Girl in the Blue Dress lovingly features Marlene’s grandaughter, Marin, blowing bubbles in the yard. The detail on the face and hair in this quilt is exceptional!
This quilt was awarded the Excellence In Machine Workmanship as well as 1st place in the Pictorial category at the Smoky Mountain Quilt Guild Show in 2007.
Simply Fuchsia by Marlene was a Semi-Finalist in the category: Small Wall Quilts Pictorial at the 23rd Annual American Quilter’s Society Show and Contest. The AQS noted that in 2007, “Each year the quilts entered in the AQS Quilt Contest show us the best of traditional techniques, and how they push the envelope with the very latest innovative trends.”
Simply Fuchsia celebrates Marlene’s love of flowers and gardening, combined with her passion for color! It is 44″ x 44″.
In August 2026, Simply Fuchsia was donated to The Haan Museum of Indiana Art in Lafayette, Indiana in Marlene’s memory. To learn more about the museum, please visit www.thehaan.org.
Beauty Pageant by Marlene was a Semi-Finalist in the category: Small Wall Quilts Pictorial at the 24th Annual American Quilter’s Society Show and Contest. The AQS noted that in 2008, “The quilts entered in this year’s Contest represent a variety of themes, from beautiful florals and finely detailed animals in applique to exquisite pieced work.”
Beauty Pageant features a butterfly poised on a green plant, and it is 49″ x 48-1/2″.
24″ x 48″. Materials: Cottons and blends. Techniques: Hand and machine applique, machine quilting.
In My Mother’s Arms by Marlene was featured in the “I Remember Mama” Project by Karey Patterson Bresenhan. The book that documents the project features this description of Marlene’s quilt: “Cradled in my mother’s arms, I was presented for baptism into the family of God. After my parents’ marriage, my father became ill with tuberculosis and went west for eight years of treatment. I was their first born and arrived after nine years of waiting. Later, another daughter and a son were added to complete this loving family of five. This portrait is of Ruth Ludders Brown (1909-1995) and her daughter, Marlene.”
About the “I Remember Mama” Project: Quilts were entered in an international competition and 61 quilts were selected to be seen at the International Quilt Festival in 2005. Marlene’s quilt, In My Mother’s Arms, was awarded an honorable mention prize. Following its premiere in Houston, the “I Remember Mama” quilts toured internationally with venues such as the International Quilt Festival in Chicago in April 2006, Patchwork and Quilt Expo in Lyon, France in June 2006, and several museums, including the New Enland Quilt Museum in 2007.
In My Mother’s Arms is now in the home of Marlene’s daughter, Deb.
1994, 60″ x 70″.
Indiana Memories is a scenic portrait of Marin and Leah, Marlene’s granddaughters, at the beach. The quilt is unique in that it is two-sided and shaped like the state of Indiana. Marlene prefers using subtle print fabrics for her flesh tones and feels that it is an easy way to blend one color with another.
Marlene offers this additional description: “Indiana Memories at the Washinton Park Beach in Michigan City, IN are re-created in this contemporary charm quilt containing 459 different fabrics. Summer sunshine and rolling waves wash ashore as children play in the warm sand. My grandchildren were the models for this quilt: Leah, the one chasing the bird, and Marin in the background. The seagull posed by enticing it with a piece of bread!
With a flip of the quilt, two seasons pass and the waves are frozen in this view of the light house. A photo of the light house in winter was supplied by Steve Peterka since I did the back portion of the quilt in the summer. The back side is dye painted to get the shadows. This is a two-sided quilt with summer on the front and winter on the back.”
Indiana Memories has been featured and won awards at a number of quilt shows. It currently is at home with her daughter, Deb!
Woodland Treasure by Marlene was a Semi-Finalist in the category: Small Wall Quilts Pictorial at the 20st Annual American Quilter’s Society Show and Contest. The AQS noted that in 2004, “Celebrating the past and honoring people who have make significant contributions is important.”
Woodland Treasure features a racoon amid maple trees in the Fall, and it is 50″ x 59″.
The Congregation by Marlene was a Semi-Finalist in the category: Small Wall Quilts Pictorial at the 21st Annual American Quilter’s Society Show and Contest. The AQS noted that in 2005, “Quiltmakers continue to revive time-honored traditional designs, as well as stretch to new heights by exploring new techniques, new materials, and new technologies.” The quilt is 53″ x 42″.
Flaming Azaleas was a Semi-Finalist in the category: Pictorial Wall Quilt, Amateur or Professional at the 19th Annual American Quilter’s Society Show and Contest which featured “the best of the best quilts from today’s quiltmakers.” The quilt is 53″ x 42″.
As the name suggests, Flaming Azaleas depicts azaleas in brilliant colors. It reflects Marlene’s lifelong love of plants and gardening.
Marlene had two quilts that were Semi-Finalists in 2003. See also In the Garden.
In August 2026, Flaming Azaleas was donated to the Purdue University Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Health and Human Sciences in Marlene’s memory.
Designed and quilted by Marlene Brown Woodfield.
Marlene shares this story about In the Garden:
“Sometimes it is fun to do something really wild and crazy. I decided to do a garden scene unlike any other I had ever seen, using ‘silk’ flowers, removed from their plastic stems. Each petal and leaf were tacked using the sewing machine after the quilt was completed.
It was somewhat boring until I got my finger too close to the needle and stiched my finger! A piece of needle remained in my finger so I had to have surgery to remove it. Who knew quilting could be an extreme sport!”
In the Garden was a 2003 Semi-Finalist in the category: Wall Quilt, Professional at the 19th Annual American Quilter’s Society Show and Contest which featured “the best of the best quilts from today’s quiltmakers.” The quilt is 42″ x 53″.
Marlene had two quilts that were Semi-Finalists in 2003. See also Flaming Azaleas.
30″ x 60″, 1986, cotton blends, hand appliqued.
Blazing Splendor by Marlene is part of the Permanent Collection of the American Quilter’s Society in Paducah, Kentucky. The AQS publication documenting the permanent collection includes this description of the quilt:
“My first quilt was a high school graduation gift for my daughter in 1976 – it depicted the campus of Valparaiso University where she would attend college. A second quilt was not done until 1980 (for her daughter’s college graduation gift). I dabbled in a variety of arts and crafts before determining quilting was my true love. Applique has since become my specialty. I enjoy designing my own work so applique is a natural way to express my ideas. Blazing Splendor, an original design, is a bright splash of color depicting the Christmas poinsettia. Four shades of red are used for the bracts of the poinsettia and four shades of green for the leaves. The small flowers of yellow-green are embroidered.”
The book, “MAQS Quilts: The Founders Collection”, includes a photo of Blazing Splendor and a Quiltmaker Profile of Marlene. It notes, “Now retired from pre-school teaching, she quilts daily.”
