2007 Contest Winners - Theme: Rose of Sharon

First Place Winner Spinning Out Spinning In 4 by Helen Remick of Seattle, WA ©	Second Place Winner Rio Rosie by Mary Ann Herndon of The Woodlands, TX ©
Third Place Winner Florabunda by Sherri Bain Driver and Mary Vaneecke, both of Tucson, AZ ©	Fourth Place Winner The Rose Palace by Ann Horton of Redwood Valley, CA ©
Fifth Place Winner Who Let the Dogs Out by Jane Wells of Fort Wayne, IN

he Museum of the American Quilter’s Society is pleased to announce the 17 winning quilts of the 2007 Rose of Sharon-themed "New Quilts from an Old Favorite" contest. These innovative quilts represent quilters from 12 different U.S. states as well as Australia, Canada and Japan. Sponsored by Fairfield Processing Corporation, Janome America, Inc. and Clover Needlecraft Inc., this international contest challenges quiltmakers to create original quilts based on a specific quilt pattern. Inspired by the traditional pieced Rose of Sharon pattern, the quiltmakers have modified the design in imaginative ways, providing a wonderful look at the skills, techniques and creativity of today's quiltmakers. All quilt finalists will be on exhibit at MAQS February 8 - May 10, 2007 and then travel to various museums through December 2008. First place was awarded to Helen Remick of Seattle, WA, for her quilt titled Spinning Out Spinning In 4. The classic Rose of Sharon block whirls and glows in this prism-like quilt. Remick has taken the traditional four-stemmed Rose of Sharon and transformed it into a five-stemmed bouquet that blossoms into a ten-pointed star. The design of the second place quilt, Rio Rosie, by Mary Ann Herndon of The Woodlands, TX, is a bright, boldly colored appliqué dance on this festive hand-quilted take on the classic Rose of Sharon quilt. Sherri Bain Driver and Mary Vaneecke, both of Tucson, AZ, combined their efforts to create the third place winner, Florabunda. This stunning quilt is an adaptation of the classic Rose of Sharon block that uses piecing, not appliqué, and colorful ikat fabrics. Fourth place winner was The Rose Palace, by Ann Horton of Redwood Valley, CA. Horton shaped a lush portal of embellished clamshells, peacocks and a pheasant to frame Rose of Sharon blocks with shisha mirror-work in their blooms. The fifth place winner was Who Let the Dogs Out by Jane Wells of Fort Wayne, IN. Five Bichon puppies cavort and hide among Roses of Sharon in this whimsical take on the classic block.
Other quilts which will be featured in the exhibit include:
Metropolis in Bloom by Kathryn Botsford, Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada Roscoe Rose by Christine Copenhaver, Franklin, Tennessee My Father's Rose Garden by Karen G. Fisher, Tucson, Arizona Sharon's Reel by Jan Frazer, Elwood, Victoria, Australia Pineapple Rose & Buds by Julia Graber, Brooksville, Mississippi Five Sisters by Barbara Holtzman, Holyoke, Colorado Rick Rack Rosey by Nancy Hutchison, Kennesaw, Georgia Leave Room in Your Garden for Fairies to Dance by Linda Johnson, Monroeville, Indiana Rose of Chris and Sharon:"I am the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley" Song of Solomon 2:1 by Chris Lynn Kirsch and Sharon Rotz, Watertown, Wisconsin Rambler Rose by Yoshiko Kobayashi, Katano City, Osaka, Japan Rose of Samantha by Nancy Lambert, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Cracklin' Rosie by Bev Munson and Sandie Dolbee, Kalamazoo, Michigan

A book featuring full-color photos of the 17 finalists and their award winning quilts, biographical information about each quilter in addition to tips, techniques and patterns will be published by the American Quilter's Society and available for purchase at the Museum in March 2006.