Quilt Details
Size: Throw
Dimensions: 52″ × 64″
Completed: June 2026
Techniques: Patchwork, appliqué, reverse appliqué, foundation paper piecing, and strip piecing
Materials: 100% cotton prints and batiks
Batting: 80/20 cotton-polyester
Quilting: Edge-to-edge using the Navajo design from Urban Elementz
Design: Original design
The Story
I wanted to make a quilt for a friend who I knew appreciated the beauty of the Southwest. One of the things I remember most from living there was the rich bird life. I participated many times in the Audubon Bird Count, and one of my most memorable sightings was a mama Gambel’s quail with her chicks. Mama was flustered by our presence, but she and her brood were irresistible.
When I began designing this quilt, I imagined something similar to A River Runs Through, with mountains, mesas, stars, and other elements of the Southwestern landscape. As the design evolved, though, I decided to simplify it and let the quail family tell the story—a mother and her chicks tucked among the grasses.
