Quilt Show Results

There have been many times in the past few months when it felt like the only quilt projects I was working on this year were my entries for the Georgia Celebrates Quilt show. Of course, it's not true. I have made other projects this year, but a very large portion of my time has been focused on finishing my quilt show entries. Last week, all of that time and effort was on display at the Georgia Celebrates Quilts show.

Georgia Celebrates Quilts is the largest and most prestigious quilt show in the state, with over 300 quilts on display and more than $4000 in prizes awarded. The show is held every other year, and they always have an incredible display of quilts in a wide range of styles and sizes. 

I was fortunate enough to have three quilts accepted for the show, and I was stunned when all three of them received ribbons. The most exciting of all was the "Best Use of Color" award for my 2025 Temperature Quilt. It was quilted by Kris Townsend Davis.

Rainbow Stairsteps won 2nd Place for Pieced Quilts, 2 Person--Small. It was quilted at Sew Senoia, a local quilt shop.

Sunset at Lighthouse Inn won 2nd Place for Modern Quilts, Large. It was quilted by Kris Townsend Davis.

I am a member of two different local quilt guilds. One is the East Cobb Quilters' Guild, which is the group that presents the quilt show every other year. This guild generally has over 300 members. My other guild is the Common Threads Quilters Guild of Newnan, GA, a much smaller group, usually with 40 - 50 members. There were several quilts in the show made by members of Common Threads. Here are a few of them.

My Texas Neighborhood by Laurie Reissler

What to Do Next by Teresa Smith

Woven Whispers by Sharon Hendrix

Judges' Recognition 

Whimsical Vases by Sharon Hendrix

Honorable Mention, Applique

Sharon also had two other quilts in the show, one of which received a ribbon. It was a very impressive showing for our little guild!

You can see the winning quilts HERE. I'll share more of my favorite quilts from the show another day.

I'm  linking up with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

Wednesday Wait Loss at Inquiring Quilter

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

 Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Sunday Stash and Stitching 5/31/2026

The main focus for my quilting time over the last week has been finishing the final details on the quilts that I have entered in the Georgia Celebrates Quilts show. Today is the deadline for quilt delivery, and I am very relieved to have the bindings, hanging sleeves, and labels on my three entries done in time. 

Rainbow Stairsteps

The most recent finish of the quilt show entries was my Rainbow Stairsteps quilt, which was started as a project for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2019. I used 5.5 yards for the backing, binding and hanging sleeve on this quilt, and no new fabric was added to the stash this week.

2026 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                     5.5 yards

Used year to date:            52.125 yards

Added last week:                    0.0 yards

Added year to date:            66.25 yards

Net added in 2026:       14.125 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch Challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. Along with completing the final details on my quilt show entries, I made some more blocks for my new Blue Onion quilt, and I also started piecing a new tablerunner yesterday.

15 Minute Challenge 2026

5/24 - 5/30             7 of 7 days

2026 Total        149 of 150 days

Success rate               99.3 %   

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch Challenge at Life in Pieces. Thanks so much to Donna and Kate for continuing to host these link-ups. 

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Rainbow Stairsteps Finished!

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge, hosted by Angela at So Scrappy, has been a big part of my quilting life ever since 2013. I've been trying to focus on finishing some of the many rainbow quilts that I started in those years, and I'm happy to share my finished Rainbow Stairsteps quilt.

This quilt was one of my RSC projects back in 2019. Here's a photo from my first post about this quilt showing a single block in case you were wondering about the piecing. The finished block size is 6".

The quilt top was completed in November of 2019 and has been hanging in the quilt room closet ever since. I'm so pleased with the way it turned out and look forward to displaying it in our home.

The backing fabric seemed like a good match for the top, with a design of lots of black and white plus scattered bright colors. It's much easier to see the print up close.

The backing fabric inspired my choice of a Baptist fan-type quilting design for this quilt, and I love the texture that it adds to the quilt.

