Award winning quilt eye candy

I want to show you this fabulous quilt from Leona Harden and her original pattern.  It won Best of Show Wall in The Smoky Mountain Quilters of Knoxville TN quilt show last month.

I just love this quilt and all the detail that Leona put in it. Its easy to see why it won.

Leona is an amazing quilter.  She has only been quilting for 3 years and started off winning quilting competitions right away.  She learns everything about quilting from the internet and made 50 quilts in her first 2 years of quilting.

In addition, Leona recently started a blog so you can view her original quilts and her quilt studio.  When Leona decided to take up quilting, she went faster than zero to 60.

Thanks Leona for sharing your award-quilt and your amazing talent.

And here’s to beautiful spring days to each of you (and a beautiful fall to those of you down under).

Phyllis

Lincoln 2009 Celebration Quilt “Penny For Your Thoughts” by Leona Harden

One of the nice things that comes from being a designer is hearing from someone who is using  my patterns.  Leona Harden contacted me a few months ago regarding a quilt block pattern that I had designed, “Pieced Eagle”

Leona was working on a quilt for an AQS (American Quilter’s Society) show that was held in Nashville in August.  Leona’s quilt “Penny for Your Thoughts” was juried into the show and was selected along with 9 others for the Lincoln 2009 Celebration to be on display at the Museum of American Quilter’s Society in Padacah, Ky.  The exhibit will run February 7 to April 6, 2009.

Abe Lincoln quilt

Leona did an outstanding job designing the layout of the quilt and combining blocks and techniques. The amazing story behind Leona’s quilt is that she has only been quilting for 2 years.  This is a pretty amazing and complex quilt for anyone to complete.

abe quilt closeup

Leona created her first quilt as a lap quilt for her husband to use during football season.  After that, she was hooked with quilting immediately becoming her passion.  In the past 2 years, Leona has completed 40 quilts.  She devotes 8 hours a day to either quilting or studying quilting.  Living in a remote area of Tennessee, she uses the internet for her instructor.

One of Leona’s other quilts was this beauty that was a 2nd place ribbon winner.

Family Quilt

Leona is a member of the Smoky Mountain Quilter’s Guild as well as the Bit’s n Pieces Guild. I can only imagine the beatiful quilts she will compete in the next 2 years! And if you are in the Paducah area next spring, be sure to visit the Museum and see “Penny for your Thoughts” up close.