Quilts on the Wall at the Bowers Museum Quilt Fair
Quilts on the Wall at the Bowers Museum Quilt Fair
Quilts on the Wall is a participating guild at this year's Bowers Museum Quilt Fair, a full-day celebration of quilting, creativity, and community. The day includes vendors, guild tables, a Speaker Series with quilt professionals, and family activities, all held in celebration of the featured exhibition The American Quilt: Cloth and Commerce.
The Quilt Fair is free to attend. Access to the galleries and the featured exhibition requires General Admission.
Visit Bowers Museum for the full schedule, speaker lineup, and tickets.
Help us spread the word! Share this post or the event flyer with your quilting friends, and tag @bowersmuseum if you post on social media. Hope to see you there on August 16!
Bowers Museum Quilt Fair · Sunday, August 16 · 10 AM – 4 PM · Free event
Our New Website Is Here
Quilts on the Wall has a brand new website. Same address, quiltsonthewall.com, but a fresh new look.
What's new:
A cleaner layout that works well on phones and tablets
Updated galleries showcasing our members' work
Online forms via Airtable for membership and artist entries with secure payments
A refreshed FAQ and workshop information
Take a look around. If you notice anything that looks off, a broken link, a missing image, or a caption that needs fixing, let us know at info@quiltsonthewall.com.
We'd also love to hear from you. Have your quilts been shown in a gallery, exhibition, or juried show? Share the details through our new Member Recognition form so we can celebrate your work.
Thank you for being part of Quilts on the Wall. We hope you enjoy the new site.
2026 Meeting Dates & Challenges
UPCOMING MEETINGS
In-person meetings will be held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on:
March 14
July 11
November 14
Location:
Orange Coast Unitarian Church
2845 Mesa Verde Drive East
Costa Mesa 92626
Zoom Meetings will occur on January 10, May 2, and September 12, 2026.
CHALLENGE THEMES
This year, there are four opportunities to create art projects to be exhibited in multiple venues across the U.S. Please read the Artist Entry Form Agreement and the Juror Guidelines, as this will provide valuable guidance to new members. Professional photographs of your challenge entries will be taken as part of your artist entry fee for each challenge. Some venues do not want their exhibits shown publicly until after their show. Photos will be emailed to members after the exhibit.
CHALLENGE #1: MAKE ME LAUGH, MAKE ME SMILE
Deadline for entryMARCH 14, 2026 with minimum 18" x maximum 48" dimensions in portrait or landscape orientation.
We encourage you to bring your quilt to our March 2026 meeting
PThis theme will not be juried; all entries will be exhibited
CHALLENGE #2: TRAVEL LOG
Deadline for entry JULY 11, 2026 with 24"x 36" dimensions in portrait orientation.
We encourage you to bring your quilt to our July 2026 meeting
This theme will be juried
CHALLENGE #3: IN MY GARDEN
Deadline for entry NOVEMBER 14, 2026 with 36"x 24" dimensions in landscape orientation.
We encourage you to bring your quilt to our November 2026 meeting
This theme will be juried
CHALLENGE #4: WHIMSICAL FANTASY
Deadline for entry MARCH 2027 with minimum 18" x maximum 48" dimensions in portrait or landscape orientation.
We encourage you to bring your quilt to our March 2027 meeting
This theme will not be juried; all entries will be exhibited
COMPLETED CHALLENGES SCHEDULES
CELEBRATE & MUSIC LYRICS will be returned at the holiday party or March in person meeting.
CONNECTIONS will be at Road to California January 21-24, 2026, previously shown in Virginia 2025
ALL THINGS NATURE will be at Road to California January 21-24, 2026 and Road to Virginia June 25-27, 2026
ABSTRACTION will be at Mancuso for both shows
Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival - February 26 - March 1, 2026
Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza - September 17-20, 2026
AFRICA'S BEAUTY will be at Quilt Show Reno June 11-23, 2026
SEASONS will be at Quilt Show Reno June 11-23, 2026
2025 Meeting Dates & Challenges
UPCOMING MEETINGS
In-person meetings will be held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on:
- January 11
- March 8
- July 12
- November 8
Location:
Orange Coast Unitarian Church
2845 Mesa Verde Drive East
Costa Mesa 92626
Zoom Meetings will occur on May 3 and September 13, 2025.
