Machine Quilters Expo - MQX 2006

A Show Review

by Patricia L. Cummings, with photos by James Cummings

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All winter, we had been eagerly awaiting our first quilt show of the season, the Machine Quilters Expo in Manchester, New Hampshire. We were very impressed by the quality of all of the quilts entered into the show. Highest praise goes to the show organizers, vendors, white glove ladies, and of course, the quilters, without whom a show of this type would not be possible.

We are providing some photos of a few of our favorite quilts in the show. The first of these is the exquisite wholecloth quilt made by Irene Bluhm of Antlers, Oklahoma. "Hummingbird," entry 127, was her first wholecloth quilt, and she quilted it by free-motion quilting on a Gammill long-arm machine. After the quilting process, she used colored pencils and textile medium to complete the design. The result is stunning! Irene entered two other quilts in the show, and the colored pencil technique seems to be her trademark. Below is a close-up of the quilt above.

An example of a different technique is the quilt entered by Kathie James of Francestown, NH. The original Redwork designs in "Tidewater Redwork," entry #196, were sketched at her summer cottage in Maine. A Gammill Classic Plus machine was used for quilting.

"Old Yellow," entry #141, is a quilt that features the colors Cheddar, Brick, and Green, hues that remind us of Pennsylvania quilts. Quiltmaker Pam Clarke of Spokane, Washington quilted this quilt on an A-1 Elite quilting machine. The bulletin description states that she loves to combine piecing and appliqué, and also likes the look of antique quilts. This quilt is striking.

The ruched centers of the flowers featured in "Rose Basket," entry #302, are the feature that caught my eye in this quilt by Anita Shackelford of Bucyrus, Ohio. The lovely quilt, in cheerful hues, was designed as a teaching sample at a retreat in which Lynn Kough pieced the baskets, and Anita appliquéd the roses. A number of people had a hand in designing the quilting motifs for this piece which was machine-quilted with a Gammill Optimum Statler Stitcher.

"I'm in Love with Perry Winkle," entry #306, is a sweet quilt, in blue and white. We especially loved the name, periwinkle flowers being one of our favorites and one of the first flowers of spring. Elizabeth Spannring of LaCenter, Washington machine-quilted this quilt using a Bernina 1530.

One quilt which we love is entitled "Bear of the Trail," by Janet Fogg of Lake Oswego, Oregon. Janet will be a teacher at MQX 2007).

The Machine Quilters Expo has taken its place among the major shows, and entries from all over the country are reflecting the regard in which it is held. Janet-Lee Santeusanio, show founder, and partner, Mary Schilke, and their husbands have worked long hours to make sure that all of the details of masterminding the show were not overlooked. Congratulations, all!

Comments? Questions? Write to pat@quiltersmuse.com