The winners of the Quilt Alliance (formerly The Alliance for American Quilts) "Home Is Where the Quilt Is" contest have been announced and Margarita Korioth of Longwood, Florida was chosen as the Handi Quilter Grand Prize winner by judges Marianne Fons, Mark Lipinski and Paula Nadelstern.

Korioth says in her artist's statement: "I want to demonstrate that cloth and recyclable materials can be used to create and interpret your thoughts. This is an enjoyable technique that I feel is just the beginning of a new and innovative way to do art. ...I gave it this title because I feel the happiest when I am at home quilting. Like the garden, my family blossoms when I nourish them with love."

The Alliance received 119 entries from 34 states and 5 countries this year for it's annual contest. International entries came from Canada, Belgium, Germany and Poland and several entries are the result of a collaboration of two or more quilters.

Alliance members selected their favorites in the Members' Choice Awards:

First Place: Jamie Fingal for "Home Is Where Your Story Begins" (also Judge's Choice pick by Marianne Fons (below, left)
Second place: Joyce Hughes for "Home Is Always an Open Door" (below, middle)
Third place: Broadway Gentlemen's Quilting Auxiliary for "Open House" (below, right)

Honorable mention:
Patricia Hobbs for "The Piece Maker's Child"       

JoAnn Hoffman for "When Life Gives You Scraps"