1ST PLACE WINNER
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SPIRIT GUIDE TAKE ME HOME
by Linda Boynton De Sepulveda
Montecito, CA
"The turtle represents protection and healing. The morning star represents guidance and confers hope in the future. In 2014 a commission in Canada determined that more than 4,000 First Narion students died attending boarding schools. There were over 408 Native American boarding schools in 37 states. Grandmother Earth, cradle these children gently in your arms, they have come home, free from oppression, misery, abuse and genocide."
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- Linda Boynton De Sepulveda
2ND PLACE WINNER
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SURF SIRENS OF MANLY BEACH
by Julianne P. Walther
Cary, NC
"The combination of batiks and the surfing history of the Hoffman family inspired me to find the perfect image to recreate as a quilt for this challenge.The original photograph was taken by Ray Leighton around 1940 on Manly Beach in Australia. I love the angle from which the picture was taken and the composition created by the ladies and surfboards. I enjoyed the challenge of choosing and assigning colors to the piece, since the original photo is black and white. As an extra challenge, I only used batik fabrics for this quilt."
- Julianne P. Walther
3RD PLACE WINNER
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BLUEBIRDS
by Anna Sheffer
Ramat Yishai, Israel
"The bluebird is a symbol of hope, love, positivity, and renewal."
- Anna Sheffer
1ST PLACE WINNER
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SACRED DESTINATION
by Cathy Pilcher Sperry
Fort Worth, TX
"Sacred Destination is an original design inspired by my love of the water. I love to look at it, breathe it, listen to it, be on it, and be in it; whether a fresh-water stream, river, or lake, or the beautiful oceans and gulfs. Water is warm, cool, embracing, vitalizing, made of pure love by God. There is no existence without water. We can witness water flowing everywhere, permeating everything in the universe, including ourselves. It is the flow of this water that animates us and gives us life. Being near water is always a sacred destination for me.”
- Cathy Pilcher Sperry
"Sacred Destination is an original design inspired by my love of the water. I love to look at it, breathe it, listen to it, be on it, and be in it; whether a fresh-water stream, river, or lake, or the beautiful oceans and gulfs. Water is warm, cool, embracing, vitalizing, made of pure love by God. There is no existence without water. We can witness water flowing everywhere, permeating everything in the universe, including ourselves. It is the flow of this water that animates us and gives us life. Being near water is always a sacred destination for me.”
- Cathy Pilcher Sperry
2ND PLACE WINNER
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BUTTERFLY REBORN
by Kim Fashimpaur
Frisco, TX
"Hi my name is Kim Fashimpaur and I live in Frisco Texas. I am retired and have been quilting for less than 2 years and I am totally addicted!! My sewing room is definitely my happy place. I had so much fun doing this challenge. This quilt is a round quilt called Butterly Reborn.
- Kim Fashimpaur
3RD PLACE WINNER
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SUMMERTIME MADNESS
by Colleen Harvey
Nederland, CO
”This is an original design using a set of templates I came up with, based on a 60-degree grid. Making this quilt was an experiment in color, visual texture, and mind-bending tessellating shapes. I loved the challenge of designing the shapes and the overall pattern."
- Colleen Harvey
1ST PLACE WINNER
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SURF'S UP!
by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer
Aurora, CO
"An impressionistic interpretation of a large ocean wave - a surfer's delight. Cowabunga! I love the ocean. My life in California had included dozens of visits to the CA coastline and beaches every summer. Watching the surfers and boogie boarders was always exhilarating and mesmerizing. I no longer live by the ocean but enjoy visiting the beautiful sandy beaches when taking trips out west."
- Sharon L. Schlotzhauer
2ND PLACE WINNER
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KOI POND
by Katherine M. Dossman
Belton, TX
"My koi fish pond is always an inspiration for my art quilts."
- Katherine M. Dossman
3RD PLACE WINNER
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SEA GLASS
by Candace Bopp
Yuma, AZ
"I make and sell many of these wall hangings on Etsy Each creation, incorporates the same colors that are used in this one. Dark blues, medium blues, light blues, aqua/turquoise, neutrals, and greens. For this piece i used five of the blue Sea Breeze round shapes and gathered the color sets around each generous amounts of the challenge fabrics were used in this piece "
- Candace Bopp
1ST PLACE WINNER
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UNDER THE SEA
by Michael "Mikie" Bair
Dixon, CA
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"I designed and quilted this piece myself having been inspired by the beautiful Hoffman Batiks. I do many commissioned story quilts for my family and friends and have found a wonderful outlet for my artistry in fabrics."
