Quilts of the World Part 2: Germany

Part of the 2016 Pacific International Quilt Festival was the World Quilt Competition XX, which is a special exhibition within the larger P.I.Q.F. This competition, which is open to quilters from many different countries, starts out each summer on the East Coast of the U.S.A.; then the best quilts from that show go on tour to the various regional shows in America. Each week, Quilt Inspiration will feature highlights of quilts from a different country. We hope you enjoy this presentation, continuing with quilts from Germany.

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Gear Wheel 11 - Spiral of Life, 36 x 50", by Barbara Lange

Barbara says, "Life to me evolves like a spiral - constantly in movement,, changing direction, but at the same time repeating itself in a good way. We are all a little wheel in this big machinery, contributing to the big overall movement. Nobody is unimportant, and as soon as one wheel goes missing, we all are affected."

The beautiful contemporary quilting motif really emphasizes the idea of the inter-connectedness and mutual dependency of human kind. Barbara's original design is machine pieced and sewing machine quilted.

Blattgold (Leaf Gold), 43 x 63", by Brigitte Morgenrath

Winner of a blue ribbon for Best of Country (Germany), Brigitte says this is the 10th time that she is participating in the World Quilt Competition! Her color combination was "inspired by golden silk and green cotton fabric embellished with golden blossoms, I created these leaf-bearing twigs."

Blattgold was machine pieced using a paper piecing technique for highest accuracy, then hand quilted in all the ditches to highlight the leaf pattern.

Woven Journey, 91 x 89", by Claudia Pfeil

Blue ribbon winner in the Innovative Quilts category, Claudia notes that this quilt is her interpretation of the 2016 P.I.Q.F. theme, "Then and Now." Claudia is known for her award-winning quilting; you can see her instructional videos at her website.

Claudia's original design is machine pieced, machine appliqued, and long arm quilted. Here, you can see some of the pretty beaded embellishment that Claudia has added to her quilt. This woven motif reminds us of how the strands of time weave various events in and out of our lives.

Art and Craft meet Art Nouveau, 37 x 37", by Katrin Schroeder

Katrin explains, "I'm an admirer of the Art Nouveau epoch, in particular of the work by William Morris... The motifs used in the border are inspired by a mosaic from the Art Nouveau church "Am Steintor" in Vienna, Austria. The borders have been hand-pieced in the English paper-piecing technique using gold lame and regular cotton fabrics. The binding has been applied by hand."

Katrin continues, " I made one of his most lovely flower paintings the centerpiece of my quilt. The leaves and blossoms I have cut from felt and are appliqued by hand." Katrin's lovely original design is  all hand pieced, hand appliqued, and hand quilted.

Reflections on the Nine Patch, 36 x 36", by Uta Lenk

This original design by Uta Lenk is a playful variation of a traditional nine-patch pattern using modern fabrics (scraps) and design options on the quilt top. The quilt was machine pieced and sewing machine quilted.  As shown below, the tails of the machine quilting threads were left on top of the quilt to add to the texture and improvisational feel. 

Passion Always Wins, 61 x 44", by Frauke Schramm

This dynamic quilt makes a powerful statement. It depicts the contrast between peace and human rights versus the flames and destruction created by ISIS. Frauke Schramm says, "So-called ISIS not only slaughters people – they believe they can destroy the fundamental ideas of everyone who does not share their beliefs, for instance, by burning books. Nothing does ISIS know about the resilience of ideas – they will survive. They always have."

Passion Always Wins was created with cotton, linen, and polyester fabrics using string piecing, free-motion applique, and free-motion quilting.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration.

International Quilts From P.I.Q.F. 2012

Today we're featuring some wonderful quilts from different countries that were displayed at the Pacific International Quilt Festival in October, 2012.  We think you'll really enjoy these intriguing works from New Zealand, Germany and Japan!

Ride With Me, 35.5 x 37.5, by Joanne Mitchell, New Zealand

This enchanting merry-go-round pony is actually very high tech. There's a motion sensor sewn into the quilt which causes lights to flash and music to play whenever a viewer walks near it.  Joanne writes, "An original design based on the early carousel horse of my childhood. The original music from the old steam driven organ and the flashing lights are all part of the memory. Thanks for the technical assistance from my husband Paul and Carl of LED Dunedin."

Close-up of  Ride With Me

In this close-up, you can see some of the sparkling embellishments on the carousel itself, as well as the beautiful quilting on the horse's head and mane. Featured on the cover of  New Zealand Quilter,  "Ride With Me", won not only First Place but the Viewer's Choice Award in the Hoffman Challenge.

Mandala Magic, 69 x 69, by Judith Ross, New Zealand

Judith notes : " [The circular designs] of mandalas have always fascinated me. I enjoy the contrast between their restful symmetry and joyous colour. This original design is based on ceiling mandalas I saw in Sikkim temples. Techniques include printing on silk, machine piecing, applique, and quilting. The centre is a piece of the antique Indian zardozi embroidery." For more information,about Judith's creative \and original quilts, please visit Judith Ross' website.

Pineapple Blue, 61 x 84, by Brigitte Morgenroth, Germany

Blue ribbon winner for "Best Use of Color" in the World Quilt category, Brigitte says, "Pineapple is a variation of a log cabin pattern; the pattern is very clear and severe, but so interesting and modern thanks to the choice of colours and materials. Dupioni silk gives wonderful light and shadow reflections because it was sewn in different directions. This work is paper pieced, and the white circles are magnified through hand quilting."   For more information on this talented quilter, please visit Brigitte Morgenroth's website.

Zen by Yoshiko Katagiri,  Japan

P.I.Q.F. 2012 featured a special exhibit titled "Life", by very skilled Japanese quilter Yoshiko Katagiri. She created the "Life" exhibit in gratitude for the contributions of quilters and others around the world to the relief work after the 2011 large scale earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Yoshiko notes that this natural disaster and the help sent to Japan caused her to consider the role of nature in our lives and the importance of the lives of each animate being, no matter how small.Yoshiko's "Zen" quilt displays a giant red peony flower, sitting placidly amidst a contingent of energetic dragonflies.  

Close-up of Zen
 

Yoshiko notes,  "The peony is called the 'queen of flowers' in China.... but the Japanese people [often liken it to] the image of  a beautiful sitting woman." In this close-up, you can see some of the intricate piecing involved in the construction of the flower.  

Uneri by Yoshiko Katagiri

The word "Uneri" in Japanese can be loosely translated to mean "Undulation, or like a wave that rises and falls."  Yoshiko writes, ...."Life has many ups and downs. Sometimes it pulls by a strong power; the other times it tangles by various happenings, like a rope."  Yoshiko has characterized the "peaks and valleys" of life by depicting them them as these colorful fabric ropes which twist, turn, and wind around each other. 

Ushio by Yoshiko Katagiri

A very approximate translation of  "Ushio" is "the tide."  Yoshiko says, "The regions where the earthquake and tsunami hit had the luxuriant forests and the rich sea. ......The destroyed forests and sea are going to [recover]  by the efforts of numerous people."  We love these vibrant, eye-catching fish with their strong fins, which swim in all directions, both with the current of the water and against it. Look carefully, and you'll see several outlines of fish quilted into the black background.  

Corona by Yoshiko Katagiri

Brilliant warm colors denote the flames of gas which surround the sun's surface like a crown ; hence the name "corona." Yoshiko notes,  "Without the sun, I imagine that life would never have existed on earth. I think that the entity of the sun itself is natural, but close to wondrous. "