The plan was to make a table runner, or more accurately two table runners....one for my smaller kitchen table and one for the longer dining room table.  I wanted them similar but not 100% exactly the same.  I started by sorting the strips.

I grouped some of them, sewing them into strip sets and then cut them apart.

A quick layout on the floor and a rail fence table runner was in the making.

It took no time at all to sew the rows together and then it was onto the quilting.  I chose to use a Hot Pink Fantastico called Giggles for the straight lines.

I wanted to do something linear but not as plain as just straight lines so I marked a box and quilted 2 sides of it working out at 1 inch intervals.  Then I did the same going in the opposite direction.  On the other 2 corners I marked the box on the outside and worked my way in.  I'm really happy with the overall effect.

I only got half of it quilted before the cookies took over so it sat for a few weeks before I could get back to it to finish it.

Ta Da!  Here is my finished runner. 

It's the perfect size for this table and it adds just enough prettiness to the space.

The colors pop against the darker wood of the table.

I used some of the leftover strips on the back with some thicker strips of white.  You can see the overall quilting design better in this photo.

Of course my napkin holder (from Classic Metal Company) that hubby got me for Christmas looks perfect in the center.

I still have to quilt the 2nd runner and am considering how I want to do that one.  As soon as it is gracing the dining room table, I'll share it with you.

I like her choice of the blue thread for the outer border quilting.

Next up is "Ikebana" by Denise Lamb of Sterling, CT.

This pretty pink one "Papaver deco" was quilted by Donna James of Canada.

And lastly this is "Blue Blossoms" by Vicki Ruebel of Las Vegas, NV.

The ghost blossoms are just a wonderful addition to her quilting design.

There were many more beautiful quilted panels as part of this exhibit but I didn't take pictures of every one of them.  They will also be at MQX in Springfield in October so if you are in that area, you should go and see them.  I know that these quilted panels has given me lots of ideas for quilting panels in the future.

So now we are back to the rest of the quilts from the show.

This is one of my favorites.  It is "My Montana Dreams" and it was created by Laura Ruiz of Malabar, FL.

Too bad I can't have this hanging on the wall in my home to gaze at every day.  It is just gorgeous.

There was also another special exhibit at MQX this year, this one showcasing some of the quilts that are the work of Jennifer Day.  Her fiber artistry is so realistic that you almost can't tell that it isn't a photograph until you get up close to it.  I took pictures of a couple of my favorites.  This one is "Boy and his Best Friend".

And this is "Dance to the Music".  Each of the cards also showed the original photograph that was the inspiration for the piece.

Onward.

This quilt is titled "Controlled Choas" and was a Quilts Among Friends First Place ribbon winner.

The parts were pieced by members of the NH Modern Quilt Guild and it was quilted by Lara Teichmann of Amhurst, NH.

Next is "Having a Little Fun" by Kathy Rich of Mendon, MA.

Kathy incorporated pretty designs in all the negative space.

This jaw dropper is "Radar", pieced by Kevin Huffman and quilted by Ann McNew of Winfield, MO.  It sports a Faculty Award ribbon.

Custom Our Daily Bed First Place was awarded to this quilt "Barbara's Circle" by Beth Nufer of Brookings, OR.   This biggest compass has 256 points.  Wow-wie!

I don't think I'd ever want to tackle a project this intense.

How fun is this quilt?  It is "X Marks the Spot", was pieced by Pat Lang and quilted by Teresa Pino of Hernando, MS.  It is the winner of Emerging Entrants First Place.

The matchstick quilting worked very well for this design.

"Always a Way", pieced by Daniel Perkins of Rangeley, MI and quilted by Carol Perkins won Custom Our Daily Bed Honorable Mention.

I love the secondary design in the background areas.

This is another of my favorites.  It is "The Magical Garden".  It was pieced by Ellen Simmons of Chestertown, MD and quilted by Jane Hauprich. Her use of Kaffe Fasset fabrics for the Dresden plates is so fun and unexpected.

Jane added pops of color in the quilting. 

A Faculty Award ribbon hangs on "Infinite Variety Revisited", pieced by Gail Smith of Barrington, IL and quilted by Ellen Granda.

Pretty, pretty!

Yowza is all I could say when I first glimpsed "Celebration", pieced by Gail Garber and quilted by Kristin Vierra of Lincoln, NE.  It is an original design by Gail and it is just stunning.

Kristin's quilting just brought an already beautiful quilt into the spectacular category.

Some day I want to make a Judy Neimeyer quilt too but for now I'll just appreciate those made by others.  This one is "Radiant Rainbows", pieced by Gail Bartlett of Corvallis, OR and was quilted by Jody Bowyer.

Their combined talents were rewarded with a Custom Heirloom Show Second Place ribbon.

"Reflections in Blue" by Robyn Cuthberson of Australia is another terrific quilt and was awarded two ribbons, Emerging Entrants Second Place and a Faculty Award.

The Wholecloth Small First Place ribbon was awarded to "Color Me Quilted" by Colleen Barnhardt of Oregon City, OR.

Standing back from this quilt it is hard to imagine that this wasn't pieced.  It was first quilted with black thread on white fabric and then it was painted. 

The true color of "Wickedly Green" doesn't show in these pictures, but trust me....it is more of a lime shade than you see here.

This creation was the work of Deborah Poole of Shelley, ID.  It is a job well done, I say.

Both Best Machine Quilting Stand-Up and Wholecloth Large First Place ribbons were won by Margaret Solomon Gunn from Gorham, ME for "Ode to Spring".

As always, Margaret's quilting is immensely detailed and intricate.

And finally we come to Best of Show.

I personally love this quilt and appreciate that it is a more modern design and color than many other Best of Show quilts that I have seen in the past.  

This absolutely stunning design is "Moonflower" and it is the creation of Molly Hamilton-McNally of Tehachapi, CA.

Molly's ode to the simple Daisy was the inspiration for this quilt.

Congratulations Molly.  It is just beautiful.

So there you have it.  All of the quilt pictures I took at MQX East this year.  As I have in the past, I'll spend lots of time in the coming weeks pouring over the photos so that I can appreciate all the details even more and might even try out a few of the ideas myself.  How can a person not be inspired when you see such wonderful quilts such as these?

I hope you've enjoyed my showcase and maybe I'll see you there in 2017.