Eleanor Burns,,because her techniques are fast and easy and suit my lifestyle.

I really like Robbi Joy Eklow, she uses such great colors, and her designs are fun, but she is a Art Quilter, and I know many of you don't like that quilt form. Rene

Here is a link that might be useful: Robbi Joy Eklow , art quilter

ME! LOLOLOLOLOL

Seriously, I love Judy Martin's designs - lots of great star patterns!
http://www.judymartin.com/

Maryliz, are you familiar with Karen Kay Buckley? Our guild had her in June for 3 workshops and our lecture. She does absolutely stunning hand applique.
http://www.karenkaybuckley.com/

Rene, we have Yvonne Porcella coming in Sept. to do workshops and a lecture. She is an art quilt maker, too.
http://www.yvonneporcella.com/servlet/index

Donna

I have to agree with Caroline and Donna.I love Elenore Burns techniques and Judy Martins patterns.I have Elenores book "Still Stripping After All These Years"and Judy's "The Creative Pattern Book".They are my favorite quilting books.
Yvonne

I have seen Karen Kay Buckley's "Magical Medallions" in the Keepsake Quilting catalog. And then again, when it was marked down. My, that was tempting! But since I was not sure if I would ever be able to find the right fabrics to make such a quilt, I did not buy the pattern. Love the quilt it makes, though!

I love the groovy guitars on the Eklow site. And her byline, "Goddess of the Last Minute"!

Another Eleanor Burns fan here.She is who i took my very first quilting class from,and i also like quick and easy..Besides she's local so all the better,i can pop in her shop when ever the mood hits.
Kathi

Gwen Marston...do a google search for "Liberated Quiltmaking" and you'll find her. She's terrific for those of us who have trouble coloring in the lines...ha! In fact, when I first joined this board, I was making a "liberated" quilt, so that's how I chose my user name.

Mary Lou Weidman is my very favorite because of the her wimsical, happy, personalized style. I'm always so happy when I see her quilts or fabric.
I will be taking a 2 day class from her in Sept.
Carrie Thurneau is my local favorite, I have learned more from her than anyone else, she's a wonderful talented teacher.
Here's Mary Lou's web

Here is a link that might be useful: Mary Lou

I'd have to say Michael James. He is widely credited with helping to make the quilt an art form, his work is part of the Smithsonian collection, and he is a distinguished professor of Textiles, Clothing and Design at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He has written two of the foundation books on contemporary (non-traditional) quilt design.

Rene, do you get Quilting Arts Magazine? Robbi Joy Eklow writes a piece for every issue.

Here is a link that might be useful: Michael James Quilts

I forgot to say i also like Debbie Mum for whimsical quilts etc.
kathi

Wow Maryliz, Ruth McDowell's quilts are stunning! I agree, they remind you of applique. I prefer a combination of applique and piecing, and long to do a modified baltimore album some day that features the early designs. I like Elly Sienkiewicz's applique patterns, and dream of being able to do some of them one day.
Clara

Eleanor Burns is by far my favorite. She is great for beginners, now I have branched out but go back to her once in a while.

Vicky

i like Judy Martin's patterns but her methods are too time consuming. I look at her patterns and come up with my own methods like strip piecing or even paper piecing for the complicated ones.
Vasu

I like Atkinson Designs by Terry Atkinson.
The patterns look complex, but are very easy to do, and the directions are really easy to follow.
Barbara

I really like Piece-o-cake stuff. They do a lot of applique but also pieced and I love their cheerful, but not garish, colors. Their designs are not too simple, but also they're not too difficult. Though I'd put them more toward the time consuming than quick-n-easy side.

Here is a link that might be useful: piece o cake designs

Guess I have done more designs by Teri Christopherson of Black Mountain Quilts than any other single designer.

I also have Judy Martin's new book and want to make some of her quilts also.

Teresa

Here is a link that might be useful: Black Mountain Quilts

I don't really have a favorite designer, but have to agree with Vasu about Judy Martin designs. Her methods are way more complicated than they need to be. I certainly used my own methods with the one quilt I made of hers.

My favorite designers are the ladies of Baltimore in the 1845-1860's era who made the original Baltimore Album quilts. I do appreciate that Elly Sienkiewicz published many of those designs for us to enjoy today. Several of the museums that own antique applique quilts have also offered patterns for us to enjoy.

