top of page
Sierra Mountain Quilters Association
People's Choice Best of Show
Ku'ulei Arredondo - Orange Star Burst
Artist's Statement:
I wanted to learn how to Paper Piece, so I jumped into a year class. I had never made a quilt with such a variety of colors. I love purples, blues and greens: but it needed something to make it Pop. I called my mother, who was an artist, and she said go to the color wheel! I love the orange that made it come to life.
94" x 94"
Long arm quilting done by Darla Hall
Pattern design by Judy Niemeyer
2023 Quilt Show
People's Choice
Click on images below for more information on each quilt.
Fly Fly Butterfly by Lynn Gray
By Lynn Gray - Mini Quilt
Artist's statement:
This butterfly pattern by Laundry Basket Quilts (Edyta Sitar) is so sweet and I'm a big fan of Edyta's. I had fun pulling batik scraps from my stash for the butterflies and embroidering their antennae. I also enjoyed quilting the small flowers dancing around the butterflies.
Artist's statement:
This butterfly pattern by Laundry Basket Quilts (Edyta Sitar) is so sweet and I'm a big fan of Edyta's. I had fun pulling batik scraps from my stash for the butterflies and embroidering their antennae. I also enjoyed quilting the small flowers dancing around the butterflies.
Silver Shores aka 5 Year Quilt by Sally Walker
By Sally Walker - Small Quilt
Artist's statement:
When Steve showed me this paper-pieced beauty in the American Quilters magazine, I said ""Oh, that's a 5 year quilt!"" My meaning behind the comment was that it would take me 5 years to make it. I bought the kit and had it for almost 2 years before starting the daunting quilt, then it took me two retreats with a certified instructor to figure out what I was doing. When the top was done, I decided it was small enough to quilt on my domestic machine, and I just started in the middle and worked my way to the outer borders, not really knowing what was going to come next. It was a creative adventure!
Artist's statement:
When Steve showed me this paper-pieced beauty in the American Quilters magazine, I said ""Oh, that's a 5 year quilt!"" My meaning behind the comment was that it would take me 5 years to make it. I bought the kit and had it for almost 2 years before starting the daunting quilt, then it took me two retreats with a certified instructor to figure out what I was doing. When the top was done, I decided it was small enough to quilt on my domestic machine, and I just started in the middle and worked my way to the outer borders, not really knowing what was going to come next. It was a creative adventure!
Split Blade Dresden Color Wheel Worm by Joan Earnest
By Joan Earnest - Wall Hanging
Artist's statement:
Anelie Belden taught a workshop for our guild on making split blade Dresdens. I loved the notion of doing a color wheel. It was so much fun that I just kept making them and ended up making this large version. And I just had to make the border with the tips of the Dresden poking up and out.
Artist's statement:
Anelie Belden taught a workshop for our guild on making split blade Dresdens. I loved the notion of doing a color wheel. It was so much fun that I just kept making them and ended up making this large version. And I just had to make the border with the tips of the Dresden poking up and out.
Grandma's Chocolate Brownie Bridges by Kay Marshall
Medium Quilt
Artist's statement:
I saw a similar quilt in a shop. They did not have the pattern available. I had to look on the internet a long time before I found the patterns for the covered bridges.
Artist's statement:
I saw a similar quilt in a shop. They did not have the pattern available. I had to look on the internet a long time before I found the patterns for the covered bridges.
Quilt From Hell
by Carolin Gaither
By Carolin Gaither - Large Quilt
Artist's statement:
I saw this quilt while on vacation in Branson, Missouri. It turns out it was way over my head at the time. There was a lot of unsewing and replacing of seam rippers involved. Glad it’s done and I love it.
Artist's statement:
I saw this quilt while on vacation in Branson, Missouri. It turns out it was way over my head at the time. There was a lot of unsewing and replacing of seam rippers involved. Glad it’s done and I love it.
2023 Quilt Show Ribbons - Judged Quilts
Click on images below for more information
Large Quilts - 1st Place
Star Sampler by Linda Pennington
Artist's statement:
I found the pattern at a Rusty Barn Show in Fresno. It took some time to find the "right" colors. Then more time for the foundation piecing. Jeri Carney spent many hours quilting on her long arm.
Artist's statement:
I found the pattern at a Rusty Barn Show in Fresno. It took some time to find the "right" colors. Then more time for the foundation piecing. Jeri Carney spent many hours quilting on her long arm.
