I just came back from a whirlwind business trip waltzing across Texas. It involved driving over 600 miles from Dallas, Austin, San Antonio to Houston in just 5 days. Having grown up in Houston and being a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, I always love getting back to visit my state, family and friends, even when it’s well over 100 degrees in each location!
A very special treat was the chance for a quick side visit to the Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange, Texas (home of the infamous Chicken Ranch which was the inspiration for the Broadway musical, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and also the ZZ Top song, but I digress…)
It was definitely worth the side trip – I’m so glad I went! The Texas Quilt Museum is in a beautifully renovated 1890’s building with three lovely gallery spaces. The entry gallery features 21 of the “Ruby Jubilee” red-and-white quilts that were previously on display in 2014 to celebrate the 40th – or “ruby”- anniversary of the International Quilt Festival. Another gallery featured “Animal Instincts” by Annie Helmericks-Louder.
But I was especially excited to see the third exhibit: “On the Fringe: Innovative Art Quilts from California and Nevada” that features 20 art quilts by members of the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). Even better, that my Bee Modern San Francisco quilting buddy, Cathy Miranker‘s quilt “Sorta Sonia” was on display at the exhibit! The docent let me take a few photos because I told her I knew Cathy and was pointing it out to everyone there (photos are not allowed by the TQM – but the willing docent took the photos for me – I was legal, promise!)
Me with “Sorta Sonia” by Cathy Miranker
Gallery space of SAQA exhibit
Next door there is also a fabulous quilt and knitting store, The Quilted Skein, with a very large selection of gorgeous fabrics – things I have only seen together online. I was told that those who are both knitters and quilters have a hard time deciding where to focus! Knitting on the right hand side of the store, quilting on the left. Both look great!
Make a trip to visit the Texas Quilt Museum if you are between Austin and Houston – worth the trip!