CHALLENGE THEMES
This year, there are four opportunities to create art projects to be exhibited in multiple venues across the U.S. Please read the Artist Entry Form Agreement and the Juror Guidelines, as this will provide valuable guidance to new members. Professional photographs of your challenge entries will be taken as part of your artist entry fee for each challenge. Some venues do not want their exhibits shown publicly until after their show. Photos will be emailed to members after the exhibit.
CHALLENGE #1: CONNECTIONS
- Deadline for entry MARCH 8, 2025
- Dimensions can be any size within 18” minimum and 36” maximum for either width or height
- Portrait or Landscape
- This theme will not be juried; all entries will be exhibited
CHALLENGE #2: ALL THINGS NATURE
- Deadline for entry JULY 12, 2025 with 24"x 36" dimensions in landscape orientation.
- We encourage you to bring your quilt to our July 2025 meeting
- This theme will be juried
CHALLENGE #3: ONE COLOR WONDER
- Deadline for entry NOVEMBER 8, 2025 with 24" x 36" dimensions in portrait orientation.
- We encourage you to bring your quilt to our November 2025 meeting
- This theme will be juried
CHALLENGE #4: MAKE ME LAUGH, MAKE ME SMILE
- Deadline for entry MARCH 14, 2026 with minimum 18" x maximum 48" dimensions in portrait or landscape orientation.
- We encourage you to bring your quilt to our March 2026 meeting
- This theme will not be juried; all entries will be exhibited
COMPLETED CHALLENGES SCHEDULES
- CELEBRATE accepted as special exhibit at Quilt Show Reno in June 2025.
- MUSIC LYRICS will be proposed to Visions Museum of Textile Art for 2026.
- AFRICA'S BEAUTY will be proposed to Road2CA and Mancusor for 2025 and Visions Museum of Textile Art for 2026.
- OUTDOOR FUN accepted as special exhibit at Quilt Show Reno in June 2025.
- SEASONS will be proposed to Road2CA and Mancuso shows for 2025 and Visions Museum of Textile Art for 2026.
- ABSTRACTION - THEN AND NOW will be proposed to Visions Museum of Textile Art for 2026.
- SEA CREATURES will be exhibited at Visions Museum of Textile Art in 2025.
Opening of Outdoor Fun in Fabric
Yesterday, Laurie Mutalipassi, Karen Johnston, Tara Ritacco, Karen Markley, Jerilee Petralba, Melissa Soenke, and I attended the opening of our Outdoor Fun exhibit at the Temecula Valley Museum. It features 32 stunning quilts, and the display looks fantastic! I highly recommend a day trip to Temecula to check it out, enjoy Old Town, and do some wine tasting. The exhibit runs until November 3, and the museum is open 10-4 daily, except Mondays. Plus, don’t miss the Outdoor Quilt Show on October 5!
More photos can be found at our Facebook page.
Outdoor Fun in Fabric Exhibit
Join us for the exciting Outdoor Fun in Fabric opening on Friday, September 27th, at 10 a.m. at the Temecula Valley Museum! Featuring works from the Quilts on the Wall members, this exhibit showcases art inspired by outdoor fun, such as hot air ballooning, beach days, wine tasting, colorful kites, and more.
The exhibit will be on display through November 3rd, and we can't wait to celebrate the opening with you. The museum is located at Sam Hicks Monument Park in Old Town Temecula (28314 Mercedes Street) and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Don't miss out!
QOTW Speaker - Barbara Danzi
We had a fantastic QOTW Zoom session with Barbara Danzi, who shared her expertise in creating large-scale abstract art quilts. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here: QOTW Recording - Barbara Danzi. The link is available until Sunday, September 22nd!
History at Home Video
Celebrate! Exhibit Opening at Pasadena Museum of History
It was great to see everyone who could join us at the Pasadena Museum of History Celebrate! Exhibit opening. The exhibit will be on view from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 pm Wednesdays through Sundays in the PMH History Center’s North Gallery until May 2024.
Pasadena Now - Celebrate Exhibition
Exciting news! Pasadena Museum of History's online news magazine, Pasadena Now, has just published a preview article about our upcoming exhibition. I hope you can attend the opening Saturday, February 24th, from noon to 5 p.m. The exhibit closes on May 19, 2024. Tickets for visitors are $8 for seniors and $9 for adults. PMH members & visitors under 18 FREE.