Large Quilt - 2nd Place
Orange Star Burst by Ku'ulei Arredondo
Orange Star Burst
Artist's Statement: I wanted to learn how to Paper Piece, so I jumped into a year class. I had never made a quilt with such a variety of colors. I love purples, blues and greens: but it needed something to make it Pop. I called my mother, who was an artist, and she said go to the color wheel! I love the orange that made it come to life.
Orange Star Burst
Artist's Statement: I wanted to learn how to Paper Piece, so I jumped into a year class. I had never made a quilt with such a variety of colors. I love purples, blues and greens: but it needed something to make it Pop. I called my mother, who was an artist, and she said go to the color wheel! I love the orange that made it come to life.
Large Quilt - 3rd Place
Wheelhouse Medallion by Betsy Blum
Artist's statement:
I purchased this quilt as a complete kit, everything include plus the challenge of learning how to do precise fussy cutting. Fussy cutting is harder than paper piecing because I had to find the exact correct design and angle while pushing around a huge amount of yardage. Not so easy and sometimes there was a fail. I cut a lot of fabric twice and still had a lot left over. However, I love how the colors radiate in the sunlight.
Artist's statement:
I purchased this quilt as a complete kit, everything include plus the challenge of learning how to do precise fussy cutting. Fussy cutting is harder than paper piecing because I had to find the exact correct design and angle while pushing around a huge amount of yardage. Not so easy and sometimes there was a fail. I cut a lot of fabric twice and still had a lot left over. However, I love how the colors radiate in the sunlight.
Medium Quilt - 1st place
Morning Chatter by Betsy Blum
Artist's statement:
I saw this quilt at the Stichin Post in Sisters Oregon and bought the kit. Good thing I did because this quilt occupied my time during lockdown. I had time to focus and learned to paper piece these slightly wonky stars and sew curves but of course I had plenty of time. Each star had so many seams I didn’t want to quilt it myself and I knew Jeri would do it justice under the needle of her long arm.
Artist's statement:
I saw this quilt at the Stichin Post in Sisters Oregon and bought the kit. Good thing I did because this quilt occupied my time during lockdown. I had time to focus and learned to paper piece these slightly wonky stars and sew curves but of course I had plenty of time. Each star had so many seams I didn’t want to quilt it myself and I knew Jeri would do it justice under the needle of her long arm.
Medium Quilt - 2nd Place
Sunrise Stag - Tricia Lacey
Artist's statement:
During a camping trip along the Oregon Coast, we were constantly looking for Elk. We didn't see very many, but this pattern reminds me of that trip. This quilt is machine pieces and hand quilted.
Artist's statement:
During a camping trip along the Oregon Coast, we were constantly looking for Elk. We didn't see very many, but this pattern reminds me of that trip. This quilt is machine pieces and hand quilted.
Medium Quilt - 3rd Place
Quilter's Patch by Patty Vincent
Artist's statement:
I was crazy to start on this...what was I thinking! It was Donna Henning's last Block of the Month before she got sick. I love doing applique and it was such fun to do each of the blocks that were so different.
Artist's statement:
I was crazy to start on this...what was I thinking! It was Donna Henning's last Block of the Month before she got sick. I love doing applique and it was such fun to do each of the blocks that were so different.
Small Quilt - 1st Place
About Trout by Margie Williams
Artist's statement:
This is my first machine appliqued/embroidered quilt. It was a gift for my husband. I was able to have my photo taken with the quilt with Angie Stevenson, owner/designer of Lunch Box Quilts. Choosing the fabrics to be realistic of the different trout species was challenging as was embroidering and trimming the fishing flies. I had one block that I trimmed to the wrong size and repurposed it to be the label. I want to say a special thank you to Jeri Carney/A Thread Above Quilt Studio for her custom quilting; the detail is amazing!
Artist's statement:
This is my first machine appliqued/embroidered quilt. It was a gift for my husband. I was able to have my photo taken with the quilt with Angie Stevenson, owner/designer of Lunch Box Quilts. Choosing the fabrics to be realistic of the different trout species was challenging as was embroidering and trimming the fishing flies. I had one block that I trimmed to the wrong size and repurposed it to be the label. I want to say a special thank you to Jeri Carney/A Thread Above Quilt Studio for her custom quilting; the detail is amazing!
Small Quilt - 2nd Place
Silver Shores AKA 5 Year Quilt.
