Pots of Istanbul wins Best of Show for Tami Graeber.
Cathy Schaber
SaddleBrooke resident Tami Graeber has done it again. For the third year in a row Tami has won Best of Show in the recently held annual Tucson Quilters Guild Quilt Fiesta. This has never before happened in the 39 years of the show. Tami was one of three featured guild members this year with many of her award-winning quilts on display. She was able to discuss at great length her methods, inspirations and techniques with show attendees. This year’s Best of Show entry was titled Pots of Istanbul and consisted of hand-painted pots appliqued onto a background and then heavily quilted. The border and binding also include plenty of beads and bling. Tami’s quilt Walk Like an Egyptian (which was accepted into the World Show) won a second-place ribbon and Mid Century Modern Freeform won a first-place ribbon in the Abstract Art category. All of Tami’s works are original designs and she does all her own quilting.
In 2015 Tami’s Tucson Best of Show winner was Moroccan Moonfire and in 2016 it was 50 Shades of Grey. She has exhibited at national and international quilt shows, including shows in Houston, Texas, Paducah, Kentucky and has won ribbons in the international shows of Road to California and Pacific International. Her quilt Grand Finale was also on the cover of the 2015 Quilt Art Engagement Calendar. Additionally, she has had photos of her work published in several quilting magazines and other publications. Tami has only been quilting since 2005 and started with making traditional bed quilts. Her initial goal was to enter her work into regional quilt shows, then the national events and finally to win a ribbon. She has met that goal many times over now and, after being accepted into the very exclusive Paducah show two years running, her next goal is to win a ribbon there. Tami’s talents have certainly taken off and she is a constant source of inspiration and support for all the quilt club members.
Look for several of Tami’s beautiful and creative works to appear in the SaddleBrooke Friday Quilters semi-annual quilt show to be held on March 11, 2018 in the MountainView Ballroom. Tami Graeber is just one of many talented members of the SaddleBrooke Friday Quilters. We meet every Friday at 9:00 a.m. in Craft Room 4 of the HOA 1 Arts and Crafts Center. Come see what we are doing and become inspired.