.

It won both the Wallhanging Small Third Place and the Best Use of Thread ribbons. 

The Wallhanging Large First Place ribbon was awarded to Margaret Solomon Gunn for her "Illuminations".  She hails from Gorham, ME.

I love the dragonflies she incorporated in the outer border areas.

As always, Margaret's work is intensely detailed and well done.

One thing I've learned about attending MQX this year is that I'm not as intimidated as I was even just a year ago.  I've learned more over the past 12 months and am becoming more confident in my current skills why still wanting to work even more to get better.  That is what MQX does for me....shows me what is possible.

I have a lot more photos to show you so stay tuned for Part 2.