Artist's statement:
When Steve showed me this paper-pieced beauty in the American Quilters magazine, I said ""Oh, that's a 5 year quilt!"" My meaning behind the comment was that it would take me 5 years to make it. I bought the kit and had it for almost 2 years before starting the daunting quilt, then it took me two retreats with a certified instructor to figure out what I was doing. When the top was done, I decided it was small enough to quilt on my domestic machine, and I just started in the middle and worked my way to the outer borders, not really knowing what was going to come next. It was a creative adventure!
Artist's statement:
When Steve showed me this paper-pieced beauty in the American Quilters magazine, I said ""Oh, that's a 5 year quilt!"" My meaning behind the comment was that it would take me 5 years to make it. I bought the kit and had it for almost 2 years before starting the daunting quilt, then it took me two retreats with a certified instructor to figure out what I was doing. When the top was done, I decided it was small enough to quilt on my domestic machine, and I just started in the middle and worked my way to the outer borders, not really knowing what was going to come next. It was a creative adventure!
Small Quilt - 3rd Place
Southwest Memories by Mel Peters
Artist's statement:
When I was on a Traveling Quilters trip in New Mexico, we went into a wonderful quilt shop in Albuquerque. There I found the kit for this wonderful wall hanging. It was certainly a challenge to make!
Artist's statement:
When I was on a Traveling Quilters trip in New Mexico, we went into a wonderful quilt shop in Albuquerque. There I found the kit for this wonderful wall hanging. It was certainly a challenge to make!
Wall Hanging - 1st Prize
Zen Elephant by PJ Grant
Artist's statement:
This quilt was made for Margot, my daughter in law for her birthday in 2020. She is quite an elephant enthusiast. She loves it and let me borrow it for the show. Jeri Carney did an awesome quilting on this making it a one of a kind wall hanging.
Artist's statement:
This quilt was made for Margot, my daughter in law for her birthday in 2020. She is quite an elephant enthusiast. She loves it and let me borrow it for the show. Jeri Carney did an awesome quilting on this making it a one of a kind wall hanging.
Wall Hanging - 2nd Place
Split Blade Dresden Color Wheel Worm by Joan Earnest
Artist's statement:
Anelie Belden taught a workshop for our guild on making split blade Dresdens. I loved the notion of doing a color wheel. It was so much fun that I just kept making them and ended up making this large version. And I just had to make the border with the tips of the Dresden poking up and out.
Artist's statement:
Anelie Belden taught a workshop for our guild on making split blade Dresdens. I loved the notion of doing a color wheel. It was so much fun that I just kept making them and ended up making this large version. And I just had to make the border with the tips of the Dresden poking up and out.
Wall Hanging - 3rd Place
Iris by Bev Gulley
Artist's statement:
I saw a bed-sized version of this pattern at a quilt show I attended in Waimea, Hawaii. I was able to trace this pattern from the collection of Ka Hui Kapa Apana O Waimea, the guild that sponsored the show. Fabric was purchased in Volcano, HI. Hawaiian-style needle-turn applique' is one of my favorite techniques. You can see a bed-sized Hawaiian quilt in the Featured Quilter display!
Artist's statement:
I saw a bed-sized version of this pattern at a quilt show I attended in Waimea, Hawaii. I was able to trace this pattern from the collection of Ka Hui Kapa Apana O Waimea, the guild that sponsored the show. Fabric was purchased in Volcano, HI. Hawaiian-style needle-turn applique' is one of my favorite techniques. You can see a bed-sized Hawaiian quilt in the Featured Quilter display!
2023 Judged Quilts
Speciality Ribbons
Click on images below for more information on each quilt
Best Machine Embroidery
About Trout by Margie Williams
Artist's Statement:
This is my first machine appliqued/embroidered quilt. It was a gift for my husband. I was able to have my photo taken with the quilt with Angie Stevenson, owner/designer of Lunch Box Quilts. Choosing the fabrics to be realistic of the different trout species was challenging as was embroidering and trimming the fishing flies. I had one block that I trimmed to the wrong size and repurposed it to be the label. I want to say a special thank you to Jeri Carney/A Thread Above Quilt Studio for her custom quilting; the detail is amazing!
Artist's Statement:
This is my first machine appliqued/embroidered quilt. It was a gift for my husband. I was able to have my photo taken with the quilt with Angie Stevenson, owner/designer of Lunch Box Quilts. Choosing the fabrics to be realistic of the different trout species was challenging as was embroidering and trimming the fishing flies. I had one block that I trimmed to the wrong size and repurposed it to be the label. I want to say a special thank you to Jeri Carney/A Thread Above Quilt Studio for her custom quilting; the detail is amazing!
