I'm certain that many of you have been to a quilt show
and have admired the sea of finely crafted quilts.
In every show that I've attended the Best of Show quilt
has always been displayed front and center.
Ever wonder how judges choose the best of the best?
I caught up with one of the judges
at the Quilt Expo in Madison
who explains the process.
We're here at the Quilt Expo in Madison, Wisconsin
to show you the Best of Show quilt.
To share how a quilt is judged
why this quilt was chosen as Best of Show
is Carol Butzke
an authorized quilt appraiser and judge.
Welcome.
Thank you, I'm glad to be here.
And I'm glad to be part of the judging team for this show
which has gotten, certainly national/international acclaim
with the quilts that we're seeing here every year.
I am AQS certified quilted textile appraiser.
And the hat I was wearing yesterday during the judging
was that of a National Quilting Association
certified judge.
And this was the Best of Show that we've chosen.
And it's amazing, by Mary Bovia from Greenwood, Indiana.
And it's called Once Upon a Time.
And it is a storybook.
You can see that the whole structure of the quilt
is based on an open storybook
with the bottom part there where the book is open
and laid open.
And it's a fantasy
which we can all relate to, the unicorns
and the castles, etc.
And she's done an amazing job
both in style and in design
but also in her workmanship which is pristine.
It's needle turn applique for the most part.
The mane on the unicorn
the body, the flowers
all turned under, hand stitched.
It's phenomenal workmanship.
And then there is satin stitching
traditional applique.
Carol, point out some of the things
that tell our viewers
what is so striking about this quilt.
It's the layer of detailing.
Each item that she has gone to
she has taken to the nth degree
of looking at detail.
This attention to detail is so wonderful.
We have a variety of fabrics
including a very raised fabric here
that is used for those particular flowers
we have overlays of netting
for the little fairies' wings.
We have a gnome down there which represents her husband.
We have a lot of metallic work
a metallic satin stitch around the flowers
which is exceedingly difficult to execute.
But this is her own drawing, her own work.
The tiny, tiny stippling
that's done on the borders
or in each area is phenomenal.
It's minute.
[laughing]
I couldn't possibly begin to do
this type of quilting, so I just admire it.
And I do too, I think it's phenomenal.
And it's most enjoyable to be able to enjoy this
and be able to have people to enjoy her work.
Now, you know, it's called Once Upon a Time
and her selection of fabrics
really carries through the theme.
It does indeed
and she picked a lot of fabrics that were representational
the walkway to the castle, the castle itself
the flowers, the shading of the flowers.
Some of them are three-dimensional
in that the petals are pre-folded
as we talked about
the gossamer wings on the little fairy.
So everything was taken into context
of what she needed to go do and what she needed to find
to be able to get the right thing
to explain what she was doing in her composition.
When we talk about quilts
some are bed quilts
some are wall quilts.
And this certainly is an art quilt
and it's not your grandmother's type of quilting.
No, it's not
but that's what's so exciting about quilting
because it's constantly moving forward.
And now we're looking into the modern quilts
and that whole movement is gaining momentum.
But the wonderful things, just even in this show
the variety of things that are here.
What people are doing with fabric
what they are doing with different styles
just blows one's mind.
If you're interested in seeing what's new in quilting
where you may want to go forward
my suggestion and our suggestion to you
is go to a quilt show
because you will be inspired
you will pick up some tidbits.
I'd never be able to quilt like Mary Bovia
but I am inspired by her work of art
and her selection of fabrics.
And I'm sure you are too, Carol.
Absolutely, and you always learn something new
when you look at the pieces.
Very well put.
Well, thank you for being our guest
thank you for being a judge.
And you have an admirable position
but a difficult position, I'd say.
Indeed.
Okay, well thank you, Carol, thank you for being my guest.
Special thanks to Carol Butzke for giving us insight
into Mary Bovia's quilt, Once Upon a Time.
It's an amazing quilt.
Well, remember that you can re-watch this episode
and four seasons of Sewing With Nancyprograms
online at nancyzieman.com.
At that site you'll also be able to follow my blog
and connect with me
on other social media platforms.
Next time on Sewing With Nancy you'll learn more
of "My Favorite Handbag Sewing Techniques."
I hope you've enjoyed this program
and will join me next time.
Bye for now.