"Americana the Beautiful"

This quilt was born in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America.  It was designed, pieced and machine-quilted by Carol Mills and Melody Watts primarily over a 3-day period during a long-awaited visit.  Melody has now returned home and the quilt resides with Carol. Many of the blocks chosen for this quilt have special meaning for the two wives of retired military veterans. Scraps from the floor of the quilting room were picked up and used in some of the blocks to signify the rebuilding process. A cross was subliminally created by the use of background fabric to represent their firm hope in Christ. The quilt wears its unity ribbon on its "lapel." (quilt's upper right square as we view it)

I want to thank my online Quiltersbee friends for sharing links to patriotic blocks over the last month. Many ideas were gleaned from viewing these links. Although Melody and I have quilted together before, this is our first attempt at making a bunch of blocks and then letting the quilt build itself on the design wall. It was an awesome experience and we were so pleased with the result that I took an extra day off to get it quilted and bound before the feeling left us."