You Can Always Come Home to Texas

Well, The Texas Quilt Along is in the books!  It was a fun journey through my own state,visiting many of my favorite cities and some I have never visited in person!

As you can tell if you were following along, I used my own designs for quite a few of the city blocks.  It was fun to come up with ways to mix things up and incorporate my own memories of those places. 

The hill country block might be my favorite of my designs!  Rolling hills covered in flowers.  I also swapped chili peppers for The Valley (very Tex-Mex down there) and a star for Austin, the capital city.

I debated swapping in a house block or something similar for Tyler, the city I live nearest to, but decided against it in the end. Tyler claims to be the rose capital of the world!  I really loved the paper pieced ferris wheel for Dallas, where the State Fair of Texas is held.

I am particularly proud of how this oil derrick came out.  I am generally not a fan of applique, raw edge or otherwise, and this quilt required a lot of it.

Finally, west Texas.  Love the flying geese out there.

I was in a rush to get the quilt done for gifting so I did a quilt all over stipple to save time.  In the upper right of the quilt, approximately over Oklahoma ;) I free handed the words "Always come home to Texas." You can make out a few of the letters in this picture.  The quilt's recipients spend far too much time overseas for work, enough that they don't really have anywhere in the states to call "home."  She recently said, "I know that I always come back to Texas."  So I just took the liberty of making us "home."  :)

The back is pieced from two large pieces of blue fabric.  The one on the bottom was on sale at ConnectingThreads.com and the one on top is a super soft light denim-like material that I just can't get enough of.

Elvis tested and approved.  I had to hurry and get my pictures before the quilt was given away! I was received very well and will soon be winging its way overseas, a little piece of "home" while they're away.

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it Friday.