Brookfield Library Quilt Show

I was lucky enough to tap our local quilting talent and curate a quilt show for the Brookfield CT Public Library. The show is called “Celebrating Local Quilters” and includes more than 20 quilts that run the gamut of styles and techniques. The library has a great gallery, so pop by and see the show before December 30, 2022 if you can. If not, no worries, as I have shared images and background on the quilts below.

I worked with a member of the Library gallery committee in developing the show. Carolyn Nuzzi is a retired art history professor and is committed to excellence in creating shows in the space. Together we decided to focus on showing the depth and breadth of local talent instead of highlighting a particular type of quilting. And, we hung the quilts starting with traditional, moving on through modern quilts, and then finished with some whimsical creations. Here they are:

Cake Stand

Pieced and quilted by Veralyn Davee

Dimensions: 41” wide x 53” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing, hand quilting

This quilt was machine pieced and hand quilted using colors and a pattern typical of the late 1800’s. 

First Step to Addiction

Made and quilted by: Kim Spinelli

Dimensions: 28” wide x 28” high

Techniques used: Paper piecing

This paper-pieced quilt features the star representing Vermont from Carol Doak’s 50 Fabulous Stars book. I fell in love with paper piecing while making this quilt which is why it is named “First Step to Addiction.”

Spring is Here

Pieced by Wendy Mauro

Quilted by Erin Byrne, Cotton Candy Fabrics

Dimensions: 58” wide x 58” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

The bright colorful pinwheels and birds in the border remind me of a bright spring day.

Black and White Log Cabin

Made by: Maureen Raftery

Quilted by: Jackie Kunkel

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

This is a traditional log cabin quilt with the red center representing the hearth of a home with one side of the block in light fabrics and the other in dark. The light colored fabrics feature whimsical  patterns like colored dots, hearts, flowers and squiggles.

Square Dance

Pieced by Wendy Mauro

Quilted by Pat Hluska, Blue Ribbon Quilting

Dimensions: 54” wide x 58” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

This quilt features pinwheels set on point. By doing so, Wendy created negative space that allowed for custom quilting.  

Mystery Quilt

Pieced by Diane Preston

Quilted by Jamie Millard

Dimensions: 55” wide x 55” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

This traditional quilt was a mystery project where you don’t know what the finished piece will be until done. This was a fun mystery with a great results!

Water Lily Reflections

Pieced by Sandy Chadwick

Quilted by Diane Miller Osbourne

Dimensions: 35” wide x 44” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing, machine applique, machine embroidery

This is a quilt that Sandy designed based on flowers she saw on Pinterest. She sparked to this idea because she has always loved water lilies and they were a perfect showcase for these Japanese fabrics. She further enhanced the quilt with embroidered touches including dragonflies and frogs.

Spring Sprouts

Pieced by Maureen Oakes

Quilted by Maureen Oakes at Cotton Candy Fabrics

Dimensions: 42” wide x 55” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing and applique

This traditional style quilt combines a traditional pattern with more modern fabrics for a pleasing peak into spring.  

Twelve Days of Christmas

Pieced by Sandy Chadwick

Quilted by Judy Irish

Dimensions: 58” wide x 48” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing, machine applique 

Sandy worked on this stunning quilt for over a year including finding the perfect fabric to bring each day of Christmas to life.

Holiday

Pieced and Quilted by Erin Byrne

Dimensions: 48” wide x 48” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

Custom quilting brings this holiday poinsettia to life as the centerpiece of a warm family holiday.

Meadowland

Pieced and quilted by Meghan Stewart

Dimensions: 64” wide x 80” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing, mixed textiles

This blue, green and tan quilt was intended to bring the colors of the seaside to my home.

Black, White and Read Village #2

Collaged and Quilted by: Karen Eckmeier

Dimensions: 16” wide x 16” high

Techniques used: Fabric collage, embellishment (tulle overlay), text fabric created

This quilt is part of my Happy Villages series.

City Lights

Collaged and Quilted by: Karen Eckmeier

Dimensions: 16” wide x 13” high

Techniques used: Topstitch piecing technique

This is #4 of my Accidental Landscapes series of patterns. 

Lake with Heron

Collaged and Quilted by: Karen Eckmeier

Dimensions: 15” wide x 12” high

Techniques used: Topstitch piecing technique, embellishment

This is #10 of my Accidental Landscapes series of patterns. It features my topstitch piecing technique, embellished with Angelina fibers and beads.

