The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show 2026

As always ~ there was so much to do and see at this year’s show that I can’t fit it all into one post. So, I’ll start with my favorite part of any show ~ the QUILTS! As most of you know, I like to share photos of some of my favorites. I’m not doing this with my judges hat on, I just pick the ones that intrigue me, whether they’ve won a ribbon or not. So here goes…

I was teaching quite a bit again this year, thus the time I had available to see the quilts was precious. I decided to start at the back of the exhibit and the first quilt I saw really grabbed me. It’s orange! I love orange! And then there was teal, yellow, intricate piecing, appliqué, and it was topped off with hand embroidery and embellishments. How could I not love it? I soon discovered it was made by my friend Eileen. I think I feature one of her quilts every year, and with good reason.

And that was just the beginning. I’ve talked to many people about the show and the general consensus was that the quality of the quilts was really fabulous this year. I would agree.

I have a warm spot in my heart for quilts that do something innovative with traditional patterns, and I’ve done a few of my own variations of the Dresden Plate, but this one took it to a new level because Mary Jane embroidered the petals in some of the plates. Every aspect was well done.

When I think of Laurie Landree’s work, faces usually come to mind – not mushrooms. And just look at all those wonderful hand stitches! What fun.

Sampler quilts are another favorite of mine. In fact, my lecture this year included my first quilt and it was a sampler. Placing all the different blocks in a heart created a bright, cheerful, happy quilt.

And for a rather unusual twist on a sampler – placing the blocks in cows fits the bill. I’ve never added googly eyes to a quilt, but in this one it works!

I want to include one more sampler. The many bright scrappy blocks are fun, but what I liked was the way Brian pieced the four pointed compass into it all. What a fascinating design concept.

Next are a pair of lovely wholecloth quilts. The combination of a vintage linen tablecloth with modern machine quilting worked beautifully in “Antique Irish Linen”.

And “Antique Blush” was incredibly elegant and well done.

Plus, did you notice that Megan lives in Canada? Our Madison show is definately international.

The appliquéd rings in Lorraine’s “Circular Cosmos” are completely hand stitched, and the quilting is non-computerized. Wow!

The following pictorial quilt has such depth, and the children are so lifelike. What wonderful use of fabrics and values!

This next quilt is very special to me. As you’ll read, it all started in one of my Mariner’s Compass workshops. Glennes used it as the jumping off point for this spectacular quilt, and I was so pleased to run into her and get to talk about it.

I’m not usually very interested in still life art, but this one grabbed me. I especially like Sara’s color choices and her piecing of the background and table.

Each show I have to pick one landscape – and this one was hands-down my favorite. Susan’s attention to detail is fantastic!

A month or two ago I did a post about lace. It was inspired by things I saw on my trip to the UK last May, and included some quilts of my own that were embellished with lace. So, Pamela’s combining of vintage looking lace with a very contemporary bright center was photo worthy.

And speaking of lace, Tia Otto’s “Lace of the Northwinds” used the term lace in a very different way. To begin with, I loved her fabric choices that overlapped with wonderful transparent effects. And the inclusion of the snowflake fabric that looks like lace was the perfect touch.

I’m often fascinated by Linda Fleschner’s work, so it was not surprising that “Unconstrained” appealed to me. “Color Catcher™” dots??? I wonder if she cut them out with a hole punch? How very creative!

Unique art quilts often get my attention. And I’ve made a number of quilts that are made up of more than one quilt. Jane’s was quite original and very well done.

Ruby had quite a journey making “Lura”, but it was well worth it. Just look at all those raw-edged feathers.

Here’s a new take on temperature quilts. The trees and quilting were a perfect fit with the houses.

Cindy and I have traveled together. She is a very adventurous globe trotter and I always enjoy seeing what she does with the fabrics she purchases on her trips around the world. This has to be one of my favorties!

And as long as we’re looking at great piecing, I just had to share Donna’s delightful quilt.

I think what grabbed me about Kelly’s quilt was when I noticed that there were only 3 fabrics in the entire work. She had quite a vision for what to do with the “striped turquoise” fabric, and the quilted stars are unexpected and just the right fit.

Sadly, I just didn’t have time to really examine the extra exhibits. But I did hang the ThreadBender’s Achromatic challenge on Wednesday, and we were blessed to have a wonderful space right near the front entrance.

And I loved all of Victoria Findley Wolfe’s exhibit (her lecture was excellent too!). What’s going on with that wedding ring quilt hung way up high?

I zoomed in with my camera. Too cool! Her combining of piecing and photos on fabric is truly amazing!

There’s more to share, but it will just have to wait for a future post.

Oh, and if you’re wondering why the view out our hotel window at the show is at the top of this post, it’s because we usually are on the 4th floor and only get to see the buildings and parking lot. This year we were on the 8th floor and we could actually see the Capital! Beautiful!