Tuesday was an exciting night here in Houston at the IQA Award Ceremony. Melissa Sobotka took the top $10,000 prize with her gorgeous quilt "Chihuly's Gondola". Christine Alexiou took the eQuilter-sponsored $7500 World of Beauty prize, with her quilt that looks like an illuminated manuscript.
I had taken a quick walk through the hundreds of quilts during Quilt Market, looking to see if I could spot the next big winners.
This piece caught my eye in the Miniature Quilt category, and I was sure it would get first place in that category. Instead it got bumped up, to win the $5000 Master Award for Thread Artistry. It was made by a gentleman from Chofu City in Tokyo – Masanobu Miyama – who was there to receive his cash award very happily.
As you can see on this page with the winners' names and countries, this contest continues to expand its international scope. There are 27 international winners on this page of all the winners. For those quilters whose work is recognized with a prize in this festival, they can feel proud that their work has been recognized in a truly international venue.
One of those winners was our own Dana Chapman, manager of our Customer Service department! We are so proud and excited for her! She took a second place prize in the Wearable Art category.
Bonnie McCaffery is here with me again, and we are producing several videos of the award show, artist interviews, a SAQA show tour, and an art quilt review. (and more!) If you can't wait for the Houston Quilt Festival videos, you can take a look at our videos from the Birmingham Quilt Festival in August, on our video page with over 100 choices!
Wednesday I am flying home, and Thursday Sophie and I are flying back to Houston. (I am going back to Colorado to pick her up) On Friday we will be filming all around the quilt exhibit. She is giving up her Halloween Trick or Treating to come to Houston and make her Kids Quilt Review videos.
I will also be photographing the quilt show and posting over the next week. Watch for new photos on my photo page!
This is the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, and I just want to thank Timeless Treasures for warehousing the donated quilts until they were delivered to hurricane victims. I'd like to especially thank all the quilters who sent in comfort quilts for Hurricane Sandy, the Moore Tornado, and the recent Colorado Floods. You are AWESOME!!!
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