Just returned from a wonderful trip to Texas. I love Texas! Everything is so big and beautiful and the people are all so friendly. First stop was the State Capital of Austin. Their Capitol Building, made of the pink granite from Marble Falls, is larger than the Capitol building in Washington D.C.
I taught workshops and gave lectures to the Austin Area Quilt Guild. This is a great group with nearly 500 members. Last year they completed my Fiesta Mexico quilt and raised $19,000.00!!!! To learn more about this guild visit their site at www.aaqg.org. Here are some of their smiling faces tackling a new project.
While driving between my hotel and the meeting rooms, I noticed a massive wall decorated in tiles. I stopped and spent over an hour reading the history of the Crestview-Brentwood neighborhood as depicted in the mural. The neighborhood was started in 1952 and building lots cost a whopping $595.00. The hundreds of blocks told the story of the neighbors and businesses.
It was nice to witness a neighborhood with so much pride. Did I say everything is big in Texas. Here is one of my favorite tile blocks.
Next stop was the Junk Cathedral in a residential area in south Austin. Again everything is bigger, even backyard junk piles. The owner of the property and creator of the cathedral, Vince, reported that he was not a favorite of his neighbors and that two wives had divorced him. I am shocked!
But his dog, Smokey, loved it!!
My next stop was Marble Falls in the hill country. Mary, my hostess, was the BEST!! She shared her home, her quilts, her shop and her friends with Joe and I. The work space was fabulous! The quilt retreat was held in Mary’s guest house located in the middle of Cimarron Ranch, a glorious property cared for and loved by Mary and her family.
Here are a few pictures taken while driving through the ranch.
We took a short trip through the Hill Country and here are more things we saw.
Historic Fort Martin Scott
Enchanted Rock
Texas is also known for its food. Slow cooked beef, brisket, pulled pork, pork steak, ribs, sausage – in short the world’s best BBQ. Joe tested the following places: Franklin’s in Austin, Opie’s in Spicewood and Pete’s Mesquite in Marble Falls. Although he liked them all, Franklin’s was worth the hour wait for his four meat plate.
If visiting Marble Falls, a stop at the Blue Bonnet Cafe is a must. Where else can you find “Pie Happy Hour”?!
Even the pies are bigger in Texas! Yummie.
STUDENTS’ WORK
Meg Latimer sent me this photo. She made 4 of the Majestic Mosaic blocks for a great looking wall quilt. Thanks for sharing Meg.
Peggy Jo Smith sent me this photo. She used my Kansas Rose block as her center square. It was a block of the month project, from 2011, called “Aunt Grace Circle of Friends”. Great way to use the Kansas Rose block.
And Kathleen Clendennen shared her photo of Kansas Rose. She has the overlay piece pinned and ready to sew. Looks great Kathleen.
Connie Sutterfield send me a photo of her finished Fiesta Mexico quilt top. It is off to the quilter now. Amazing. I know how much work this was. Thank you so much for sharing Connie. Your quilt looks fabulous!
I am off to Albuquerque. Talk to you soon…….