Whoo Hoo for Winter Wonderland
It’s official! Winter Wonderland won Best Machine Workmanship at AQS Knoxville, TN!
I’ve got to thank the quilter who called me this morning at 10 am to tell me about the win and then listened as I yelled “Kick A**!” into the phone. I was really surprised and thrilled by this award!
And just in case you’re not able to get to Knoxville, TN, here’s some photos of Winter Wonderland so you can enjoy her too:
This quilt was constructed as separate blocks, each snowflake first being created with Reverse Shadow Trapunto, a fun technique I invented to make clipping the batting much easier.
The blocks are then layered with silk organza, batting, and backing fabric and quilted. This was really the very first quilt that I used multiple designs from the project and experimented with the way different fillers create different effects and textures on the surface.
When it came to putting all the blocks together, I used 1 inch strips to connect all the blocks together on the back.
On the front, I used a technique I’d learned from Sharon Schambers Bias Binding Videos. I made yards and yards of white bias binding, starched the snot out of it, then pressed and bent the strips into curves.
The curvy strips were then machine appliqued over the surface of the quilt, covering the raw seam allowances and spaces between all the blocks.
It was definitely a fun quilt to make because I could just sit down and stitch one block each evening and by the end of 2 weeks the quilt was completely quilted. Putting it all together actually took more work and effort, but it was definitely worth it in the end.
If you’re interested in learning the Reverse Shadow Trapunto technique, check out the Winter Wonderland Quilt Pattern. This 25 page pattern will not only teach you how to make this beautiful quilt, but also how to use this neat technique on other quilts as well.
Now I’m really excited to get to Knoxville and see all the other beautiful quilts! I’ve received several emails from quilters attending the show wanting to get together.
So to make things easy here’s where I will be – on Saturday morning at 10 am I’m planning to be in the food court wearing a red t-shirt. I’ll see you there!
Let’s go quilt,
Leah
Congratulations, Leah. What a great phone call to receive this morning. You did good. Yee hah!!!
paule-marie
Congratulations on your win – it's well deserved!
Congratulations on your big win. Your work is lovely and deserving of the award.
Congratulations. Your work is lovlely.
You do "Kick A**" Leah! Winter Wonderland is so beautiful and you definitely desere to be #1! I am so happy for you that the quilting world is recognizing your superior abilities! ((((Hugs))))
Congratulations!!!
Congrats! It's a beautiful quilt.
Congratulation!!! A lovely quilt. Caroline
This is just an amazing quilt! congrats on the award! It is very much deserved!!
Congratulations. I saw your quilt on the show website yesterday. Way to go!!!
Wow! Biggest congratulations from Down Under!
Congratulations! It is beautiful.
Congratulations!! You so deserve this award.
Linda
Taupo
NewZealand
Wow! What a beauty! That is just really outstanding. Congratulations!
congratulations! It is a beautiful quilt,
greetings Judith
Congrats! It really shows off the Machine quilting you share with us.
YEA! You're the second person I've read tonight who's going to Knoxville. Wish I could go!! CONGRATS on the prize! So cool!!
Congratulations!!
glen
Congratulations Leah! How could Winter Wonderland not win – It's amazing! A well deserved win.
Congradulations!!! It is one beautiful quilt and I love the technique you used to make it..would like to try it so I guess I will have to order the pattern…hope you have alot because you are going to sell out fast!!!!
Congratulations! And how cool that you will get to see it with the ribbon hanging on it!
Whoo Hoo Leah !!!
Wonderful news, of course it is a wonderful quilt. Enjoy your time in Knoxville…. Red shirt on Saturday…… I will be wearing a lime green tee shirt and will be on highway 20 looking for a ride…….. LOL
Lean, no one deserves it more. I have learned so much and wouldn't have had the courage to try and improve as much as I have without you. I tell anyone who will listen about you and your site. ROCK ON GIRL! You deserve all the success in the world!
Jen
Congratulations on the big win! The quilt looks fabulous!
I am so very happy for you Leah. I have been following your blog, (and thoroughly enjoying it) for a very long time now. You deserve this…you have worked so hard and are so very generous with your teaching…Not to mention a skilled machine quilter! Congratulations!!
Congratulations! The quilt is beautiful and I bet even more so in person.
Intrigued by the method you used to sew the blocks together with a curvy bias tape.
Congratulations Leah!
Congratulations Leah!!! I'm sure there are many more national awards in your future. You are talented, creative and most of all WORTHY!!!!
Leah, it is beautiful…and yes yes yes..I would love to learn how to do this..pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee….
I just saw on another site that you won! Congrats!
Way to go..that is just awesome! I don't know if you ever received a ribbon like this before, but you can now mark it off and goal achieved.
Karen Martin
Congratulations Leah! You knocked this one! And I'm learning that "starching the snot out of" fabric sure helps putting the pieces together. Good for you!!!
Congratulations! You really do deserve it, that quilt is fabulous.
Congratulations, Leah. It is well earned recognition.
Congratulations! Your lovely quilt certainly deserves to win a prize! Sharing your joy!!!
YAY! Congratulations!!!=)
Congratulations! So proud that you are getting the recognition you deserve!
Have a great time in Knoxville.
A well-deserved win, Leah. Way to go!
Congrats leah! … You deserve it!
congratulations!
Major congrats, Leah!! I'm not at all surprised, though. How could this quilt NOT win??? Enjoy the show in Knoxville!
Congrats!!! So amazing!
So very well deserved Leah! Congratulations! Enjoy the show!
-debby
Chester, NY
Congratulations Leah! Hooray for your hard work. Have a great time!
Congratulations! This is one beautiful quilt!