Create Through Play, Every Day!
Welcome to Mel Beach Quilts Gallery
Please click on any of the images below to view more of my quilts and projects.
Please click on any of the images below to view more of my quilts and projects.
I am fascinated with mandala designs and have enjoyed incorporating them into my quilts via piecing, applique and wholecloth quilting.
20” x 20”
2021
Workshop sample for my Mark Making & Mandala Magic workshop
40” in diameter
Made using Michael Miller Fairy Frost fabrics and Accuquilt cutting system.
March 2020
20” x 20”
Hand-dyed mandala transformed with free motion quilted mandala designs
February 2019
21” x 21”
Hand Dyed Mandala transformed with free-motion quilted mandala designs
February 2019
32” x 33”
Raw Edge fused mandala made for the 2018 Hoffman Fabric Challenge using 377 gem stones from the challenge fabric.
Awarded Hoffman’s Curator Choice for the Applique category and juried into the traveling exhibit.
June 2018
12" x 12"
November 2017
12" x 12"
November 2017
27" x 24"
Mod Mandala made for the 2017 Hoffman Challenge
July 2017
22" x 22"
Patriotic Inspired Mod Mandala
July 2017
22" x 22"
Made for Project Quilting Season 8, Challenge #1: 8 is Great!
January 2017
31" x 31"
Juried into the Michael Miller Fabric Luxe Challenge for QuiltCon 2017
November 2016
29" x 29"
Modern Mandala
October 2016
18" x 19"
Made for PQ 7.5 Challenge Theme: Through a Child's Eye
March 2016
10"x10"
February 2016
21" x 21"
Made for PQ 7.3 Challenge Theme: All About Thread
February 2016
20" x 20"
Made for Cherrywood Lion King Challenge.
July 2016
These quilts were designed and made as part of Project Quilting quilt challenges. Each challenge has a unique theme and participants have just 1 week to start and finish a quilted project inspired by the challenge theme! This is such a fun challenge series and while the challenge weeks are intense, they have inspired me to try new designs, techniques, and have fun!!
4” x 6”
Project Quilting 16.5 Challenge Theme: Follow Your Arrow
March 2026
2.5” x 3.5”
Project Quilting 16.6 Challenge Theme: Button It Up
March 2025
12” x 12”
PQ 16.4 Challenge Theme: Birthstone
February 2025
17” x 19”
PQ 16.3 Challenge Theme: Common Blocks
February 2025
24” x 20”
PQ 16.2 Challenge Theme: Ombre
January 2025
9" x 9”
PQ 16.1 Challenge Theme: Mythical Creatures
January 2025
23” x 23”
PQ 15.6 Challenge Theme: Irish Chain
March 2024
Adult Sized
PQ 15.5 Challenge Theme: Wearables
March 2024
6” x 8”
PQ 15.4 Challenge Theme: Hourglass
February 2024
25” x 22”
PQ 15.3 Challenge Theme: Inside Out
February 2024
Juried into Art Movements in Fiber, SAQA NorCA/NV Regional Exhibition.
