Mixed Technique Division
Mixed Technique First Place
“Prowler on Cat 2”
Vinda Goulding Robison of Colorado Springs, CO won 1st Place in the Mixed Technique Division.
Quilt source: My own interpretation.
Quilt Stories: I wanted to a create a Navy quilt in tribute to my husband and best friend, honoring his Navy Career of 27 years. Trying to decide what to do and how to cover all of that was a challenge. He flew EA6B Prowlers from 1972-1985. He would come home from cruises and tell me stories of flying on and off the carriers. What stood in my mind the most was the night and bad weather cat shots and landings. We met in Rota, Spain in 1970 while he was flying A3 Skywarriors. He was the commanding officer of VAQ-132, Scorpions which was a highlight for both of us.
Mixed Technique Second Place
“Go Navy!”
Georgianne Kandler of Arroyo Grande, CA won 2nd Place in the Mixed Technique Division.
Quilt Full Description: Go Navy! was designed specifically for the Navy Quilt Challenge. It depicts a PBY Catalina bursting out of a Navy Star into clear blue sky. Go Navy! was constructed with hand dyed, hand painted, and commercially printed cotton fabric. Machine trapunto and machine quilting were used in the finish.
Quilt Stories: The background is paper pieced, the star and airplane are machine appliqued with trapunto behind the airplane.
Mixed Technique Third Place
“The Incredible Corsair”
Patt Blair of Mt Baldy, CA won 3rd Place in the Mixed Technique Division.
Quilt Description This WWII fighter plane could outfight, out-climb, and if needed outrun any other prop driven enemy fighter. The Japanese nick-named the F4U Corsair "Whistling Death" partly because of the engine sound that came from air entering the wing-root inlets cooling the engine.
Quilt source: The inspiration came from a travel magazine photo of a surviving plane flying in daylight above a calm sea. I used only the shape of the plane, substituted the pilot, and placed the aircraft in a stormy evening sky.
Quilt Stories: How could one say NO to the Navy? I certainly couldn't!
Mixed Technique Honorable Mention
“A Century of Sea and Sky”
Patricia Massimini of McLean, VA received Honorable Mention in the Mixed Technique Division.
Quilt Full Description: Blue Angel F18s rise in starburst formation from the first Curtiss Pusher to be launched from a ship. Seals of the three naval aviation services are positioned on the bow of a ship at sea. All embroidered elements were created for the quilt, including original aircraft designs.
Quilt source: The embroidery designs for the 3 service seals were purchased from Embroidery Library, Inc. Embroidery Library specifically authorizes the design to be sewn out and used for "personal use, donations to charity, gifts, and sale for profit." No other patterns or designs were used or adapted.
Quilt Stories: My husband was a career Marine aviator and is currently a docent at the National Air and Space Museum. Every year we collaborate on a theme for the EAA Oshkosh quilt block contest. For 2010 we commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the first aircraft launched from a ship (also a Curtiss Pusher flown by Eugene Ely). To our great delight, the quilt block won first place at Oshkosh this past July. We heard about the Navy Challenge contest recently, and we are excited about the opportunity to create a second design using the Curtiss Pusher.
Mixed Technique Curator's Choice
“Highest Flight”
Nancy Owens Chocek of Santa Ana, CA won Curator's Choice in the Mixed Technique Division.
Quilt Full Description: My design depicts the missing man formation, honoring LCdr Stu Powrie. The A-4F Skyhawk bears #5, the number of LCdr Powrie's Blue Angel aircraft. I digitized and machine embroidered the 6 airplanes. They were appliqued to the quilt surface. The quilt border and binding are "Blue Angel" blue and gold.
Quilt Stories: I read about the Thread Tails & Vapor Trails challenge in American Quilter magazine. I knew LCdr Stu Powrie through a Marine Corps pilot, whom I was dating. Stu was killed Feb. 22, 1982 in a training accident. Upon reading the article and immediately knew that I wanted to participate by creating a quilt honoring Stu for his sacrifice, but the Oct. 1st deadline was just 8 weeks away! Thanks to the internet, I quickly did my research and got started. The machine embroidery was done with my Baby Lock BMP-8 (six needle) embroidery machine. I digitized the aircraft and the poem "High Flight" on the back of the quilt, using the Bernina Embroidery Software. The quilting was done on my Baby Lock Jewel long arm quilting machine (free motion). I have a background as a systems analyst and have been a quiltmaker for 15 years, so the "marriage" of computing and sewing is really fun for me.
Mixed Technique Best Machine Workmanship
“Scrambled Eggs”
Pat Alderman of Fort Collins, CO received Best Machine Workmanship in the Mixed Technique Division.
Description: My inspiration was a propeller driven by the Mariner's Compass at the center. The "Scrambled Eggs" are a nickname for the Oak Leaves that are worn on the Officer's cap. The "Wings of Gold" are symbolic of my husband's naval career.
Other Participants: I am learning to quilt on a Gammill Statler machine and I received advice and digitizing assistance from Kelly Gallagher-Abbott.
Quilt source: My center Circle of Illusion was taken from a Pattern designed by Andi Perejda and published by Juke Box Quilts.
Quilt Stories: My inspiration was a propeller driven by the Mariner's Compass at the center. The "Scrambled Eggs" are a nickname for the Oak Leaves that are worn on the Officer's cap. The "Wings of Gold" are symbolic of my husband's naval career.
Mixed Technique Best Hand Workmanship
“ONE TO TWO MILLION”
Sally Ponfick of Lafayette, CO received Best Hand Workmanship in the Mixed Technique Division.
Quilt source: This is an authentic military chart.
Quilt Stories: I hand quilted the roads, couched the major rivers, embroidered the great wall, and used atmospheric perspective on the seas.
