First place in the "New Quilts From an Old Favorite: Sunflower" contest was awarded to Claudia Clark Myers of Duluth, Minn., and Marilyn Badger of St. George, Utah, for their quilt titled "Gypsy Caravans." Classic Sunflower blocks in orange and blue spin in an asymmetrical arrangement evoking the look of a gypsy wagon.

The second-place quilt, "Sun Flower Duet," by Geri Parker and Kathy McNeil of Coupeville, Wash., interprets the Sunflower block as a composition of 12 blocks on a glowing purple background. Sharon Rotz of Mosinee, Wis., created the third-place quilt, "Leaning on the Fence." This quilt adapts many Sunflower block designs to a roadside setting.

Placing fourth was "Rising and Radiant" by Ann Feitelson and Ronna Erickson of Montague, Maine, who played with color to make their Sunflower blocks glow and vibrate. The fifth-place quilt was "Sunflower Sutra" by Marion Perrault and Helena Scheffer of Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada. Their design realistically portrays a sunflower lifting its head to the sun.

Other quilts to be featured in the exhibit are:

"Follow the Sun (on Route 66)" by Kathryn Botsford of Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada

"Crowing for Sunflowers" by Jill Bryant and Nancy Brown of Chesterfield, Mo.

"The Prodigal Sunflower" by Donnah Burke of Kirkland, Wash.

"3-D Sunflowers" by Martha DeLeonardis of Katy, Texas

"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Nouveau" by Robin Gausebeck of Rockford, Ill.

"The Desert Shall Rejoice" by Julia Graber of Brooksville, Miss.

"Flora" by Mary Ann Herndon of The Woodlands, Texas

"Trickster in the Garden" by Patricia Hobbs of Macomb, Ill.

"Southern Borders" by Ann Horton of Redwood Valley, Calif.

"Welcoming the Son Into Our Garden" by Chris Lynn Kirsch and Wendy Rieves of Watertown, Wis.

"No Forwarding Address" by Theresea Reeves of Oberlin, Kan.

"Navajo Sunflower" by Karen Watts of Houston, Texas

"Graffitti, Sunflowers & Bricks" by Judy and Bill Woodworth of Gering, Neb.

A book featuring full-color photos of the 18 finalists and their award winning quilts, biographical information about each quilter in addition to tips, techniques and patterns has been published by the American Quilter’s Society and is available for purchase at the Shafer Gallery during the exhibit.