19” x 19”
PQ 15.2 Challenge Theme: Sky Color
January 2024
21” x 27”
PQ 15.1 Challenge Theme: Bird House
January 2024
6” x 12.5”
PQ 14.6 Challenge Theme: Conquer a Fear
March 2023
4.5” Diameter
PQ 14.5 Challenge Theme: Sew Not a Square
March 2023
6” x 8”
PQ 14.4 Challenge Theme: A Novel Project
February 2023
19” x 12” open
PQ 14.2 Challenge Theme: Pink Tint
January 2023
26” tall x 11” diameter
PQ 14.3 Challenge Theme: 54-40 or Fight
February 2023
40” Long x 10” Diameter
PQ 14.1 Challenge Theme: The First One
January 2023
8” x 6”
PQ 13.5 Challenge Theme: Rhythm & Repetition
March 2022
9” in diameter
PQ 13.4 Challenge Theme: Mining for Diamonds
February 2022
24” x 16”
PQ 13.3 Challenge Theme: Kitchen Influence
February 2022
17” x 18”
PQ 13.2 Challenge Theme: In Silhouette
January 2022
13" x 12"
PQ 13.6 Challenge Theme: Flying Geese
March 2022
21” x 22”
PQ 13.1 Challenge Theme: All the Colors
January 2022
18” x 18”
PQ 12.5 Challenge Theme: You’re Crazy
March 2021
21” x 18”
PQ 12.6 Challenge Theme: Ab Intra (from within)
March 2021
17” x 17”
PQ 12.4 Challenge Theme: Snail’s Trail
February 2021
10” x 7” (open)
PQ 12.3 Challenge Theme: Virtual Vacation
February 2021
11” x 11”
PQ 12.2 Challenge Theme: Fussy Cut
January 2021
27” x 27”
PQ 12.1 Challenge Theme: Illuminating + Ultimate Gray
January 2021
Juried into Printed & Stitched Exhibition, a partnership between SAQA NorCA/NV Region and California Society of Printmakers
18” x 21”
PQ 11.6 Challenge Theme: Vibrant and Vivacious
March 2020
7” x 6”
PQ 11.5 Challenge Theme: Give It Away
March 2020
11” per side, 22” x 19”
PQ 11.4 Challenge Theme: Birds in the Air
February 2020
20” x 17”
PQ 11.3 Challenge Theme: Put a Heart on It
February 2020
16” x 16”
PQ 11.2 Challenge Theme: Team Colors
Janaury 2020
15” x 15”
PQ 11.1 Challenge Theme: Notably Numeric
January 2020
26” x 27”
PQ 10.6 Challenge Theme: Craving Chocolate
March 2019
12” x 12”
PQ Challenge 10.6 Theme: Abecedarius
March 2019
19.5" W, 11" H and 10" D
PQ 10.3 Challenge Theme: Bigger Than a Breadbox
February 2019
19” x 16”
PQ 10.4 Challenge Theme: Pixel Play
February 2019
12” x 12”
PQ 10.2 Challenge Theme: Red, White and Blue
January 2019
17” x 19”
PQ 10.1 Challenge Theme: Hope Springs Eternal
January 2019
30" x 51"
PQ 9.6 Challenge Theme: SCRAPtastic
March 2018
Unconventional Materials: Recycled Plastic Items (plastic bags, bubble wrap, bottle caps, bottle base, snack packaging, bath poof, potato bag netting, bread bag tags, 6-pack rings, collar tab, guest visitor clip)
16" x 16"
PQ 9.5 Challenge Theme: A Stitch In Time...
March 2018
Unconventional Materials: Post It Notes/Page Markers, CD Envelopes, Self-Adhesive Plastic Tabs, Paperclips & Staples.
20" x 20"
PQ 9.4 Challenge Theme: Mellow Yellow
February 2018
Unconventional Materials: UNO cards regular and party size
21" x 24"
PQ 9.3 Challenge Theme: Brave and Bold
February 2018
Unconventional Materials: Nylon paracord, carabiner and pulley
38" x 44"
PQ 9.2 Challenge Theme: Triangulation
January 2018
Unconventional Material: Holographic Film
22" x 34"
PQ 9.1 Challenge Theme: Hometown Proud
January 2018
Unconventional Material: 2 Outdated HP Laptops
20" x 18"
PQ 8.6 Challenge Theme: Time is Up
March 2017
Inspiration: Deconstructed Clock
34" x 34"
PQ 8.5 Challenge Theme: Well-Dressed Man
Inspiration: Pocket Squares
March 2017
36" x 18"
PQ 8.4 Challenge Theme: Brighter is Better
February 2017
Inspiration: Bright butterfly print and lamé fabric
February 2017
22" x 22"
PQ 8.3 Challenge Theme: Tune into Texture
Inspiration: Textures of citrus fruit grown in the Silicon Valley area.
February 2017
33" x 29"
PQ 8.2 Challenge Theme: Carolina Lily
Inspiration: Stargazer Lily
January 2017
22" x 22"
PQ 8.1 Challenge Theme: 8 is Great!
