ASHEVILLE QUILT SHOW, 2026 (Cheri)

I had a great time at this year's Asheville Quilt Guild annual show, with friend Paula Jones.

The vendors were plentiful and well-supplied, but I don't imagine you care to hear about our time spent perusing their wares.

Debbie Rieck, who made the quilt above, used color choice and ombre-printed fabrics so effectively!

Until we read the parameters for the category the quilt below was entered into, we couldn't believe that it hadn't won first prize.  The artist added small photographs printed onto fabric and then enhanced them with different types of hand stitching.

It was really stunning.

Looking at the quilt that did win in that category, it appeared the judges were looking for quilters to use materials not often seen on quilts.

I always enjoy landscape and realistic quilts, and these bears, along with a similar quilt featuring horses, were two of my favorites.

I don't remember the name of this quilt design, but I've always been impressed that using just a variety of sizes of squares can create such a radiant effect.

This red, white and blue quilt stirred me on a couple of fronts.  The featured quote was a thought-provoker, and the blocks themselves were real standouts, made with precision, using very time-consuming paper-piecing.

I would like to have had a handout that described the significance of each of the various protests that were identified beside the various blocks.

If you want to make your own version of the delightful books quilt below, you can buy the pattern at Angela Pingel Designs.  

At first I thought the pattern was provided by Tula Pink, the designer of the fabrics themselves.

That woman is a genius.  She provides all kinds of free patterns, but most of them require a lot of different fabrics.

For example, one that I'm making takes 46 different colors of solid fabrics.  Many fabric shops cut a minimum of a half-yard.   Fabrics cost about $12/yard for solids ($15/yard for prints). If you are using Tula's own fabrics, just imagine how much money she makes on those "free" patterns.

Luckily I am such a slow quilter, too involved in other activities.  My expenditures are used over a very long assembly period.