Diane L. Murtha

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Photo of Diane Murtha posing in front of one of her quilts, which features a pattern of blue diamonds over a white background

Bio

My Grandmother helped me with my first hand sewn and tied quilt as a young girl, but I didn’t take my first quilting class until the late 90’s. From that moment on, I was hooked. I snatched any quilting time I could get, but a demanding career left minimal time for my quilting hobby, although I was very active in both my Heidelberg, Germany and Northern Virginia quilt guilds over the years.

Like many of you, I started with mostly traditional quilting. Gradually I modified patterns more and more, making my quilts unique, as well as creating my own original designs. Over the last 8 years I gravitated to art quilts, specifically participating in art quilt challenges. An early retirement allowed me time to open my creative aperture to explore quilting on even more new levels!

Challenges are an excellent opportunity to get out of your comfort zone. I embrace it fully and encourage you to do the same and experience the joy and personal satisfaction of challenges!

So why do you want to listen to me? Because I am you! My point is – if I can do challenge quilts – so can you! I’m not fancy. I only recently started entering juried competitions.  However, I’m super excited to share what I have learned with you. I regularly spoke at international conferences across the country in my professional life so speaking about my quilting passion is an easy and natural transition

Honors and Publications

2024 Maximalism & Sustainability article, Make Modern Magazine, Australia July 2024 issue.

2024 Minnesota Quilt Show, 3rd Place, in the Upcycled Quilt category, June. Quilt: ECOnnections

2024 Cover art for Quercus, the annual juried St Ambrose University creative arts journal, May, Quilt: Crop Circles.

2024 Sustainable Fabric in Quilts: Repurpose & Reuse article, American Quilter Magazine, Mar 2024 issue.

2024 The Last Page feature, Quilt: Buddy at the Lake, Art Quilting Studio, Spring 2024 issue

2024 Elected to the Iowa Quilt Museum, Winterset IA Board of Directors, Feb

2024 Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts Winter Quilt Show, 3rd Place, in the Art/Improve Quilt category, Feb. Quilt: ECOnnections

2024 Sustainable Fabric in Quilts: Repurpose & Reuse article, American Quilter Magazine, Mar 2024 issue.

2024 The Last Page feature, Quilt: Buddy at the Lake, Art Quilting Studio, Spring 2024 issue

2024 Manatee County Fair, Florida, 1st Place, “Shades of Green” Quilt Challenge category, Jan. Quilt: End of Season

2023 AQS Des Moines, IA Quilt Show, Finalist, Sep. Quilt: Special Delivery

2023 AQS Grand Rapids, MI Quilt Show, Finalist, Sep. Quilt: Crop Circles

2023 Primary Play feature article, Art Quilting Studio, Summer 2023 issue

2023 Indiana Heritage Quilt Festival, Honorable Mention, “Send Us Flowers” Quilt Challenge category, Feb. Quilt: Special Delivery

2023 Manatee County Fair, Florida, 1st Place, “Shades of Blue” Quilt Challenge category, Jan. Quilt: Buddy Portrait

2022 AQS Des Moines Quilt Show, Finalist, Sep, Quilt: Buddy at the Lake

2022 Quilting’s International Language article, American Quilter Magazine, Nov 2022 issue.

2022 Diane’s quilt Eastern Market has been published in: Inspired by the Nation’s Capital: A Fiber Art Souvenir of Washington, DC by Donna Marcinkowski DeSoto, Release Sep 2022

2022 Iowa State Guild & Reiman Gardens Quilt Show, 1st Place, Garden Art category, Aug. Quilt: From a Few Come Many

2022 Regular writer for the quarterly Quiltfolk Magazine, since Issue #23

2022 Regular writer for the monthly Family Motor Coach Association’s Family RVing Magazine, since September issue 2022

2022 The Eyes Prove It article, American Quilter Magazine, January 2022 issue 

2021 Cotton Boll to Fabric on the Bolt and Beyond: North Carolina’s Textile Role article, All Carolinas Shop Hop Magazine, 2021 issue

2021 Quilting On The Road article, All Carolinas Shop Hop Magazine, 2021 issue

2021 June, Diane’s quilt: Bohemian Sunflower Bouquet received a Red Ribbon at the Vermont Quilt Festival

2021 June, Three of Diane’s quilts were included in: Celebrating Summer, by Galena Center for the Arts: http://www.galenacenterforthearts.org/exhibits/virtual/2021/celebrating-summer.aspx

2021 The Last Page feature, Quilt: What Do You See, Art Quilting Studio, Summer 2021 issue

2021 How Well Do You Know Your Iowa Historic Buildings article, All Iowa Shop Hop Magazine, 2021 issue

2021 Quilters in the Virtual World article, All Iowa Shop Hop Magazine, 2021 issue

2021 Stretching Tradition - A New Twist on English Paper Piecing article, American Quilter Magazine, May 2021 issue

Interview with Road to California's It's Sew Road, March 31, 2021 It's Sew Road Episode 5 - YouTube

2021 Patchworks Feature, Quilts: Midnight Blossom & Pine Coneflower, Art Quilting Studio, Spring 2021 issue

Interview with Iowa Quilt Museum, Jan 25, 2021 January 26 Virtual Iowa Quiltscape - YouTube

2020 Regularly writer for the annual Shop Hop Inc magazines including Iowa, Illinois, Carolinas, Nebraska/Kansas, Minnesota, Florida, and Missouri since 2020

2020 Diane's quilt Night Sky Blossom has been published in: Backyard Escape - Sacred Threads Healing Quilt Exhibit, by sacredthreadsquilts.com and Barbara Hollinger

2020 Peaceful Quilting article, American Quilter Magazine, September 2020 issue

2020 Iowa’s Hidden Treasures: Unfinished Quilts article, All Iowa Shop Hop Magazine, Summer 2020 issue

2020 Mindful Moment tip, Quilts & More, Summer 2020 issue

2020 The Last Page feature, Art Quilting Studio, Winter 2020 issue https://stampington.com/art-quilting-studio/

2019 The Last Word essay, Quilting Arts, Dec 2019 / Jan 2020 issue https://www.quiltingcompany.com/store/magazines-books/quilting-arts-december-2019-january-2020-digital-issue

2019 Plus 60 Quad Cities Art Show, Special Award, 3D Category. Quilt: Van Goghji

2019 Diane’s quilt When I Look at You has been published in: Eye Contact: creating a connection, by sacredthreadsquilts.com and Barbara Hollinger

2019 Diane’s quilt Cheetah has been published in:  Inspired by Endangered Species: Animals and Plants in Fabric Perspectives, by Donna Marcinkowski DeSoto, Release Nov 2019

2018 Plus 60 Quad Cities Art Show, 2nd place 3D Category. Quilt:Metamorphosis

2017 Iowa State Fair, Best of Scott County category. Quilt: Roosters in the Garden

Diane’s quilt Gone Cow has been published in: Inspired by Elvis- Art Quilts Celebrating The King, by Donna Marcinkowski DeSoto

Exhibits