Quilting Arts Magazine Quilt Con SIP 2020

Hello and welcome to QuiltCon 2020 in beautiful Austin, Texas! AS YOU MAY KNOW, this is the third time QuiltCon has been held in Austin—the inaugural event was here in 2013 and the second QuiltCon happened here in 2015. Since then, we have traveled to Pasadena (twice), Savannah, and Nashville before coming back “home!” QuiltCon is the largest modern quilting event in the world. We have hands-on workshops, lectures, and even a sewing lounge for when you just have to stop and sew! There is a top-notch vendor hall chock full of leading quilt-y vendors plus amazing quilt displays with hundreds of quilts in a dazzling array of colors and design. The Modern Quilt Guild celebrated its 10th anniversary in October 2019 and there is so much to look forward to as we…

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT The Modern Quilt Guild is marking the seventh anniversary of this show? It is an amazing accomplishment. When I contemplate the differences between that first QuiltCon in 2013 and the current year’s show, the contrasts are clear. Current class offerings include techniques from exploring longarm machine quilting to mastering exquisite hand embroidery. The show floor is larger, and the aisles are packed with quilt enthusiasts of every age and walk of life, all excited to see cutting-edge modern quilts. The list of lectures is fascinating; I want to hear them all! QuiltCon 2020 is a fantastic show that represents a broad audience and reflects what is exciting and fresh in the modern quilt genre. One thing that has evolved over the years is the depth and breadth of…

HEATHER BLACK’S quilts and patterns have been featured in various quilting publications and displayed at international, national, and regional quilt shows including International Quilt Festival, AQS QuiltWeek, QuiltCon, MQX, Road to California, and many more. She won First Place Use of Negative Space for her quilt “Urban Trek” at QuiltCon 2018 and several ribbons in regional shows. Heather grew up in the Pacific Northwest and attended college in Pennsylvania. Many of her designs are inspired by the landscape of her home state. Heather’s first book, Quilt Modern Curves & Bold Stripes: 15 Dynamic Projects for All Skill Levels, co-authored with Daisy Aschehoug, was released January 2020. quiltachusetts.com ELIZA HARDY JONES is a musician and quilter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She began her musical training as a classical pianist and now plays professionally in folk…

NUMBER OF QUILTS ENTERED IN THE SHOW: 1,543 PERCENTAGE OF THOSE QUILTS JURIED INTO QUILTCON: 28% TOTAL NUMBER OF QUILTS ON DISPLAY: 622 PERCENTAGE MADE FOR THE CHARITY QUILT CHALLENGE: 18% INDIVIDUAL GUILDS REPRESENTED BY QUILTS AT THE SHOW: 85 TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRIZE MONEY AWARDED: $16,500+ NUMBER OF EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND LECTURES: 173 INDIVIDUAL FACULTY MEMBERS: 45 MQG SUPER VOLUNTEERS PLEDGING 16+ HOURS EACH: 180 NUMBER OF HANDMADE PRIZE RIBBONS CREATED BY NICOLE DAKSIEWICZ: 48 EXPECTED SHOW ATTENDANCE: 8,000 or more! CURRENT MQG MEMBERSHIP: 15,589 and counting! VALUE OF A TRIP TO QUILTCON: PRICELE$$ PHOTOS BY MELISSAVA NRUITEN, COURTESY OF THE MQG…

BEST IN SHOW A Group Effort: The 2019 Best in Show Winner Winning the top prize at QuiltCon is definitely a career high, and even more of a feat when the accolade is for a quilt that has a unique provenance. In 2019, the quilt “Smile” became the first group quilt to take home the top prize. The quilt was made by Leanne Chahley using her own blocks as well as those from nine other quilters who participated in the international quilting bee, Bee Sewcial. Leanne set the tone for the challenge, asking the group to make ‘maximalist’ improv blocks using all colors with the exception of neutrals. She gathered the blocks, arranged and set them for maximal impact, and then quilted the composition with closely spaced hand-drawn horizontal lines on her…

IT’S A ONCE-A-YEAR EVENT ANTICIPATED by MQG members from around the world: the evening before the show opens, Heather Kinion, the chair of the MQG Board of Directors, will take center stage to reveal the top quilts and award thousands of dollars in cash prizes to this year’s winners. The ceremony is a highlight for many attendees, and the thrill of seeing the winning quilters receive their prizes is not to be missed. This ceremony is the culmination of hundreds of hours of behind-the-scenes work by dedicated MQG volunteers, staff members, and judges. One of the most demanding and important jobs in any show is to identify the winning entries and judge them appropriately. This year’s panel was chosen for their unique perspective of the aesthetic, experience in the modern quilting…