Now that I've been home in Austin for a bit I've had a chance to attend a couple of big local events with my mother, who is new to Texas. It's been a fun way to spend time together, and a great a way to show her some of what Texas has to offer. Last Friday we attended the Austin Area Quilt Guild show and today we went to the Round Top Antiques Fair.
The Austin Area Quilt Guild puts on their show every other year, displaying quilts made by their own guild members. There was something for everyone: pieced quilts and appliqué quilts, large quilts and small quilts, those made by professionals and those made by novices. Overall they fell more to the traditional end of the spectrum than to the modern end. (We'll get to see a lot of the latter in 2020 when QuiltCon returns to Austin!) And quite a few of them were made from either kits or from purchased patterns. Here are a few that caught my eye. This star quilt, called "While the Mice are Away, the Cats Will Play," was paper-pieced by Susan LaCroix from a kit by Tula Pink. I like it for its unrestrained use of color, and of course the cats in it are cute, though they are too small to see in this photo.
"Jack's Woodland" by Kitty Miller, though made in a very traditional design, has a simple, modern sensibility. I also like the unusual palette of greens and browns.
The Austin Area Quilt Guild puts on their show every other year, displaying quilts made by their own guild members. There was something for everyone: pieced quilts and appliqué quilts, large quilts and small quilts, those made by professionals and those made by novices. Overall they fell more to the traditional end of the spectrum than to the modern end. (We'll get to see a lot of the latter in 2020 when QuiltCon returns to Austin!) And quite a few of them were made from either kits or from purchased patterns. Here are a few that caught my eye. This star quilt, called "While the Mice are Away, the Cats Will Play," was paper-pieced by Susan LaCroix from a kit by Tula Pink. I like it for its unrestrained use of color, and of course the cats in it are cute, though they are too small to see in this photo.
"Jack's Woodland" by Kitty Miller, though made in a very traditional design, has a simple, modern sensibility. I also like the unusual palette of greens and browns.
Finally, "Winding Ways" by Laura Espenschield stood out for its beautiful muted fabrics, which she purchased in Tokyo.
I love how the pattern seems to have so much motion in it. And look at how precise the piecing it! With curves, no less! A beautiful design, beautifully executed.
In addition to the quilts on display, the quilt show has a large vendor area where I chatted with a couple local quilters/fabric dyers including Malka Dubrawsky of A Stitch in Dye and purchased some of their amazing hand dyed fabrics to add to my collection.
After seeing so many completed quilts at the show, I was eager to make some progress on my own quilts and headed straight to my sewing room when I got home. I've completed the third row of Sea Days and have only four left to complete the entire top. The "love" fabric in the bottom right is one I bought from Malka at the last quilt show.
I've also sewn up a stack of big blocks using little nine patch blocks I hand pieced during my travels this year.
I said that the quilt show was a big event. Well, the Round Top Antiques Fair is enormous. Actually, it's more than just Round Top these days, and it is more than just antiques. There are miles of tents, barns, sheds and meadows along Route 237 from Warrenton to Round Top to Carmine brimming with antiques, vintage wares, things pretending to be antiques, and brand new merchandise.
I wasn't shopping for anything in particular, but couldn't resist this tiny chest, in which I plan to store spools of thread and lots of the little things that never seem to have a proper home in my sewing room.
I also picked up the little chair that my grandmother's doll is sitting on. My grandmother was born in 1900, so my best guess is that the doll dates from about 1905.
Rolling green hills and majestic live oaks along Route 237 make for a beautiful setting. It's worth stopping to enjoy the scenery, especially in those few spots untouched by the shopping frenzy, including St. Martins, which claims to be the worlds smallest Catholic church.
Tips for Travelers to Round Top:
Some venues charge admission, others don't. The ones that do tend to have high quality antiques, so they are definitely worth visiting.
Go to the largely un-airconditioned Marburger Farms first, when it is cooler. Then go to The Big Red Barn (site of The Original Round Top Antiques Fair) and enjoy their cool air no matter how hot it is outside.
Talk to people. Everyone, buyers and sellers alike, is happy to be there and loves to share what they know.
The fried pies at Farmhouse Cafe and Bakery are really good! But certainly big enough to share
among two or three people.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat.
Read this article in Texas Monthly for more info on the scene along Route 237.
If you miss the event this weekend, you'll have another chance again in the spring. Also, more and more shops are open year round so you can enjoy the scenery and at least some of the shopping without the crowds.
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