I'm  linking up with:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Musings at Songbird Designs

Wednesday Wait Loss at Inquiring Quilter

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF) at Melva Loves Scraps

 Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

The Last Scrappy Rainbow Saturday of 2019

It's the last Saturday of the year, which makes it the perfect time to review my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects from 2019. I had four different RSC quilts in process this year--let's check out my process on all of them.

One of my 2019 RSC projects was started last December with some test blocks of hand appliqued Orange Peels. I decided to make 3" finished size blocks using assorted black/dark grey backgrounds with the RSC color of the month for the peels. The last time I showed my completed blocks was in October, and there hasn't been a lot of progress since then. This project will carry over into 2020.

Orange Peels, 3" blocks

One of my self-designed RSC projects was the Framed Crumb Stars. Each block started with a 4" crumb block at the center. Star points were added to that, then a frame made from 2.5" squares. As of late October I had all of my 12" blocks made and need to figure out how I want to put them together.

Framed Crumb Stars, 12" blocks

Angela, our hostess for the RSC, was the leader for the Tiny Tuesday sampler, and there were block designs shared by many other participants too. Every week we got a pattern for a 4.5" finished size block. Occasionally there were two block patterns. I had a great time making these blocks each week, frequently making more than one of the assigned block. I ended up with around 60 blocks, which have been joined together into this fun quilt top.

Tiny Tuesday sampler, 52.5" x 60"

My favorite RSC project of 2019 was my Rainbow Stairsteps quilt. Each month I made 12 blocks in the color of the month. There were quite a few questions about the block, and I included cutting directions for one block in THIS POST. These directions make a 6" block, but it would be easy to scale it up to a larger size.

The Stairsteps quilt top was completed in November, and I am thrilled with the way it turned out! The finished size is 60" x 72".

Rainbow Stairsteps, 60" x 72"

The grand total for 2019--two finished quilt tops, one complete set of blocks, and one on-going project. That's a pretty productive year for me! Other than continuing my Orange Peel blocks, I have not decided on my RSC projects for 2020. There are so many wonderful possibilities, many inspired by fellow RSC participants. I guess it's time to come up with a plan for the year ahead!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Rainbow Stairsteps Quilt Top Finished!

November and December are the months set aside for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge as our time to finish making blocks and get our quilts assembled. I have been making Stairsteps blocks since January, and recently got all of my blocks joined together into a finished quilt top!

We were having lots of rainy weather when I finished this top, so I took my first photos indoors. Last weekend the weather improved and I was able to get better photos outdoors. It's amazing the difference in the colors.  

outdoors, no flash

indoors with flash

outdoors with flash

The finished size of my quilt top is 60" x 72". I played with several possible layouts of the blocks throughout the year, but decided on this one a few months ago. This layout required 12 blocks of each color. My blocks finish at 6", and you can find cutting directions for a block HERE.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I'm also linking up with Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Moving it Forward at Em's Scrapbag and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt. Check them out for lots of great inspiration. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 40, 2019

Our assigned colors for October at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge are brown, black and grey. I've been eagerly waiting for these colors so I could make my last sets of blocks for my Stairsteps quilt, and here they are. They may not be the most exciting colors, but they will be the perfect addition to my quilt.

Now that the last blocks are made, I can finalize the layout and get this quilt put together. I can hardly wait! I might start as soon as I finish this post.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 39, 2019

It's almost the end of our month of playing with purple scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I made good progress on all of my different RSC projects.

Here we have a Framed Crumb Star (12" block") surrounded by twelve Stairsteps blocks. On the right are eight Orange Peel blocks, plus five Tiny Tuesday blocks.

I also made some Quarter Log Cabin blocks as a sample for a possible RSC project next year.

It seems like we will probably have black and grey or brown as our assigned colors for October. It's almost time to finish making blocks and start getting these quilt tops put together!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 38, 2019

It's time for the weekly stash report again, and I am happy to say that there was no new fabric added to the stash last week! There were an awful lot of additions in August, but maybe I can make it through the whole month of September without buying any fabric. It's good to have a goal, right? And it's only a little over a week until October (how did that happen?!)

