Last weekend I had the pleasure of introducing people to the art of quilting! Some time back, I accepted Burritt on the Mountain’s Folk School’s request for participation. It was a lot of preparation and moving stuff, but I enjoyed spending time with the people who came through. Check out some of the pictures below.

As people tried their hand at sewing/quilting, they added another piece to a log cabin block. Several blocks were completed by the end of the day.

My favorite part was teaching kids to use the sewing machine. No one went crazy on the foot pedal, thank goodness!

In mid-afternoon, I presented a talk on quilts. Half the audience was 16 and under! There’s hope that quilting isn’t a dying art.

I hope as we enter the colder months, you will find a craft you enjoy. Make mistakes! Try new things!

BH

My husband and I attended a history conference in Guntersville, AL last week. The weather was perfect! In case you need to see proof, check out the pictures below. Taking short trips around the state always reminds me how beautiful Alabama scenery is. Because my usual days are driving along the I65, I forget what little spots lie just outside my area. A red barn, a funky store, an impressive old government building… One of my favorite things to do at these meetings is to tour old homes. Stepping back in time, I can admire the architecture, old wallpaper, wood floors, stained glass windows, and especially rooms with high ceilings. Check out this room at the Wright Ross Home:

And this room was my favorite – a breakfast room/butler’s pantry. I could see myself sitting there cross stitching in a soft chair or setting a lunch for two at the little table. It was a perfect room.

While touring homes and museums, I ran into several quilts. These are from the Kate Duncan Smith Daughters of the American Revolution museum in Grant, AL. As a proud DAR member, this was a bucket list item for me. The school is nearby, but the little log cabin museum was charming.

Several community ladies worked on this quilt honoring historic buildings in the area. It was such a special quilt to see in person. Another quilt was on a table featuring blocks made by students.

Hopefully, we can return to the area soon. Until then, I’ll be traveling further north to Burritt on the Mountain soon. I’ll post on that in a few days. Thanks for reading!

What a wonderful quilt show last weekend in Cullman, Alabama! The Heartland Quilters held a great event with lots of pretty quilts, nice vendors, and plenty of opportunities to learn more about quilting. I hope you enjoy these images from the show.

I found out about their show after speaking with their guild a few weeks ago. Thankfully, I was able to attend and enjoy their works of art! Below are some of the quilts that caught my eye. The far left is a log cabin pattern with different images in the place of the traditional red square. The quilter chose hearts, stars, and houses instead.

This Baltimore quilt with the gold frame was spectacular! The center image (with different flowers) won viewer’s choice. The far-right quilt below appeared simple, but I believe it was actually a study in math and line perfection.

The left-hand image is something I really want to try. I love fussy cutting and hope to make something similar one day. The center image is a fabric line I adore, so I had to take a picture. The right-hand image is what I believe to be a vibrant antique quilt.

My husband and I loved this one. While it was an unusually dark quilt, the detail was pretty awe-inspiring. Every little stitch was perfect.

I’ve been collecting embroidered handkerchiefs for a future project. This one definitely inspired me.

Last but not least, the sci-fi thriller quilt!

This summer has been extremely busy! With fourteen speaking engagements (so far) and teaching one quilt class, this year seems to have flown by! While I don’t pretend to be an expert at all things quilting, I have enjoyed making them and love teaching others the art of quilting. If you are looking for antique, traditional patterns and fabrics, I’m here to help you. Making a complex art quilt is something on my list, but I always find myself wanting to complete what I start, so I tend to opt for challenging – not too complex – blocks in my creations.

Here are some of the blocks made by the lovely attendees in the quilt class at Burritt on the Mountain last weekend. Aren’t they wonderful? After discussing the history behind each block, I provided three different fabric families which were cut to size for an easy start. They had printed color instructions and examples for arrangement as handouts so they could continue what they started after the class. For most of the attendees, this was their first experience in quilting.

My aim in presenting and teaching classes is always to reinforce a few key things. First, quilts are primary sources of history. Next, if you know of an old, maybe damaged quilt and need ideas to transform it into something else, let me know. If you are ready to get rid of a worn out quilt, I’ll see what can be made from it. Last, quilting isn’t always easy, but if I can do it, you can too. Even I can work out seams and adjustments.

I hope these images inspire you to start or return to quilting. Hope the rest of your summer is going well!

Beth

So far this year, I’ve been fortunate to speak to eight different groups about Alabama Quilts and Their Stories. After each presentation, someone shares information about the quilts they’ve made or those passed down to them. In many ways, it is an honor to hear these stories. More than ever, I try to emphasize that quilts are historical pieces of art that should be considered primary sources.

These presentations foster discussions about Alabama’s history, sometimes tackling difficult issues including women during different wars, racial mistreatment, and financial hardships. However, though quilts we see determination, resilience, and creativity. The amazing craftsmanship of this state is worthy of preservation and exhibition. An opportunity to see fantastic quilts is coming soon at the Heartland Quilters Guild’s 2025 Quilt Show on August 1 (9 am -5 pm) and August 2 (9 am -2 pm) at St. Andrew’s Global Methodist Church, 615 Main Ave SW, Cullman, AL 35055.

If you are interested in hearing this presentation, please contact the Alabama Historical Association’s Speaker’s Bureau: https://www.alabamahistory.net/speakersbureau.