- Michael "Mikie" Bair
2ND PLACE WINNER
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WHEN WE BELIEVED IN MERMAIDS
by Cherri Kincaid
Merritt Island, FL
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"The beautiful blue batiks called to be a deep-sea quilt. I have been wanting to make a Mermaid quilt and these were the perfect fabrics to accentuate her and all of the sea creatures. I think it was important that the Mermaid be the center of attention which is why all of the creatures are coming to her. They want to gather and celebrate and enjoy their time with her, their queen. This was a fun and enjoyable project!"
- Cherri Kincaid
3RD PLACE WINNER
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LET'S GO SURFING
by Kathy Kent
Virginia Beach, VA
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"When I first saw the Hoffman Challenge Batiks I immediately thought of the beach and surfing. They are so vibrant and full of life. Perfect for a beach day. Coming from the beach myself, Virginia Beach, the feeling is Awesome!!!"
- Kathy Kent
1ST PLACE WINNER
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THE VASTNESS OF BLUE
by Denise J. DuBois
Dunbarton, NH
"It is said that blue is the most favorite color in the entire world. It's easy to see why. Blue is cool, soothing, flattering, and peaceful. Even though the vast expanses of blue skies and blue waters can only be seen because of a special phenomenon, who can't help but feel happiness and calmness in their presence. The design of this jacket is an homage to blue and all of its richness as well as the hope it brings us.
- Denise J. DuBois
2ND PLACE WINNER
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ANIMALS OF THE SEA
by Sandy A. Smith
Pace, FL
"This was fun to make. I looked up coloring book sea creatures. Some are hidden in plain sight other jump right out at you. I loved using the Aurifil threads to add decorative stitching on my sea creatures & background sea grass and fill."
- Sandy A. Smith
3RD PLACE WINNER
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FANCY COWGIRL
by Louisa Davin
Fort Worth, TX
"I fell in love with quilting at 10 years old, when I made my first quilt and my passion for sewing hasn’t stopped since. I enjoy trying new techniques and playing with colors in fabrics. If I’m not quilting, then I’m out riding my horse Whiskey on trails throughout Texas. I live in Fort Worth, Texas with my husband, three children, three dogs, two cats and three horses (Whiskey, Houston and Concho).
- Louisa Davin
1ST PLACE WINNER
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NIGHTRISE
by Denise J. DuBois
Dunbarton, NH
"I love NY Beauty quilt blocks. I thought it would be fun to make these blocks using the blue batiks set against a yellow background. My young granddaughter named the bag "Nightrise" (blue suns rising against a yellow sky)."
- Denise J. DuBois
2ND PLACE WINNER
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CARIBBEAN BREEZE
by Karen Bettis
Fort Collins, CO
"Caribbean Breeze Necklace Set reflects the cool waters of the Caribbean Sea. "
- Karen Bettis
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3RD PLACE WINNER
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STEPPIN' OUT ON THE MISSISSIPPI
by Marlene Beeler
Sutter, IL
"Shoes match the "Stylin' On The Mississippi" jacket and pants. They contain seven of the 2023 Hoffman Challenge batiks. Top of shoes are machine embroidered and appliqued on fabric with same design that is on the jacket and pants, including the silver metallic thread."
- Marlene Beeler
1ST PLACE WINNER
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MAKAI
by Betty Kent New
Stilwell, OK
Category: Appliquéd Technique
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"Makai means the toward the sea in Hawaiian. The colors and prints of the fabrics inspired the design of a beach bouquet, and the leaves and flowers are illuminated with the complementary color orange plus its neighbors on the color wheel."
- Cherri Kincaid
2ND PLACE WINNER
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WHEN WE BELIEVED IN MERMAIDS
by Cherri Kincaid
Merritt Island, FL
Category: Mixed Techniques
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"The beautiful blue batiks called to be a deep-sea quilt. I have been wanting to make a Mermaid quilt and these were the perfect fabrics to accentuate her and all of the sea creatures. I think it was important that the Mermaid be the center of attention which is why all of the creatures are coming to her. They want to gather and celebrate and enjoy their time with her, their queen. This was a fun and enjoyable project!"