Best Hand Embroidery
Grandma's Chocolate Brownie Bridges by Kay Marshall
Artist's statement:
I saw a similar quilt in a shop. They did not have the pattern available. I had to look on the internet a long time before I found the patterns for the covered bridges.
I saw a similar quilt in a shop. They did not have the pattern available. I had to look on the internet a long time before I found the patterns for the covered bridges.
Artist's statement:
I saw a similar quilt in a shop. They did not have the pattern available. I had to look on the internet a long time before I found the patterns for the covered bridges.
I saw a similar quilt in a shop. They did not have the pattern available. I had to look on the internet a long time before I found the patterns for the covered bridges.
Best Original Pattern
Spanish Peaks, Colorado
by Lynn Gray
Artist's Statement:
I was intrigued with the Textiles Exhibit at Gallery 5, Oakhurst, CA and the techniques used by Denise Oyama Miller and Nancy Ryan. A demo was offered to the public and many quilters I knew attended. It was an inspiring day of guided creativity. Using a photo I had taken of the Spanish Peaks in Southeastern Colorado, I attempted to replicate it in fabric.
by Lynn Gray
Artist's Statement:
I was intrigued with the Textiles Exhibit at Gallery 5, Oakhurst, CA and the techniques used by Denise Oyama Miller and Nancy Ryan. A demo was offered to the public and many quilters I knew attended. It was an inspiring day of guided creativity. Using a photo I had taken of the Spanish Peaks in Southeastern Colorado, I attempted to replicate it in fabric.
Best Hand Applique
Southwest Memories by Mel Peters
Artist's statement:
When I was on a Traveling Quilters trip in New Mexico, we went into a wonderful quilt shop in Albuquerque. There I found the kit for this wonderful wall hanging. It was certainly a challenge to make!
Artist's statement:
When I was on a Traveling Quilters trip in New Mexico, we went into a wonderful quilt shop in Albuquerque. There I found the kit for this wonderful wall hanging. It was certainly a challenge to make!
Best Machine Applique
Zen Elephant by PJ Grant
Artist's Statement:
This quilt was made for Margot, my daughter in law for her birthday in 2020. She is quite an elephant enthusiant. She loves it and let me borrow it for the show. Jeri Carney did an awesome quilting on this making it a one of a kind wall hanging.
Artist's Statement:
This quilt was made for Margot, my daughter in law for her birthday in 2020. She is quite an elephant enthusiant. She loves it and let me borrow it for the show. Jeri Carney did an awesome quilting on this making it a one of a kind wall hanging.
Best Domestic Quilting
Silver Shores aka 5 Year Quilt
Artist's Statement:
When Steve showed me this paper-pieced beauty in the American Quilters magazine, I said "Oh, that's a 5 year quilt!" My meaning behind the comment was that it would take me 5 years to make it. I bought the kit and had it for almost 2 years before starting the daunting quilt, then it took me two retreats with a certified instructor to figure out what I was doing. When the top was done, I decided it was small enough to quilt on my domestic machine, and I just started in the middle and worked my way to the outer borders, not really knowing what was going to come next. It was a creative adventure!
Artist's Statement:
When Steve showed me this paper-pieced beauty in the American Quilters magazine, I said "Oh, that's a 5 year quilt!" My meaning behind the comment was that it would take me 5 years to make it. I bought the kit and had it for almost 2 years before starting the daunting quilt, then it took me two retreats with a certified instructor to figure out what I was doing. When the top was done, I decided it was small enough to quilt on my domestic machine, and I just started in the middle and worked my way to the outer borders, not really knowing what was going to come next. It was a creative adventure!
Best Long Arm Quilting
Star Sampler by Linda Pennington
Longarm Quilting by Jeri Carney of A Thread Above
Artist's statement:
I found the pattern at a Rusty Barn Show in Fresno. It took some time to find the "right" colors. Then more time for the foundation piecing. Jeri Carney spent many hours quilting on her long arm.
Longarm Quilting by Jeri Carney of A Thread Above
Artist's statement:
I found the pattern at a Rusty Barn Show in Fresno. It took some time to find the "right" colors. Then more time for the foundation piecing. Jeri Carney spent many hours quilting on her long arm.
Best Hand Quilting
Links by Tricia Lacey
Artist's statement:
I loved all the fall colors
Artist's statement:
I loved all the fall colors
bottom of page