These past few months have been busy! I was asked to join a speaker’s bureau, so my dance card is getting quite full. In case you are interested in hearing me talk about Alabama quilts or how fashion changed in the early 1900s, below are the dates, times, and locations to come join the fun. As an aside, April 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby.

My husband and I enjoy visiting DeKalb County’s two “big” cities, Mentone and Fort Payne, every year. They are small towns known for their artistic flair. You should know Fort Payne, home of the musical group Alabama. If you didn’t know that, I’m sorry for your raising. When my husband and I were in high school (Minor High School – the closest thing to heaven is the class of ’87), we performed what we believed to be one of the best marching band football shows the state had ever seen with hits like Alabama’s “My Home’s In Alabama.” More years than I’d care to speak of my youngest son performed in his marching band’s halftime show with the same tune paired with “Mountain Music.”

Fort Payne is more than the birthplace of the state’s most famous musical group. The Fort Payne Depot Museum is like many of the small historic buildings in once bustling areas. Filled with artifacts ranging from military uniforms, old pictures (love!), Native American artifacts, jewelry, various documents, to local history, there’s something you’ll find interesting. My favorite part is the building itself as it appears to be a mini castle from the distance, made of stone with a turret.

Fort Payne is also famous for its sock production. Believe it or not, Fort Payne was once the “Sock Capital of the World.” While the factories are gone, there is a small museum to showcase various parts of the town’s history, including its sock production heyday. The images above are some of the sock quilts located in the Fort Payne Hosiery Museum. You can’t miss it. It’s on the other side of the street from the Depot Museum and a block away from the Alabama memorial, dedicated to the founding members of the group. It’s also next door to the Fort Payne Opera House, both of which are managed by Landmarks of DeKalb County, Inc. The employees and volunteers behind these museums are helpful, kind, and excited to share the town’s history.

As in most places when there is little money but needs are great, people started making quilts out of whatever was available. There were plenty of left-over sock tops, and why should they go to waste? I imagine the quilts are quite heavy but perform well on cold northeast Alabama nights.

In describing Mentone, think of your slightly wacky great aunt with the multicolored bead necklace and flip flops who wears what she wants and really doesn’t mind you thinking she’s eccentric. She’s fun, she’s vibrant, and she’s not going anywhere – enjoy! Perched atop Lookout Mountain, Mentone boasts scenic views, clean air, and waterfalls (Little River Canyon). I’ve heard people liken Mentone to a small Gatlinburg, but that’s stretching it. There aren’t many retail places in Mentone, with the most in-and-out business being Mentone Market: gas station, restaurant, and mini store with everything from camping essentials to gourmet jams to regionally made gifts and t-shirts. It’s a wonderful place and I feel a bit guilty about giving employees a hard time about their t-shirt stock. (Really, big girls need logo shirts too.)

Mentone has one main drag with little (and I mean little) shops along the four or more blocks of “town.” There is an excellent art showcase, Mentone Arts Center, in the center of town with works by regional artists, many of whom focus their talents on nature. Next door is a delicious (but pricey) Italian-style restaurant, Elevation Bistro. And we always make a trip to the world-famous Wildflower Cafe to sample their tomato pie and BBQ bacon cheeseburger – possibly the best in the state.

Mentone is also home to one of the most unusual churches I’ve ever seen. Sallie Howard’s Chapel is built around a huge rock, taking up almost half the church’s interior and exterior. Because you may not believe me: see this.

A friend who has a second home in Mentone described the area best: Once you start up that mountain to Mentone, you feel all the pressures of work go away. You breathe in the sweet, clear mountain air and your worries are all behind you.

Most people rent one of the many Airbnb or Vrbo cabins in the area while others enjoy the various options offered by DeSoto State Park. You can’t go wrong either way. Each time I visit my blood pressure drops and a calmness sets in. It is truly a transformative place.

A few years ago I visited a quilt show in a cavernous hall at Edgemont UMC in Florence, Alabama. On the whole, the quilts were masterfully pieced and quilted. One particular quilt caught my eye as it was in honor of a local landmark, Tom Hendrix’s Wall. The wall was built by Tom Hendrix in honor of his Native American ancestor, Te-lah-nay. As a young lady she was forcibly removed from Alabama to Oklahoma during the Trail of Tears. Heartbroken and homesick, she made the trip back to Alabama on foot, an incredibly long and harsh journey. I enjoy talking about this quilt, but you might want to know more of the history without me rambling on. If so, please visit this page. To my knowledge, Tom Hendrix’s Wall is the largest non-mortared wall and the largest built to honor a Native American woman in the United States.

Recently I was honored to take possession of this quilt for a short time. Full disclosure: part of that time I was a wreck knowing I was in possession of it, even if it was safely locked away. In fact, the quilt’s creator said she’d never let anyone borrow one of her quilts before. No pressure.

The quilter is Mrs. Louise Morrison of Lauderdale County. You aren’t able to fully appreciate this quilt on the screen due to Louise’s dedication and expert craftsmanship that the camera just can’t capture. Louise visited Tom Hendrix’s Wall and was inspired to recreate a scene in quilt form. In addition to her creative applique, she used a few muslin pieces and wax sticks (similar to crayons) to rub tree bark texture into the fabric (note the lighter colored trees and branches). She also took pictures of the rock formations and transferred those onto fabric sheets (several places in the quilted rock semi-circle). So the image you are looking at is not just a quilt honoring Tom Hendrix’s Wall, it’s a piece of it.