The Birmingham Quilters Guild held their biennial quilt show in June at the Bessemer Civic Center. This marked my third BQG show with an entry. Each time I learn more about the process and people behind this mammoth undertaking. This year I only had one entry, the Lowery Quilt, made entirely by hand. I incorporated antique clothing given by the Lowery family. The surrounding fabric is a reproduction William Morris & Co line in lawn cotton, so it’s thin and a little squiggly to work with. If you look closely, you’ll see christening gowns, some that attached at the shoulders so I kept the little buttons. The embellishments were incredible as several pieces had ribbon and others with delicate, intricate stumpwork and embroidery.

The quilt won one of the Sponsors’ Awards, which was very meaningful to me as one of the sponsors specialized in hand work. There’s no way I could show you all the quilts in the show, but I’ve included a few below so you can oohh and aaahh over them like everyone else there.

Until next time –

Beth

In March I visited Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Columbus, Mississippi on quilt-related topics. On my way to Mississippi, I stopped by the Alabama Heritage headquarters in Tuscaloosa as a guest on their podcast series. (You can hear it here.)

In Columbus, Mississippi I presented “Alabama Quilts and Their Stories” as part of the Alabama Historical Association’s Speakers Bureau and in celebration of America250. I wanted to share some of the beautiful creations by locals on display at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library.

Thank you to both Alabama Heritage and the Columbus-Lowndes County Library for having me!

Beth

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.