PBS had the latest installment of their quilt documentaries. This quilt artist was one of my favorites from that episode. Her name is Pam Rubert, and her quilts feature a character named PaMdora. Here are photos of her PaMdora quilts.href> Here is her blog.href>

Not necessarily my favorite quilt designers but I love reading articles about and books by two sisters: Mary Mashuta and Roberta Horton. They share a house and steal from each other's stash.

And I get a kick out Freddy Moran's work--very bright, clear colors with lots of black and white prints.

Eleanor Burns fan here, too. I could watch her work all day, and sometimes I just let QNN stream on my computer screen all day. When I was about 30, I saw Burns' show on PBS. She made the quilted stockings and the Santa. I bought her pattern and started sewing. I haven't really quilted until now, but I am learning. I also own two books by Ruth McDowell. I am very interested in landscape and art quilts. I also have to say that I am in awe of the great quilters I have seen projects from on this forum.

Just discovered a couple more quilt designers / fabric artists:

Gabrielle Swainhref>

Jeana Kimballhref>

Off the top of my head, I like Brandywine: http://www.brandywine-design.com/patterns.htm

Just found a neat blog. I like her combination of piecing and embroidery.

Spirit Clothhref>

Has anyone mentioned Pat Sloan yet? I really like her carefree applique designs. They just make me feel so... relaxed. I don't know why her stuff brings out the child in me.

Here's her blog.href> Here's her website.href>

If you look around, you can find some of her patterns for free on her website. PB Textiles also has a few of her free patterns.

I just found another free online pattern from Pat Sloan! It is a matching set of coasters and table runner.href> You will start out on the coasters pattern. You have to click the small like at the top of the page to get to the table runner. There are two PDFs you need to download, for templates for the pumpkin, acorns, moon, etc. Of course, you could always draw your own. That is the beauty of the primitive style.

My favorites are a mother/daughter team, Jean Wells and Valori Wells. Here's a link to some of their designs and Valori's fabrics (and free patterns, too) -- I just love their contemporary styles and large floral designs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jean and Valori Wells

I love the things that Jenny Beyer creates and her fabric is beautiful and challenging. I am impressed that she only hands pieces. She appears to be a nice person as well. Jayne

I love children's whimsy patterns so I just love all of Cheri Strole's patterns and fabrics.

This thread is so inspirational. I had to go back and look over the wonderful designers. I didn't notice Nancy Rink. I think her quilts are great and I love her borders. I think I'll start a thread on boarders.

Jeana Kimball

Here is a link that might be useful: http://jeanakimballquilter.com/

I'm glad this thread was brought forward. I wasn't visiting here when it came around the first time so it's all new for me. Apparently that's not all I missed!!! LOL. I don't know any of these quilters! I guess I'm going to have to start paying more attention...
I don't buy patterns and I don't watch the quilting shows on TV. Is that where you all hear about these people? Classes? I feel like such a novice!

I'd have to say Ruth McDowell too. I have always loved her landscapes particularly the plaid ones.

There's also a local quilter named Sue Rasmussen. I don't believe she's ever had a book published and I don't know if she has a website but I linked to some photos I found of a couple of her quilts.

She works in so many styles it's amazing. Many of her quilts are highly detailed and many others are very whimsical. They're all knock outs and beautifully made.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sue's professional photographer's site

I like most of Chris Wolfe Edmunds' pictoral quilts. For more traditional style, I prefer Nancy Crow and Michael James. I like Charles Counts' designs, but he is strictly a designer- someone else does the handwork and is the actual quilter.

I am glad this came up again. I didn't even realize it was an old post until I saw mine. There are so many interesting sites and ideas. It was interesting to realize that my favorites change with different challenges.
I realize I have to many to narrow it done to one. Jayne

I can't really narrow it down either, but I owe a huge debt of thanks to the pioneers of TV quilt shows: Eleanor Burns, Georgia Bonesteel, Kaye Woods. These might not be my favorite quilt designers, but they taught me how to quilt. Diane Gaudynski appeared on an episode of "Sewing With Nancy" and turned me on to machine quiltind and the joy of starch. Harriette Hargraves, whose excellent books on machine quilting inspired me to try more challenging machine quilting techniques.

Annie