Baby Quilt for Good Friends' First Grandchild

Some of our closest friends just became grandparents.  The baby, a boy named Walker, was born on June 3rd.  I wanted to make a baby quilt, and had a pre-printed fabric piece I decided to use.  But I also wanted to add some personal touches to the design:

I appliqued this duck on the top of the quilt, holding an embroidered blue flower.

A duck on either side, and Florida and banner saying "Its a Boy!"

Applique of the baby's name with blue embroidered flowers, and his birth date embroidered above.

This is the watercolor printed in the center of the piece.

On the back I appliqued this present with duck pulling the ribbon as a place to embroider my name, date made, and a "Welcome Baby."

Goldie Richmond's Museum-Bound Quilt Up Close

If you liked what I showed you of this quilt from its visit to the Quilt Guild meeting last month, you will love seeing it up close.  I know we did!  We were able to visit the quilt at Cactus Quilt shop on the corner of Oracle and Orange Grove in Tucson a few days ago.  It's headed to the Arizona History Museum eventually. This quilt was "found" after years of not knowing its whereabouts, and purchased for the museum. The "portholes" each depict an aspect of desert life, particularly of the Tohono O'Odham people on the reservation where Goldie had her trading post.

Top portion of the quilt.  Click to make larger.  Note also that the grape and floral "border" is not part of the quilt but is from one hanging behind it.

Lower portion of the quilt.

All the portholes were original creations, appliqued by hand by Goldie, and embellished with embroidery.  Notice the lariat extending from the rider in one square to the calf in the next.

Her quilts were all made from early-to-late-middle of the 20th century.

The flag of the Tohono O'Odham Nation. They were called Papago in her day, but the name means Tepary Bean People and had been given them by the Spaniards.  They changed back to their original name later.  Tohono O'Odham means "Desert People."

I loved how she created a "crowd" of people in this square.

This is the book written about Goldie, by Carolyn O'Bagy Davis.  I understand the quilt will be traveling with the author as she promotes the book, for the next two months.  It's a delightful read! Goldie made a number of this style quilt that she won ribbons with, and sold to her customers.  She did some Baltimore album quilts as well.

This quilt hangs in Cactus Quilt shop and is a kit that can be purchased to make a "Goldie-style" quilt like this.  I bought the kit, but think I would use muslin and feedsack material to make mine instead of these more modern fabrics.  It also wasn't as large as a bed-sized quilt, so I thought maybe I'd make several squares of my own design to add to it as well.

A wall-hanging in Cactus Quilt shop that would also work well as a square.

And of course, I would have to do one of the San Xavier Mission!

A HOT sun and cactus...and I think somebody likes cats. :-)