Inspiration: Mandala
January 2017
18"x19"
PQ 7.5 Challenge Theme: Through the Eyes of a Child
Inspiration: Crayon Scratched Art
March 2016
21"x21"
PQ 7.6 Challenge Theme: "A Goose in the Monkey Wrench" challenge
Inspiration: Flying Geese and Monkey Wrench blocks
March 2016
16"x22"
PQ 7.4 Challenge Theme: I Need a Vacation
Inspiration: Southwest and Gardening
February 2016
21" x 21"
PQ 7.3 Challenge Theme: All About That Thread
Inspiration: Wholecloth Quilted Mandala
February 2016
41" x 20"
PQ 7.2 Challenge Theme: Seasons
Inspiration: Changing Leaves throughout the 4 Seasons
January 2016
20"x36"
PQ 7.1 Challenge Theme: Confetti
Inspiration: Confetti using Slice and Insert technique
January 2016
20” x 20”
November 2015
Made as part of Project Quilting’s Focus Through the Prism Series
Inspiration Block: Snowball
Inspiration Color: Red
20” x 20”
October 2015
Made as part of Project Quilting’s Focus Through the Prism Series
Inspiration Block: 9 Patch
Inspiration Color: Yellow
20” x 20”
September 2015
Made as part of Project Quilting’s Focus Through the Prism Series
Inspiration Block: Flying Geese
Inspiration Color: Blue
20” x 20”
June 2015
Made as part of Project Quilting’s Focus Through the Prism Series
Inspiration Block: Friendship Star
Inspiration Color: Indigo
20” x 20”
August 2015
Made as part of Project Quilting’s Focus Through the Prism Series
Inspiration Block: Pinwheel Block
Inspiration Color: Green
Blog Post
20” x 20”
May 2015
Made as part of Project Quilting’s Focus Through the Prism Series
Inspiration Block: Monkey Wrench
Inspiration Color: Orange
20” x 20”
July 2015
Made as part of Project Quilting’s Focus Through the Prism Series
Inspiration Block: Log Cabin
Inspiration Color: Violet
I love participating in Quilt Challenges, especially fabric challenges. These are some of my innovative (and some award winning) entries to recent fabric quilt challenges.
42” x 38”
December 2019
Made for Modern Quilt Guild Fabric Challenge featuring Hoffman Me+You Indah Batiks
Juried into Art Quilts 2, featuring the best of contemporary Art Quilts, a SAQA NorCA/NV Regional Exhibition.
25” x 25”
June 2019
Made for the 2019 Riley Blake Fabric Challenge
20" x 20"
August 2017
Made for the 2017 Cherrywood van Gogh Challenge, uses Karen Eckmeier's Layered Waves technique.
27" x 24"
July 2017
Mod Mandala Made for the 2017 Hoffman Challenge
31” x 31”
April 2018
Made for the 2018 MQG/Riley Blake Designs Fabric Challenge
20" x 20"
July 2016
Made for the 2016 Cherrywood Lion King Challenge
Blog Posts:
Part 3: The Finish
Part 2: The Mandala Design
Part 1: The Fabric
24" x 24"
April 2017
Selected as one of ten Finalists for the 2017 MQG/Riley Blake Creative Rockstar Fabric Challenge.
72” x 72”
November 2016
Made as part of the “Everything Old is New Again” challenge series hosted by Modern Quilts Unlimited and Michael Miller Fabrics. Juried into Houston International Quilt Association’s Judged Show 2018, Awarded Best Modern Quilt Special Award and 1st Place Large/XL Modern Quilt at San Mateo County Fair, 3rd Place in 2017 Pacific International Quilt Festival/Mid-Century Mod Modern Quilt Competition, Best Modern Quilt and 1st Place in the Large/XL Modern Quilts Category at the 2018 San Mateo County Fair.
56"x70"
November 2015
Finalist for the Be Creative! quilt challenge
15"x15"
October 2015
Made for American Made Brand Tiny Quilt Challenge
25"x36"
July 2015
Accepted into the Hoffman Challenge Travelling Exhibit
33" x 26"
July 2014
Accepted into the 2014 Hoffman Challenge Travelling Exhibit.
20" x 20"
July 2014
Finalist for the 2014 Wicked Cherrywood Challenge.
These are improv pieced spirangle designs that I teach during my Free Styling & Spiraling workshops.
29” per side, 57” x 49”
February 2020
40” x 40”
March 2020
21” x 21”
March 2020
21” x 21”
March 2020
28” x 28”
April 2020
47” x 52”
November 2017
37” x 37”
March 2018
31” x 31”
April 2018
19” x 19”
March 2019
24” x 27”
October 2017
Improvisational piecing using the Slice and Insert technique can be very freeing, forgiving and FUN! And look at all the design possibilities for this one basic technique!!