On the usage side, there was 1.25 yards used to make two sets of Stairsteps blocks for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. I showed the purple blocks in yesterday's post. Here is my set of grey/black blocks.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                           1.25 yards

Used year to date:                    42.125 yards
Added last week:                           0.0 yards

Added year to date:                    50.75 yards
Net stashed year to date:        8.625 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I missed one day last week for the first time in several weeks, but I keep moving my projects forward (and sometimes getting distracted by possible new projects!)

15 Minute Challenge:  

9/15 - 9/21              6 of 7 days

2019 Total         247 of 264 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. 

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 38, 2019

I didn't make any Stairsteps blocks last month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Our color of the month for August was light/bright blues, and I had already used all different shades of blue for my blocks in June. When it came time to make a set of blocks in purples for September, it took me awhile to work up some enthusiasm for the job. However, once I got going on the purple blocks, it all went smoothly and I am very happy with the results.

This project has now reached the point where I just want to keep going and make the rest of the blocks needed. There are 8 colors done, and I still need to add brown and grey/black blocks. Then it will be assembly time! There's a 50/50 chance I will make the rest of the blocks yet this month and get this beauty put together in October.

I've had some questions throughout the year about a pattern for these blocks. I don't have an official pattern to share, but I did post a set of cutting instructions in an earlier post HERE. I also found a link to a similar pattern called Vortex from Wilmington Prints that is available for free at the Fat Quarter Shop. Here are several different color combinations and an interesting layout for inspiration.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 30, 2019

It is the last pink Saturday of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I managed to keep up with all of my RSC projects except one--not bad for a busy month with lots of travel. Here are all of my pink blocks.

Framed Crumb Star, 12" finished size

12 Stairsteps blocks, each finishes at 6"

8 Orange Peels, 3" finished size
I still have 8 more of these to make in pinks

6 Tiny Tuesday blocks, 4.5" each

the adorable piglet block
designed by Sally Trude

Here is the entire collection together.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 28, 2019

I managed to find a little time this week to pull out my pink scraps and work up a batch of Stairsteps blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. These blocks have been coming together more quickly because I have all of the white and black/grey fabrics cut in advance and just need to add my color of the month.

Another set of 12 blocks completed! I'm very anxious to start putting the different colors together, but we still have a few more months left to add. We must still have three colors to go--I am expecting purple, light blue, and probably brown/black

While I had a week off recently, I spent a couple days obsessed by a new project, a Rainbow Gradation Disappearing 9Patch. This was inspired by a D9P QAL hosted by Julie Cefalu at The Crafty Quilter. It isn't scrappy, but I know that the Rainbow Scrap Challenge crowd will enjoy the rainbow. You can read more about this top and see in-process photos in yesterday's post HERE.

Rainbow Gradation Disappearing 9Patch
39.5" x 48"

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 25, 2019

My destashing efforts this week ended up with decent progress, 3/4 yard used for the week. I made 12 blue Stairsteps blocks for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project, plus 4 additional red blocks to finish out that color. I've had so much fun playing with different layouts for these blocks, similar to the variations for log cabin blocks. Here are a few possibilities, all using the same 16 blocks.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                            .75 yards

Used year to date:                     22.25 yards
Added last week:                          0.0 yards

Added year to date:                   27.75 yards
Net stashed year to date:          5.5 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. For the first time in many weeks, I didn't end up with a 7-for-7 week, having missed one day midway through. I don't even remember why I didn't do any quilting that day. My totals are still looking great--a 92.4% success rate!

15 Minute Challenge:  

6/16 - 6/22                6 of 7 days

2019 Total         160 of 173 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. 

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 25, 2019

There has been great forward progress on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects over the last week. I started by making one dark blue Framed Crumb Star block.

 Here are all of my crumb stars in their different colors.

After that I made my blue Stairsteps blocks. I couldn't resist putting them up on the wall with the star block. If these blocks were all stitched together, this would measure 24". I'm trying to decide if that is a useful size for me, because I do love how they look together.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA