Quilt Judge
Christine N. Brown
Castle Rock, Colorado
chrisbrown@aqsquilt.com
www.AmericanQuilter.com

Christine is an NQA Certified Quilt Judge who is qualified to judge master quilts. She has been a quilter for over 32 years and a quilt judge for 15 years. In April 2005, Christine was appointed as executive editor of American Quilter magazine, published by the American Quilter’s Society in Paducah, Kentucky. 

Christine answers the call to both innovative and traditional styles in her own work. Her quilts have won awards in national and regional competitions, and she has contributed to numerous magazines and quilt books. As a judge, she has appreciation for the myriad techniques being used by today’s fiber artists. Christine believes that a well-qualified quilt judge should provide helpful feedback to show entrants, via written and oral commentary, on both workmanship and design.

When judging quilts, Christine puts emphasis on unity: All aspects of design (pattern, color, fabric, quilting stitches, border treatment, imagery and embellishments) should work together to produce an integrated, successful piece. “Today’s quilters have raised the bar exponentially in the art of quilting. I am thrilled to be able to evaluate the always-innovative Hoffman Challenge quilts this year.”

Clothing and Accessory Judges
Gary and Carol Ann Hixon
Fort Collins, Colorado
www.hixoninteriors.com

Gary and Carol Ann Hixon devote their volunteer time to the arts and education.  An interior designer in Fort Collins for many years, Gary is an emeritus board member for the Museum of Contemporary Art and the producer of ArtWear, a juried, one-of-a-kind wearable art fashion show and sale that benefits Lincoln Center’s visual arts program.  Carol Ann is a retired humanities educator, emeritus board member for the Fort Collins Symphony, and member of the Cultural Resources Board.  Together, they support artists and educators with time and resources.  They’ve lived in Fort Collins since 1966, raising their two daughters to carry on the family traditions.

Rhonda Cooley
Fort Collins, Colorado and  
Mary Ellen Barber
Estes Park, Colorado

Rhonda and Mary Ellen are friends and fellow dollmakers from northern Colorado.