I’d long ago bought his book, but finally found fabrics that inspired me to give Ricky Tims’ Convergence Quilts a try. What a surprise to discover these convergence quilts are really just a very simplified version of fracturing quilts. These begin with 4 different fabrics, instead of 4 pieces of the same fabric and they come together much faster. So excited to have found another way to create unique 1-of-a-kind quilts, inspired by the selected fabrics.
Twenty Fractured Quilts, Two Convergence Quilts, and counting…
Autumn’s Song
47.5″ x 46.5″ Sq.
Designed, pieced, thread painted, and free motion quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 5/2021
Borrowing from Ricky Tims basic principles for converging fabrics into a pleasing design, I converged two gradient fabrics into this quilt, purposing to feature the bird in the design. The warmth of these autumn colors only add to the warmth enjoyed under this lap quilt.
Through the Looking Glass (51″ x 50″)
My first convergence quit. Pieced and free motion quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 1/2020
Since discovering Ricky Tims Convergence Quilt concept quite a few years back, I’d been searching for 4 fabrics calling me to converge them. When I found 4, I actually found 8, with one fabric repeated in both sets. What fun it was to realize Ricky Tims Convergence Quilts were just another way to ‘fracture’ fabric. While my fractured quilts begin with 4 of the same fabric, convergence quilts begin with 4 different pieces of fabric. Once I’d made the first two convergence quilts, I realized I had enough fabric to make two more of each of them and thought the four would make an even bigger impact pieced together.
Before I’d even finished piecing the four separate converged squares, I found Hoffman’s Dream Big digitally printed floral fabric in colors that would coordinate with them. This large panel with a simple border proved to be the perfect backing for the finished quilt top and provided a fun template on which to doodle free motion quilting.
Available for purchase on the Quilts and Such tab.
Fractured Floral #15 (17.5″ x 15″)
Fractured, pieced, thread painted and quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 4/2019
Like the one before it, these flowers transport me to a tropical paradise. Fractured and embellished with thread painting added dimension to Lynnea Washburn’s already beautiful and colorful design (Island Sanctuary / Robert Kaufman fabric). And again, I lost count of how many different colors I used in quilting it.
Daniel and Allie Shull of
Paeonian Springs, VA
To remind them of their Hawaiian
home away from home.
Fractured Floral #14 (17.5″ x 15″)
Fractured, pieced, thread painted and quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 4/2019
These flowers transport me to a tropical paradise. Fractured and embellished with thread painting added dimension to Lynnea Washburn’s already beautiful and colorful design (Island Sanctuary / Robert Kaufman fabric). I lost count of how many different colors I used in quilting it.
Fractured Floral #13 (15″ x 21″)
Fractured, pieced, thread painted, and quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 6/2017
More ‘floral scraps’ fractured beautifully!
Van Gogh Irises Fractured ( 46″ x 37.5″ )
Fractured, pieced, thread painted, and quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 12/2016
From the moment I first saw this Van Gogh fabric in July of 2016, I knew it would be fabulous fractured! I completed fracturing and piecing the top on November 2nd, 2016… the day Cherrywood announced their next “challenge” – a Van Gogh Challenge… so this won’t be my last Van Gogh piece. 😉 By December 10th I finished thread painting and quilting it. What a cheerful piece! It makes me smile to look at it. Now, I must finish planning out my next Van Gogh quilt.
Fractured Floral #12 (14″ x 25.75″)
Fractured, pieced, embellished, and quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 10/2016
Again proving small flowers fracture fabulously!
Fractured Floral #11 (8.75″ x 6″)
Fractured, pieced, embellished, and quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 9/2016
This watercolor tulip, though small, cried out to be fractured. How could I not comply?
Fractured Floral #10 (15″ x 14.5″)
Fractured, pieced, embellished and quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 5/2016
When fractured, pieced, embellished and quilted, the subtle nuisances of this Nasturtium (Frond Design Studios – Stephanie Brandenburg’s Edible Garden flowers) are expanded, amplified, and intensified. Though small, the resulting image is bold and dynamic.
