Hoffman International Challenge Quilts
2006 Garden Beauty 31 x 34 Private Collection
Garden Beauty was my first entry in participation of the Hoffman Challenge. I designed this piece with my 'standard' M.O. - using dimension on the quilt.
The right side of the large leaf in the foreground is completely dimensional and can be moved with just a touch. The left butterfly wing is also a complete piece in itself which rests upon the top of the quilt. One can literally move and 'flap' the top of the wing as it is attached in only a couple places. Sparkling Swarovski crystals are found in the background.
This first Hoffman Challenge attempt was awarded Best Machine Workmanship in the Mixed Technique category and encouraged me to continue in the Hoffman annual challenge.
2007 Jewels of the Garden 31.5 x 35.5 Private Collection
Jewels of the Garden was an extremely challenging quilt to make in many ways. There are several things I would have done differently and re-worked but I ran out of time and into the entry deadline. Its best features are the lattice border and the butterfly.
The Monarch is dimensional, with the left wing being 2-sided and only partially attached so it is moveable.
2008 Fan-ciful 29.5 x 37 Private Collection
"Fanciful" was another challenging piece to design and construct but the results were pleasing.
I created the fan as a separate element with pleats, and fabric 'ribs.' A tassle completes the fan, and two additional tassles hang from the bottom sides. There is beautiful dimension in this quilt.
2009 He Leads Me By Still Waters 36.5 x 42 Private Collection
"He Leads Me By Still Waters" was inspired by the 23rd Psalm. When I envisioned making this quilt I wanted a young lady in the scene to represent me, without using my likeness.
My beautiful daughter graciously posed as I took many photos to use as a guide. I create her face and skin using Tsukineko pens and inks, and colored pencils.
She holds a book of Psalms in her lap. The gentle calmness of the scene is symbolized by a (dimensional) butterfly resting on her outstretched hand.
Many of the leaves are double-sided and lightly stitched down to create dimension. The leaf fabric is the challenge fabric.
2010 Little 'Wild' Flowers! 28 x 36
The third in my Wild Flowers! series. I wanted to explore different shapes of the dimensional ‘wild’ flowers and designed these three.
The leaves are reverse applique with satin stitch finished edges. I added pieced prairie points within the inner border of the quilt - uncommon to where I had always seen them placed - around the outer border of a quilt.
201 1 Orchids 27.5 x 37
Inspired by a personal photo of my lovely orchid plant. The flowers appear to come right out of the quilt creating a focal point. The leaves and flowers are hand-painted with Tsukineko inks, and hand-appliqued.
I micro-stippled only specific parts of the colorful pot to create dimension - similar to a trapunto look.
 2012 Spilling Over 28 x 36
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"Spilling Over" was created as a 'therapy' quilt. The design grew out of the hurt, and loss of my "Really 'Wild' Flowers! Second Season" quilt (seen on my Home page). The cup represents my heart. The various quilt blocks flowing out of it symbolize the love, prayers, and uplifting thoughts of all those who compassionately reached out to me. The support from the quilting community, my family, and friends was amazing. My heart overflowed with the huge response. Thus, "Spilling Over" began with my thoughts and emotions followed by a sketch on paper and eventually culminated in this very sentimental piece. |
2013 Rose in Wonderland 28 x 36 Private Collection
A fanciful flower that might be found in a fantasy land, inspired by one of my sketches.
Three shimmering butterflies are found fluttering around the flower which is framed by a border of pieced prairie points. The dimension in this quilt was accomplished with the layers of petals, pieced prairie points, and in the flower sepal which I hand-stitched around the edges to prevent fraying.
2014 'Wild' Flower Fiesta! 28 x 43
Designed to be cheerful and festive. It made me think, 'party'!
The flowers, stems, and leaves are made and appliqued in such a way as to be very dimensional creating a layered look. I hand stitched the rim of the pitcher and ‘quilted’ the rim with long-stitches to keep the integrity in the dimension of the pitcher.
Very heavy beading runs up and down the left side and along the bottom in long strings, and then securely attached to withstand the traveling of the Hoffman trunk exhibits.
This piece was awarded First place in the Mixed Technique category.
2015 Jars of Clay 44 x 31 Private Collection
The inspiration for this piece came from scripture; Isaiah 64:8. We are the work of the Master Potter - each beautiful and unique in our own way.
I used machine, hand, and fused applique; beadwork, cording, tassels, and Tsukineko inks to enhance jars and add shading. The use of background “tiles” was inspired by Gloria Loughman’s technique.
2016 Coloring Book Therapy Quilter's Style 44 x 31 Private Collection
I integrated my love of drawing, 'doodling,' painting, and quilting in this whimsical piece. Inspiration came out of some difficult times and it was good personal therapy designing and creating it.
Symbolic ‘splashes’ from the paint 'pots' represent brushing colors onto the pages. The popular 'therapeutic' coloring books found in stores everywhere inspired the concept and title.
2017 Reveal the Beauty Within 20 x 40 Private Collection
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Detail image of Reveal the Beauty Within
Most of us are aware of our personal imperfections in their various forms. Our tendency may be to try and hide our flaws; building emotional layers of protection against anything or anyone that might bring us pain. What matters is the beauty on the inside – in our hearts. When we remove all the layers, that beauty outshines what is visibly seen. |
2018 Crystals and Gems 26 x 40.5 Private Collection
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Detail image of Crystals and Gems
I enjoyed designing and then constructing this modern, simplistic quilt from a graph-paper drawing. I like the play between the pastels and saturated colors within the light background. The quilting designs enhance the piece. Swarovski crystals and the diamond and gem fabric dictated the title. |
2020 Moving In Different Circles 23.5 x 34
Many of us tend to socialize with folks who are, for the most part, just like ourselves. Those with the same interests, the same age group, and so on. It could be a positive move to step out of our own comfortable circle of friends and get to know folks who are different from us in one way or another.
The circles are all fused and layered. Each layer has machine finished edges.
The required challenge fabrics are found within several of the circles, as well as the narrow border print.
2021 And the River Flows 36 x 25
This quilt is a depiction of the idea that even in the midst of terrible loss, difficulty, and uncertainty that humanity has experienced during the world-wide tragedy of Covid-19; the ‘flow’ of life must, and does, continue on. My heart and prayers have gone out to the millions of people around the world that have been affected by this pandemic in one way or another.
The three required Hoffman fabrics are found in the squares along the top and bottom of the piece, and in two subtle fabric inserts in the flowing river.
2021 A Quiet Moment 31 x 39
I designed this quilt to be on the 'gentle' or 'quiet' side by choosing a simple theme of flowers in a pitcher and using more muted colors.
During this past year of Covid-19 - a time of uncertainty and tragedy around the entire world - I found myself doing more reflective thinking, praying, and searching for something positive in all this. These quiet moments have been crucial for me. This piece symbolizes one of those quiet moments.
The three required Hoffman fabrics are found in the pieced, 3/4", on-point square strips, and in the fussy-cut flower centers.
2022 Streamers and Confetti 25 x 40.5
This modern quilt celebrates the ‘winding down’ of the covid pandemic with colorful streamers and confetti in festive joy. Confetti is represented by various sizes of both dimensional prairie points, and by the quilted loops – some of which are subtly tinted with pigment inks.
A small number of Swarovski crystals adorn the back of the quilt - placed within the quilted confetti loops.
Three sets of prairie points were made with the three required challenge fabrics.