It's Magic

While many bloggers are making their way to Salt Lake City this week to experience the quilt market, here in Kansas City, the buzz is all about the IMQA Machine Quilters Showcase.

The Showcase has been coming here for quite a few years and I always enjoy seeing the beautiful quilts and shopping the vendor floor. This year I decided to volunteer some time helping with the show. Tuesday, I was assigned to the photography room where all the quilts are professionally photographed after they are judged and before hanging for viewing.
It was an exciting day of seeing many of the quilts up close and personal not to mention observing the behind the scene work it takes to produce such a big show. Then, yesterday I helped sell tickets for about 4 hours before attending the show and vendors. I came a way with a few goodies and lots of machine envy!

Seeing the expert and professional quality quilting on so many quilts was sometimes just incredulous! I thought that I would share some of the quilting that wowed me as well as a few of my favorite quilts. This......

 And this....

are close-up views of this original design by Cindy Seitz-Krug of Bakersfield, CA using Cherrywood hand dyed fabrics. The quilting motifs are her design as well.

Look at this quilting by Clem Buzick of Fargo, NC on Hobbs wool batting!

This Hawaiian design is by Jan Hutchinson of Sedgwick, KS.

Me and my shadow was beautifully quilted by Rhonda Beyer of Tualatin, OR.

This miniature whole cloth quilt called Itty Bitty Boutis was quilted by Jan Hutchinson using original quilting motifs.... jaw dropping, tiny quilting!

While viewing the show, I accidentally was introduced to Lisa Sipes who created 

this eye popping embroidered quilt. Not only is it her very first show quilt entry, 

but it is also her first machine embroidery project!

 Lisa commented that each butterfly took 6 hours to create!

Magic in Times Square by Janet Fogg of Milwaukie, OR is like

 a grown up I Spy quilt!

 There is so much to look at in Hide and Seek by Ann Holton of Redwood Valley, CA.

 This beauty by Corliss Allendes of St. George Utah took 400 hours to piece!

 Here's a close up of the detail involved in making the flowers.

I managed to get out of the shopping area without buying any fabric,

but it was sure tempting!

I hope you have enjoyed this taste of the Showcase! If you live anywhere near KC, you won't want to miss this opportunity to see some lovely quilts. 

The show runs through Saturday.