A couple of weeks ago, The Coastal Bend Quilt & Needlework Guild put on their fabulous   bi-anual show at The Garden Room of The American Bank Center in Corpus Christie, Texas.   I look forward to this every other year, because the quality of the exhibits is outstanding. I contacted the guild secretary, and she arranged for me to have permission to publish the following pictures taken at the show.

   Firstly, I must explain that there were far too many wonderful quilts for me to photograph & tell you about them all. The following are several that I found unique.

Here is Sue Bell, the guild secretary with

the quilt that the guild members worked on together, and which was offered as a draw prize to some lucky show patron.As you can see, the show theme was Texas quilts.

Psychedelic Longhorn made from a kit by Kathy Tunnell

I loved the modern art look of this one.

This was awarded first place in the pieced quilts category. I doubt I have ever seen more precision, especially when one notes how meticulous the piecing in the background section is, and how small the star blocks with en point 9 patch surrounds are.

Here's a close-up of the background field.

It's 5 Oclock Somewhere, with it's vibrant parrots and colorful fabrics is a real show stopper. It was also a fundraiser for the Pt. Aransas Animal Rescue & Keep.                 Barbara Craeger , the maker donated it to a group called The Parrotheads, who used it to raise $3,600 for the A.R.K.!

Christmas Treasures, by Nita Harrell featured some unique embroidery, a technique called chicken scratch. I did a double take when I saw this, as I first thought there was a lace applique involved. I remember doing an apron once, embroidering chickens in x st. over gingham...but this is fantastic.

The close-up, left shows a detail of one of the embroidered blocks on this Hallowe'en quilt, HocusPocusville made by Jamie Ritter. They depict a hilarious haunted town, complete with a hair salon that guarantees bad hair days.The giant black rickrack around the central area gives a scalloped effect. Lovely spiderweb quilting done with orange/yellow varigated thread adorns the black squares .

The camera didn't do justice to this hexagon quilt. It has a hypnotizing effect when you stand in front of it. In case you're interested, it is hung with 2 sleeves, one at the top, which fastens to the wall, and the second at it's widest point with a stick insert to hold it's shape.

            This is one of 2  DearJane quilts at the show, the other was done in earthy tones, and the picture was not so clear. this one, by Brenda Burkett, was beautifully hand quilted. A 30 yr. veteran of quilting, she wanted a challenging project, and found one! All these squares are tiny about 3 1/2", and the sashes are 1/2", the quilt is bed sized. An amazing show of miniature piecing and detailed applique!

                 This is a closeup of the

               4th border.

This "Rose Medalion "was my personal favorite. The colors are vibrant, the applique and piecework by Sheralyn Humble exquisitely executed, and the machine quilting by Karen Nanos was impeccable. There a 5 (count'em 5!) borders, each with own unique challenges. Appliqued corner blocks accent and complete the frame.

    Besides quilts, there were examples of wearable art, needlework, and a nice display of children's sewing efforts. There is a lot of talent on display here.

    In all, I had a wonderful time. There were a good variety of vendors featuring machines, threads, fabrics, patterns, notions ,stamps and kits. I can't wait "til 2015 when they put on their next show!