The 2017 Quilt Alliance quilt contest winners have been announced. Carol Poole of Rockledge, Florida, is the winner of this year's First Place Award selected by Quilt Alliance members. Poole's prize is an  HQ Stitch 710 sewing machine provided by Handi Quilter (retail value: $3,495.00). 

Her quilt "My Alzheimer's Voice," pictured below, was made with hand dyed batiks and silk batting, using burned fabric and raw edge applique techniques.  " I used my seam ripper for something besides unsewing," says Poole. "I held the metal point over a candle until quite hot, then punched holes, to create the burned holes in my fabric, simulating the small burnt holes in my memories."

In her artist's statement Poole reveals her experience as an artist in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. "Having been diagnosed with early stage Alzheimers, I wanted to visually depict how my voice is changing. Once my thoughts, ideas and words were bright, quick, well-formed and easily articulated. They are becoming harder to express and even forgotten, at times, singed around the edges. The vortex expresses what my voice is and what my voice is becoming: less busy worked more reflective and thoughtful. I am slower to anger and am grateful of love." 

"My Alzheimer's Voice" by Carol Poole.

Quilt Alliance members chose Tim Latimer's "Quilt Talk," pictured below, to receive the Second Place Award, an HQ Stitch 510 machine, provided by Handi Quilter (retail value: $1,495.00). Latimer, from Lansing, Michigan, created his piece from quilted leather, using free motion quilting on an antique treadle sewing machine. 

"Quilt Talk" by Tim Latimer.

The Third Place Award, also selected by Quilt Alliance members, goes to Ramona Bates of Little Rock, Arkansas, for her quilt, "On (the Line)," pictured below. Bates wins an HQ Stitch 210 machine, provided by Handi Quilter (retail value: $595.00). Bates' artist's statement shares her remembrance of conversations with her mother and grandmother: "My mother died almost 8 yrs ago. Though I didn't call often I still miss hearing her voice on the phone (& in person). This piece is a nod to conversations on the phone line and on line (ie Twitter)as we make our voices heard. My mom (& grandmother) would often say "a little bird told me" which I added to the label." 

 

"On (the Line)" by Ramona Bates

Honorable Mention Awards selected by our members were awarded to the following artists: (click each quilt title to view the quilt on the "Voices" auction site, www.QuiltAllianceauction.org):

Betsy Vinegrad of Short Hills, NJ for "Sisterhood of the Pussypants"

Margaret Abramshe of Saint George, UT for "Quilt Kitty"

Nita E. Markos of Hillsboro, IL for "Meow, Meow, Meow"

Beth Shibley of  Los Alamitos, CA for "Shhh"

Maude Wallace Haeger of West Chester, OH for "Where Have All the Children Gone?"
Ann M. Bordeau of Arden, NC for "Memories Speak"

Hope Wilmarth of Spring, TX for "Verdant Whispers"

Judge's Choice Awards were given to these six artists by invited quilt world professionals.

Meg Cox chose Annedore Neumann of Moenchengladbach-Wickrath, NRW, Germany for "Names - Voices - Memories"

Marianne Fons chose Ellen L. Hernandez of San Antonio, TX for "Alternate Facts"

Marlene Ingraham chose Nancy S. Brown of Oakland, CA for "Endangered"

Mark Lipinski chose Carol Poole of Rockledge, FL for "My Alzheimer's Voice"

Paula Nadelstern chose Tim Latimer of Lansing, MI for "Quilt Talk"

Linda Pumphrey chose Mary J. Puckett of Cullowhee, NC for "Discussing the Meaning of Life"

Honorable Mention and Judge's Choice Award winners will receive Aurifil Thread Collections. All winners will receive StoryPatches quilt labels. 

See all of the quilts here: www.QuiltAllianceAuction.org

Online auction begins Nov. 13, 2017. 

 

Thank you to Handi Quilter for sponsoring the Quilt Alliance contest since 2010!