Lighting The Way Home (56.75″ x 33.75″ )
Fractured, pieced, embellished, and quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 5/2016
From the moment I saw this fabric (Wind & Waves by Douglas Laird for Wilmington Prints) I knew it needed to be “fractured”… and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
My husband has long been fascinated with lighthouses, perhaps from his time working in support of the Coast Guard. Lighthouses remind me first of my love of the ocean shores they protect, but they also seem to sing out “let your light shine”… a message I take to heart each time I create.
The inner border provides a “mat” for this “picture” quilt, and outer border’s quilting stitches highlight the grain in its “wooden frame”.
This quilt was one of the quilts showcased in a Solo-Artist “Art in the Halls” show at The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA from October 18th, 2016 through January 22nd, 2017.
Fractured Floral 9 (52″ x 29″)
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted by Sue Hickman Berryville, VA 3/2015
While this is the ninth completed in this series of Fractured Florals, this was the one that inspired them all. This was the fabric that first inspired me to fracture; the others gave me the experience and confidence to tackle this larger design.
The feature fabric is Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Day Dreams II Autumn Flowers.
This quilt showed at the 2015 Northern Shenandoah Valley Quilt Show in Berryville, Va and earned the Viewer’s Choice 1st Place award in the Art Quilt Category.
This quilt was one of the quilts showcased in a Solo-Artist “Art in the Halls” show at The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA from October 18th, 2016 through January 22nd, 2017.
Fractured Floral 1 (26.5″ x 31.75)
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted Sue Hickman Berryville, Va 9/2013
Features Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Day Dreams Rose.
While I can’t grow them successfully, I do love roses! I recall my Mom telling me when I was young that my name, Susan, meant rose. Guess that’s why this one holds special meaning for me.
Fractured Floral 2 (26.5″ x 28.75″)
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted by Sue Hickman Berryville, Va 9/2013
Features Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Day Dreams Sunflower.
Fractured Floral 3 (19.75″ x 14.25″)
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted by Sue Hickman Berryville, Va 9/2013
Features Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Day Dreams Meadow Flowers.
Selected by the Old Town Development Board and the Shenandoah Arts Council for the 2016 ArtScape Banner Project in Old Town Winchester, VA.
A banner showing a picture of this quilted piece graced Old Town Winchester’s Walking Mall from April 2016 through April 2017.
Click to read more about this 2016 ArtScape Banner quilt.
Fractured Floral 4 (16.75″ x 16.25″)
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted Sue Hickman 9/2013
Features Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Day Dreams Meadow Flowers.
Fractured Floral 5 (41″ x 18″)
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted Sue Hickman Berryville, Va 9/2013
Features Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Day Dreams Meadow Flowers.
This quilt was shown in the 2014 Quilter’s Unlimited 41st Annual Quilt Show at the Dulles Expo center.
Fractured Floral 6 (27″ Sq.)
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted Sue Hickman Berryville, Va. 11/2013
Features Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Day Dreams IV Love Blossoms.
Fractured Floral 7
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted by Sue Hickman Berryville, Va 12/2013
Features Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Day Dreams IV Love Blossoms.
Fractured Floral 8 (24″ x 29″)
Fractured, pieced, quilted and thread painted by Sue Hickman Berryville, Va 3/2014
Features Stephanie Brandenburg’s Frond Design Studio Southern Je Ne Sais Quoi Wedding Tree.
This quilt was one of the quilts showcased in a Solo-Artist “Art in the Halls” show at The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA from October 18th, 2016 through January 22nd, 2017.
Fractured Abundance (51.5″ x 24.5″)
Fractured/Pieced & Quilted by Sue Hickman Berryville, Va 9/2013
Countdown to Christmas (38″ x 25″) (1 and 2)
A similar, yet unique, quilt owned by Andrew & Samantha Gauldin of Front Royal, Va.