- Cherri Kincaid
3RD PLACE WINNER
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PELICAN PAUSE
by Eleanor Frances Cole
Blenheim, New Zealand
Category: Mixed Techniques
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My inspiration came from the array of 15 batik fabrics, which have inspired me to create the Pelican. who proudly sits, contemplating and gazing around at his surroundings, whilst taking in the playful dolphins in the surf, fish in the sea and the light of the lighthouse. Using a variety of techniques in this piece has bought him to life."
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- Eleanor Frances Cole
STAINED GLASS
by Elizabeth June Neale
Bealeton, VA
Category: Youth
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"My grandma found the challenge and it sounded like fun. I have been sewing with her since I was about 5 years old (Currently I am 11 years old). I chose the fabrics because I thought they contrasted well together and oranges and blues are my favorite color combination. I very much enjoyed creating this quilt. I had made a smaller version of this quilt with different fabric before and thought the technique was fun."
- Elizabeth June Neale
ADULT
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UNDER THE SEA
by Michael "Mikie" Bair
Dixon, CA
Category: Mixed Techniques
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"I designed and quilted this piece myself having been inspired by the beautiful Hoffman Batiks. I do many commissioned story quilts for my family and friends and have found a wonderful outlet for my artistry in fabrics."
- Michael "Mikie" Bair
YOUTH
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MOTION OF THE OCEAN TIERED SKIRT
by Haley Jane Nagel
Orange, CA
Category: Garment
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"This skirt was inspired by the diversity of our oceans. Its features many different aquatic animals and coral reefs. The tiers represent the different ocean depths."
- Haley Jane Nagel
UNDER THE SEA
by Michael "Mikie" Bair
Dixon, CA
Category: Mixed Techniques
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"I designed and quilted this piece myself having been inspired by the beautiful Hoffman Batiks. I do many commissioned story quilts for my family and friends and have found a wonderful outlet for my artistry in fabrics."
- Michael "Mikie" Bair
SHANTY TOWN WITH A VIEW
by Judith H Karabelnik
Mission Viejo, CA
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"This is the third quilt in my 'I Remember Cape Town' Series. With an influx of population from the country side and from the failed states to the north after independence,, the towns became flooded with shanties made from whatever materials with illegal connections to nearby power lines. I tried to capture the busy lifestyle of the slums and the beauty that exists even in poverty. The sea is free for everyone to enjoy and to provide food and entertainment."
- Judith H Karabelnik
HIGH TIDE
by Beverly Javins
Charleston, WV
Category: Appliquéd Technique
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"'High Tide' is an original design based on many visits to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. While I have been sewing since I was a teen, I began creating pictorial wall hangings after retirement. This is my first Hoffman Challenge and I’ve enjoyed discovering new techniques in creating the allure of the ocean."
- Beverly Javins
LET'S GO SURFING
by Kathy Kent
Virginia Beach, VA
Category: Mixed Technique
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"When I first saw the Hoffman Challenge Batiks I immediately thought of the beach and surfing. They are so vibrant and full of life. Perfect for a beach day. Coming from the beach myself, Virginia Beach, the feeling is Awesome!!!"
- Kathy Kent
ECHO
by Joan King
Redding, CA
Category: Mordern Technique
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"Water is the essence of life and inspiration. It can be calm or powerful. It can be any color or no color. It can be hard or soft, cold or warm. The essence of water echos through time."
- Joan King
MAKAI
by Betty Kent New
Stilwell, OK
Category: Appliquéd Technique
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"Makai means the toward the sea in Hawaiian. The colors and prints of the fabrics inspired the design of a beach bouquet, and the leaves and flowers are illuminated with the complementary color orange plus its neighbors on the color wheel."
- Cherri Kincaid
ARMENIA CERAMIC FLOWERS
by Hanna Jakobovits
Mevaseret Zion, Israel
Category: Appliquéd Technique
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"In order to produce armenic ceramics, one has to cut tiles and then paint on them. By making quilts we also need to cut and instead of painting, we quilt over the cut parts. I love the blue colours of the armenic tiles and the Hoffman Fabrics gave me the inspiration for this work."
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- Hanna Jakobovits