71” x 71”
December 2020
23” x 23”
February 2019
62” x 80”
June 2020
51” x 51”
May 2020
35"x35"
August 2016
33” x 33”
Selected as a Finalist for the MQG/Riley Blake Designs Fabric Challenge 2018, Awarded Judges Choice in 2018 San Mateo County Fair.
37" x 37"
Made for the 2018 Michael Miller Our Yard Fabric Challenge
34” x 34”
October 2019
10"x10"
Made for Machine Quilting Unlimited's 10x10 challenge.
20" x 48"
Sampler Quilt Made for my "Slice of Improv" workshop
May 2016
20"x36"
Made for Project Quilting Season 7 Challenge theme: Confetti
31” x 31”
31” x 31”
50" x 60" Community Quilt made with blocks that were improv-pieced and donated by Q101 attendees at my May "Slice of Improv" demos.
30” x 30”
May 2016
12” x 12”
Made for Project Quilting 10.2: Red, White and Blue Challenge theme
July 2012
29" x 29"
October 2016
31" x 31"
November 2016
Made for the 2018 QuiltCon/Michael Miller Luxe Fabric Challenge
54" x 71"
August 2014
A finalist in the American Made Brand's "Celebrating Farm to Fabric" Fabric Challenge
15" x 16"
December 2017
19" x 9"
December 2017
Interleave quilts are the brainchild of Lorrie Cranor. With her blessing, I have had a lot of fun using different fabric combinations to create Intriguing Interleave quilts of my own.
19” x 16”
October 2019
17" x 17"
March 2017
19” x 16”
October 2019
19” x 16”
October 2019
17" x 21"
May 2017
17" x 18"
July 2016
18" x 17"
December 2015
17" x 17"
April 2015
31"x15"
June 2015
18" x 18"
August 2014
18" x 18"
August 2014
Here are more of my quilts that celebrate bright colors and beautiful quilted textures.
15” x 45”
February 2022
Juried into SAQA NorCal/NV’s Prism Play Regional Exhibit
Top Row: Moonlight, Sunlight, Let’s Sew
Bottom Row: Flower Power, BeLEAF, Flow
November 2022
Started and inspired by Deborah Boschert’s Personal Symbols workshop. Each finishes 5” x 7”
6” x 8”
April 2021
Made for the 2021 SAQA Spotlight Auction
57” x 65”
August 2020
50” x 50”
October 2019
25" x 32"
April 2019
Started in an 4-day Abstraction from Nature taught by Jane Sassaman
17” x 18”
March 2019
Inspired by traditional Kawandi quilts made by Siddis quiltmakers
21” x 26”
December 2018
Hummingbirds made using Kathy McNeil Feathers are Flying workshop pattern.
13.5" x 13.5"
April 2018
Made for Curated Quilts Triangle Mini Challenge. Awarded 2nd Place Ribbon for Small Pieced Quilted Wall Hanging in the 2018 San Mateo County Fair and 8th Place in Quilt Expo’s 2018 Modern Mini Quilt Challenge.
27" x 41"
October 2017
Made in Consideration of SAQA's Guns: Loaded Conversations Exhibit
39" x 34"
May 2017
Juried into the Threads of Resistance Traveling Exhibit.
12" x 18"
May 2017
Made as part of Katie Pasquini Mosopust's Color & Composition online course.
53" x 53"
November 2016
Made in response to the 2016 United States Presidential Election.
Featured in KQED's First 100 Days: Art in the Age of Trump
40" x 24"
May 2016
Juried into Houston International Quilt Association’s Judged Show 2018 and the SCVQA Jazz Impressions Exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles.
Awarded an Honorable Mention ribbon in the Wall Quilts category at Pacific International Quilt Festival, October 2016.
Blog Post
29" x 23"
May 2016
Fused flowers and background.
40"x40"
November 2015
Made for the 2015 MQG EZ Quilting Triangle Challenge
12"x14
November 2014
Viewer's Choice for Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association's "Blast from the Past" Quilt Challenge celebrating 40th Anniversary
36" x 36"
October 2014
Published in RaNae Merrill's Sideways Spirals book