Birch Trees

Made and quilted by: Maureen Raftery

Dimensions: 42” wide x 42” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing and applique

This wall hanging depicts a view of birch trees against an abstract background of woods and lakes in the distance

Wonky Log Cabin

Pieced and quilted by Veralyn Davee

Dimensions: 49” wide x 49” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing 

This quilt was constructed in the same manner as a traditional log cabin, but each row was trimmed at an angle to create the movement.

Vacation

Pieced and Quilted by Erin Byrne

Dimensions: 17” wide x 18” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

Description: Often are memories are more vivid than reality. This quilt is my recollection of every sunset I have seen on vacation, bright and beautiful. The photos never do nature justice, but I can use this colorful quilt to sustain me as I look forward to my next adventure.

Geese Gone Wild

Pieced and quilted by Erin Byrne

Techniques used: Foundation paper piecing

This modern mini quilt features a very traditional block, Flying Geese, in modern fabrics and a circular formation to create an eye-catching composition.

Rainbow Table Runner

Pieced and quilted by Veralyn Davee

Dimensions: 19” wide x 38” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing 

Using coordinated strips of fabric, Veralyn used the gradiations of color to create a rainbow that brightens any table.

Looking Up

Pieced by Wendy Mauro

Quilted by Pat Hluska, Blue Ribbon Quilting

Dimensions: 30” wide x 58” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

This colorful wall hanging uses bright colors in a coordinated palette with all of the triangles pointing up to send a positive message to all.

Eureka

Made by Kim Spinelli

Quilted by: Wilma Cogliantry

Dimensions: 28” wide x 28” high

Techniques used: Paper piecing and embellishment

Description: This quilt was in a miniature quilt magazine. I decided to paper piece it instead. Having difficult figuring out how to sew the hexagons together I had a “Eureka” moment. I took it apart and sewed it back together again in strips.

Field of Pansies

Made and Quilted by: Liz Rosiello

Dimensions: 42” wide x 34” high

Techniques used: Stitch and flip

This was a fun and creative way to use scraps of fabric to create a field of pansies.

Sky High Pinwheels

Made and Quilted by: Liz Rosiello

Dimensions: 50” wide x 50” high

Techniques used: Stitch and flip

This quilt was inspired by blue skies. I love the fun way the blocks spin and move.

Summer Dream

Made and Quilted by: Liz Rosiello

Dimensions: 31” wide x 31” high

Techniques used: Paper piecing

This wall hanging quilt was made with hand dyed fabric to match the border fabric.

Through the Looking Glass

Made and Quilted by: Liz Rosiello

Dimensions: 40” wide x 47” high

Techniques used: Quilt as you go

This quilt features an ombre design based on the color of fabric used creating a watercolor effect.

The Band-Aid Quilt

Made by: Peggy Bigham

Quilted by: Erin Byrne, Cotton Candy Fabrics

Dimensions: 28” wide x 28” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

This quilt features Kona cotton solids to bring cheery color. It was stitched during the height of COVID-19 to show the love and compassion we all needed during the pandemic.

Sun Prints

Pieced and quilted by Veralyn Davee

Dimensions: 13” wide x 14” high, 13” x 14” high, 14” x 16” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing, sun printing

Sun printing uses a photo reactive paint that withdraws from underneath the foliage to create the image. These three are part of a series that hang together.

Legendary

Pieced by Maureen Oakes

Quilted by Maureen Oakes at Cotton Candy Fabrics

Dimensions: 60” wide x 72” high

Techniques used: Traditional piecing

I made this quilt for my son after visiting the Big Foot Museum in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Monarch Butterfly

Made and quilted by: Maureen Raftery

Dimensions: 13” wide x 16” high

Techniques used: Machine stitching over printed panel, thread painting

I made this quilt during an online class during the pandemic. The teacher, Joyce Hughes, taught a class in the various machine stitching techniques that can be used in thread painting.

The biggest takeaway I had from creating this show was a reminder about how broad the art form of quilting really is. This show included hand to machine quilting; free motion to computerized robotic quilting. Techniques used included traditional piecing, foundation paper piecing, embroidery, collage, embellishment, thread painting and applique. The quilts ranged from the most traditional to super modern. And all of it came from our area including Brookfield, New Milford, Danbury, Bethel and Newtown. Congratulations to all of the quilters recognized, and know, this is the tip of the iceberg of talent tin our community.

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