Back in May last year I posted about a Grand Central Terminal Centennial Quilt Challenge organised by American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine & The City Quilter in association with the NY Transit Museum & The Metropolitan Transportation Authority - the best bit was news of the top prize of $2,000! You can read my original post here.
I bought the required fabrics and was all set to create my winning masterpiece. Then life threw a spanner in the works ... I started my dream job working at the store so, as staff weren't allowed to take part in the challenge, I set my fabric aside and started to look forward to seeing everyone else's entries instead.
Back in October 2013 the quilts were judged by Elizabeth Tisinger Beese and Jennifer Keltner of
American Patchwork & Quilting and Cathy Izzo & Dale Riehl, owners of The City Quilter - you can see photos from the judging day here on the store's Facebook page.
And at last I've got pictures of the three prize winners and two honourable mentions to share with you and you can see all of the top 30 quilts here at APQ.
Grand prize winner: Amy Krasnansky, Baltimore, MD
Quilt name: "Time Flies, But We Take the Train"
First prize winner: Ligaya Siachongco, Woodside, NY
Quilt name: "Grand Central Terminal Mandala"
Second prize winner: Beth Carney, Yonkers, NY
Quilt name: "Chasms 16: Under the Stars"
And here are two Honourable Mentions, the first is
"A Grand Centennial" by Teresa Barkley of Maplewood, NJ
and
"Mercury's Concourse" by Fran VanEron of Fort Collins, CO
I love all of them - and I'm kind of glad I didn't enter the competition, none of my ideas came anywhere near matching the inspired creativity shown here - but if I'm pushed to pick a favourite I think mine is "Chasms 16: Under the Stars" by Beth Carney, I love that she went for an abstract, modern interpretation of the challenge and I'd love to know more about her inspiration.
I'm invited to the opening event at Grand Central on 18th March and I hear that more than half of the exhibited quilters will be there, I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and I'll take lots of pics of the event and quilts to share with you. Of course, if you'd like to see the 30 quilts for yourself they will all be displayed in The New York Transit Museum in Grand Central Terminal from 15 March to 6 July 2014 - Mon to Fri, 8 am to 8 pm/Sat & Sun, 10 am to 6pm.
For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my sidebar :D
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.
I saw these in a recent magazine and "Mercury's Concourse" caught my eye immediately. The magazine is still sitting on my desk opened to that page. Reminds me anything is possible! Amazing work!
ReplyDeleteI'm so looking forward to seeing them in person :D
DeleteAmazing quilts Chrissie, must have been tough to pick a winner.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! There are no words for these works!!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite from all is also "Chasms 16: Under the Stars"!!
What beautiful quilts Chrissie and I think you would have made a wonderful quilt if you had been able to participate! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFreemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday
Thanks for sharing the winners. We are hoping to get down there while they are on display to see them for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteHope you can squeeze in a CQ visit and then we can finally meet?!!! :D
Deletewow! what a gorgeous collection of quilts! love them!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!
:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
WOW, just wow. They are all beautiful, interesting, original. The judges must have had a heck of a time choosing winners! Thanks for posting. I have fond memories of commuting into the city with my husband, in younger days, parting ways at Grand Central, and then meeting up again there after work for the train ride home.
ReplyDeleteDo you think you'll be able to come over and see them Cynthia? It's been a long year and if you do come over it would be great to catch-up again :D
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