2024 Meeting Dates & Challenges
UPCOMING MEETINGS
In-person meetings will be held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on:
- January 13
- March 9
- July 13
- November 9
Location:
Orange Coast Unitarian Church
2845 Mesa Verde Drive East
Costa Mesa 92626
Zoom Meetings will occur on May 4 and September 14, 2024.
CHALLENGE THEMES
This year, there are four opportunities to create art projects to be exhibited in multiple venues across the U.S. Please read the Artist Entry Form Agreement and the Juror Guidelines, as this will provide valuable guidance to new members. As part of your membership dues, professional photographs will be taken of your challenge entries. Some venues do not want their exhibits shown publicly until after their show. Photos will be emailed to members after the exhibit.
CHALLENGE #1: OUTDOOR FUN
- Deadline for entry FEBRUARY 1, 2024 with 24"x 36" dimensions in either landscape or portrait orientation.
- We encourage you to bring your quilt to our January 2024 meeting
- This theme will not be juried; all entries will be exhibited
- This will be a special exhibit at the following:
- Temecula Valley Museum in October 2024
- Two Mancuso shows - Quiltfest Greenville, SC and the Pacific International QuiltFestival in 2024.
CHALLENGE #2: SEASONS
- Deadline for entry JULY 13, 2024 with 36" x 48" dimensions in portrait orientation.
- We encourage you to bring your quilt to our July 2024 meeting
- This theme will be juried
- This will be proposed to Road2CA and Mancuso for 2025
CHALLENGE #3: ABSTRACTION - THEN AND NOW
- Deadline for entry NOVEMBER 9, 2024 with 36" x 48" dimensions in portrait orientation.
- We encourage you to bring your quilt to our November 2024 meeting
- This theme will be juried
- This will be proposed to Quilts, Inc for Houston.
CHALLENGE #4: CONNECTIONS
- Deadline for entry MARCH 8, 2025
- Dimensions can be any size within 18” minimum and 36” maximum for either width or height
- This theme will not be juried; all entries will be exhibited
COMPLETED CHALLENGES SCHEDULES
- CELEBRATE will be at Road2CA in January 2024, a special exhibit at the Pasadena Museum of History from late February to May 2024 and travel to Mancuso's Pennsylvania Quilt Extravaganza.
- MUSIC LYRICS will be at Road2CA in January 2024 and will travel to multiple Mancuso shows in 2024.
- AFRICA'S BEAUTY will be proposed to Quilts, Inc for Houston
Congratulations to Judy Crotts, Marilyn Gourley and Laurie Mutalipassi
We are excited to share the great news that three of our QOTW members have quilts that were accepted into the Texas Quilt Museum’s “All Creatures Great and Small” exhibit.
Judy Crotts has three quilts: Best Friends Forever, Swan Lake, and Vanishing Paradise. Marilyn Gourley’s Ancient Voyager and Laurie Mutalipassi’s Red Panda were also accepted. Vanishing Paradise and Ancient Voyager were part of our Endangered exhibit in 2021.
It is great to see our QOTW artists being so successful in many different exhibits.
12 QOTW artists at Visions Museum of Textile Art
Congratulations to the 12 QOTW artists whose work in our Sunrise Sunset exhibit was selected for a special exhibit at Visions Museum of Textile Art in San Diego, CA. The exhibit opened on June 10, 2023 and will run until September 30, 2023. The artists and their work include:
Full images of the quilts can be found in the Sunrise Sunset gallery.
California Dreaming Wins Commissioner's Award at Los Alamitos Art Show
The City of Los Alamitos held its annual art show inviting local artist to display a variety of artistic techniques, including textile art.
Carol Churchill was presented with a Certificate, Blue Ribbon and a $100 gift card from
Art Supply Warehouse for "California Dreaming", her Sunrise-Sunset Challenge Entry.
SAQA Spotlight Auction Features Our Members
Pamela Stricker's "Fish Dreams"
Quilts on the Wall Member Pamela Stricker, Nelda McComb and Tara Ritacco's art works
were selected for Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)
Spotlight Auction
The Spotlight Auction will be an online event taking place from April 19-29.
Pieces will also be displayed at the 2023 SAQA Toronto Conference.
