New Mexico State Fair

I always enjoy checking out the quilts entered into the New Mexico State Fair. In case you live nowhere near Albuquerque, or just didn't make it out to the fairgrounds, how about a random selection of award winners?

While the number of machine quilted quilts dominated the hand quilted ones, there was still fair representation. Rose Rita Lopez was awarded first place in the Hand Quilted Group Quilt category.

Rose Rita Lopez

First place for a Whole Cloth Hand Quilted went to Norma Jean Koelm.

Norma Jean Koelm

Julianna Lavery received second place in the Lap Sized Machine Quilted category. 

Julianna Lavery

She has reignited my ambition to create a feathered star quilt.

Several Judy Niemeyer patterns were amongst the winners, including Mary Moya's Total Eclipse lap quilt that took first in its category.

Mary Moya

Judy Gillonwater received first place in the Holiday Quilt category and the Best Novelty Quilt award for her One: Quiltworx.com Leaf Series quilt.

Judy Gillonwater

The top award for Group/Professional Quilt was earned by certified Judy Niemeyer instructor Barbara Gary for her Sunflower Illusions quilt, which was quilted by Shirley Barter.

Barbara Gary, Quilted by Shirley Barter

First Place for a large professional quilt was awarded to Susan Harris's Full Bloom, a BOM by Barbara Persing and Mary Hoover.

Susan Harris, Quilted by Shirley Barter

The intricate quilting was completed by Shirley Barter.

Susan Harris, Quilted by Shirley Barter

Lori Box's "Sunflowers" quilt, an adaptation of a Bea Mansanarez pattern, earned first place for Hand Appliqué Machine Quilted and second place for Viewer's Choice.

Lori Box

You may recognize this winner from the Albuquerque Fiber Arts quilt show, where it took first place in the Large Traditional category.

Lori Box

Eden Green's entry may not be a quilt, but it certainly has some fantastic quilting! She won the Best Wear Adult Amateur Garments prize. This dress reminds me of Angela Walter's Athena booth at Quilt Market.

Eden Green

Cathy Guffey received third place in the Large Sized Professional category. Her quilt was one of my personal favorites at the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Festival.

Cathy Guffey

Cathy Guffey

The New Mexico Quilters Association raffle quilt took first place for Group Quilt Appliqué Machine Quilted and first place for Viewers Choice.

Fiesta Dreamin' by Betty Ann Standiferd

You may remember Changing Seasons as the Judge's Choice winner for the Large Pictoral category at the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta. It had great success at the fair, bringing in first place in the Art Quilt category, Best Wall Hanging, and Best of Show Machine Quilting.

Utha J. Russell

Louise Madore's vibrant strip quilt took first in the Pieced Machine Quilted category and the overall Machine Pieced award.

Louise Madare

The third place winner for the Twin Size Machine Quilted category was a strip quilt in warm hues by Gail Melanson.

Gail Melanson

While few in number, and understated in size, the miniatures were amazing.

See you later for more fun from the fair!