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.






