cave city quilts

adrian and i are visiting family in cave city, arkansas for the holidays. yesterday my dad took me out to see walyce, an 83-year-old quilter and gardener. she is pretty amazing. for starters, she makes quilts, throws them in the back of a large moving truck, and drives them 6 hours north to st louis or 6+ hours south into texas, where folks can't get enough of her quilts.

above is a flower pattern, pieced quilt she made years ago.

i can't remember the name she gave this design, but lots of old scraps of fabric are in it.

i've been looking for a bright quilt to have on hand when guests come and stay in the study, and my dad gifted me this one for christmas. it's a bow tie design.

it's a bit loud, but the colors in the study are pretty muted, and i thought this would be a fun, lively quilt for guests to use.

walyce has the most energy and drive of pretty much anyone i've ever met; it's hard to believe she is 83. she and her husband also have a couple of greenhouses, and are in the midst of building a third (with their own hands! no hired labor for them). here is a photo of the gorgeous blooms in one of their greenhouses (too bad about the lighting).

i wish i had gotten up my nerve to ask to take a photograph of walyce. there is light in her eyes and you can tell she loves life.

thank you for the shot of beauty in my day, walyce!