The Texas Quilt Museum

Last week, I (Teri) went on vacation to San Antonio, Texas. As always, when we travel, we stopped in several quilt shops and antique stores during our day trips to visit wineries or eat barbecue. My favorite day trip was definitely our drive to La Grange, where we went to the Texas Quilt Museum. It was everything I could have hoped for, and more! How lucky am I to have a husband who will drive two hours each way during vacation so that I can look at quilts?!

When we arrived at the museum, I was a tiny bit disappointed that pictures were not allowed; however, I was given permission by the manager to take a few photos so that I could share them with you. The current exhibit is only there for a couple more days, but I was thrilled to have been there to see the magnificent quilts they have on display now. The main room was hung with Antique Indigo Quilts from the Poos Collection, by Kay and Lori Lee Triplett. 

The view from the front of the museum was breathtaking!

Since I couldn't take photos of each quilt to study further when I got home, I purchased the book, which includes the quilts hanging in the exhibit. Now I can relive the beauty of those indigo quilts from my easy chair! 

Indigo Quilts, by Kay and Lori Lee Triplett

This was one of my favorites!

After examining each quilt in detail, we entered the next room, which displayed some of the quilts that were on exhibit in Houston last fall, at the International Quilt Festival. As you know, Kara and I love fairy tales and stories, so you can guess how excited I was to see two quite diverse quilts depicting stories. The museum manager, Julie Maffei, offered to take photos of me with the quilts for our blog. Try to zoom in to study the details. The work on both is magnificent!

Marchen (Fairy Tale), by Kayoko Hibino; Japan
There is nothing about this fairy tale quilt that I don't love—
from the stories that are illustrated to the color and fabric choices,
and of course, the spectacular embroidery and quilting. 

Adventures in Wonderland, by Fabia Diniz Mendonca; Brazil
The more I studied this quilt, the more I found. I am in awe of anyone
with a talent for quilting this kind of detail. And there were so many
fabulously quilted elements of Alice's adventures included!

Cheshire cat, detail

The Mad Hatter, detail

The Queen of Hearts, detail

Alice, detail

Many thanks to Julie, who allowed me to take a sampling of photos to share, and who walked me through the displays to be sure I didn't miss anything. 

The third exhibit included quilts by San Antonio artist, Jane Dunnewold, whose innovative quilts are creatively Inspired by the Masters. Each piece includes various types of vintage stitched pieces—including crewel, needlepoint, punch needle, doilies and quilt blocks—stitched together to portray a renowned masterpiece by a notable artist. To see more about this display, you can go to Jane's website to see her work: http://www.janedunnewold.com/inspired-by-the-masters.

Julie then took me to The Pearce Memorial Library, which houses an extensive collection of books and resources about—you guessed it!—quilts. They started with a couple hundred books, but now have more than 6,000 books. This is a room where one could spend a day, getting lost in the pages of the quilt world!

Stumpwork flowers based on Shakespeare works

An exhibit of toile, from Mary and Joe Koval's collection.
Each drawer held a piece of antique toile, and the story told in the fabric is detailed.
In the drawer above is The Story of Joseph, Red and white French toile on linen, c. 1806.

The current exhibit is soon ending, but the upcoming exhibits look just as promising. If only I lived closer! 

Next to the museum is a flower garden, and what quilter does not love a flower garden? This one, indeed, is inspired by a quilt, or quilt blocks; even the name, Grandmother's Flower Garden, is a popular quilt block design. Won't you join me on a pictorial stroll through the garden?

I love irises!

The sundial in the center of the garden

The redbud trees were abloom, while at home, we were getting a foot of spring snow. 

My husband found a cool, comfortable resting spot. He even told me to take my time at the quilt shop next door!

He had a pretty nice view of the garden from his shaded bench.

The left side of the mural...

...and the right side.

What a great day we had in La Grange, Texas, visiting the quilt museum, its garden, and the quilt shop right next door. There were even a few antique shops in the town. If you are ever in that area of Texas—even if it's a two-hour drive—it would be well worth your time to visit! For more information about the Texas Quilt museum, you can visit their website by clicking here.  

What about you? Have you visited a quilt museum that you could recommend to all of us? Please leave a comment below, so we all know what should go on our quilt museum bucket lists. Inquiring minds want to know!