Saturday, 30 October 2010

Route 66 Challenge Quilt~ My Art Show Entry


My Route 66 Challenge quilt...all designed and hand quilted by me. This is my most treasured quilt. I had given it to Dad several years ago, shortly after I made it.  While caring for him, I found the quilt all folded up in a drawer. I felt as if I'd found a long lost child!


I'll be entering this quilt in our church's art show this Saturday, even though I won't be there. I'm so sad to be missing it!  Shona of An Artful Life hosts this at her home every year. It's part of our annual Reformation Festival.  I usually set up a Ladies' Medieval Tea Outdoor Tea Room with my friend Laurie. But this year we will be in Galveston at the Texas HoeDown (square dance convention). 



This is the first quilt I ever designed completely myself. It is all hand quilted except for the diner cloth, which my friend, Margie, machine quilted, due to the fact that I was running out of time. (5ft x 6ft)  (Click on quilt to see larger view.)  The inspiration for this quilt was this piece of fabric which I cut apart and appliqued in various places on the quilt.


It was less than a yard of fabric. Out of 24 very experienced quilters who were regulars at the Quilt Impressions store in Sugar Land, Tx....22 voted for my quilt. I'd only been quilting a few short months!


The Jack Rabbit Billboard in  Joseph City, Arizona.

That's when I knew that some day, when the kids were older, I was going to start designing my own quilts or wall hangings.  I couldn't paint and sculpt like Dad...(how I wanted too!), but I 'saw' pictures in my mind and discovered that applique was my method and fabric was my medium.
 

A Map of Route 66 across the US



I spent several days researching all the exciting stops along the way and picked the ones I liked best from each state. Then I made applique pictures of each landmark. 


The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico









   


The Big Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma



The Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois


Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Tx.

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