You do NOT have to attend the conference to participate - bidding is open to everyone. All proceeds will help support SAQA programs.
Over 380 pieces of artwork will be available for bidding.
For More Information visit: https://www.saqa.com/spotlight
Nelda McComb - Open the Door
Tara Ritacco - Blue Moon
Huge congratulations to these five amazing artists
Congratulations to five very talented artists showcased in Art Quilting Studio Spring 2023 issue!
- ANN TURLEY wrote an article about her Fiddle Me A Tune quilt from our recent Fiddling With Fabric challenge
- JULIE SCHLUETER was interviewed by Danielle Williams, the Assistant Senior Managing Editor of AQS, on Texture, Dimensions, and Hand Stitches.
- JUDY CROTTS wrote an article about her quilt Sassy Lady.
- CAROL NILSEN wrote an article on Capturing the Light.
- LAURIE MUTALIPASSI wrote an article on exploring gastronomy, based on her quilt Is There Hope?, that was selected for the SAQA global call for entry for their Gastronomy exhibit.
Road to California Artist Carla Wolf
"Dance of the Jellies":
Jelly fish mobilize themselves by expanding and contracting their umbrella shaped bodies. This creates the undulating effect which makes them appear to dance through the water. The background fabric for this piece is a wet cyanotype print, made by the artist, using masks to create the bodies of the jelly fish. The wet cyanotype causes the interesting flow of color through the piece. Dimensional seaweed leaves and fan coral are appliqued to the scene.
"Why did the Tiger Cross the River?"
There must have been some compelling reason for this tiger to swim across the river. The expression in his eyes make it clear it is not his favorite thing to do. And yet, on he swims churning up water and disturbing the pond scum. This piece is fused and machine applique, with heavy machine thread stitching on the tiger's fur. Paint, tulle and plastic wrap provide parts of the reflection and the water splashes.
"Lift the Sky" Invitation
- Also on Sunday, 1/22, three of our QOTW artists –Carol Churchill, Laurie Mutalipassi, Tara Ritacco and Ann Turley – are featured at the opening reception from 12-2 of an exhibit called " Lift the Sky " at the Front Porch Gallery in Carlsbad. Artists in this exhibit answer the question of What’s Your Message to the World? through fiber art, paintings, mixed media, collage and photography. The Front Porch Gallery is located at 2903 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad, CA 92008. Exhibit dates are 1/22-3/18/23 and gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday 11 am-5 pm.
Healing by Tara Ritacco, July 2022
We Are All Made of Stardust by Carol Churchill 2022
2023 Meeting Dates & Challenges 2023
In Person Meetings will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on March 11, July 29 and November 11, 2023
We meet at the Orange Coast Unitarian Church located at 2845 Mesa Verde Drive East, Costa Mesa 92626
Zoom Meetings will occur on May 13 and September 9, 2023.
Be sure to update your email addresses with the Secretary, Robin Valles at: rlvalles4@gmail.com to receive your Zoom invite.
CHALLENGE THEMES
This year there are three opportunities to create art projects to be exhibited in multiple venues across the U.S.
CELEBRATE !
It is due April 8, 2023 with dimensions of 18"x 24" portrait orientation.
Please read the Artist Entry Form Agreement and the Juror Guidelines, as this will provide valuable guidance to new members.
This theme will not be juried; all entries will be exhibited.
Due July 8th is Music Lyrics/Musical Moods. It is 24" x 30" portrait orientation.
This themed exhibit will first appear at Road2CA in January 2024, and then travel with the Mancuso show across the U.S.
Due November 11th is Africa's Beauty.
This will also be a juried challenged submitted to Quilts Inc for consideration at Houston and Long Beach in 2024.
The size is 24" x36" landscape orientation.
As part of your membership dues, professional photographs will be taken of your challenge entries.
Some venues do not want their exhibits shown publicly until after their show. Photos will be mailed to members after the exhibit.
Looking forward to a wonderful year. Hope to see all of you in person soon.
Carol Churchill, Exhibit Committee/Webmanager
Beauty of the Earth....
The "It's All Around Us" challenge really inspired member Karen Guthrie.
She created four amazing entries: Air, Earth, Water and Fire.
The Winter 2023 issue of Art Quilting Studio features all four, and shares her technique for perfect circles.