North Carolina played a crucial role in the American Revolution—it was the first state to authorize its delegates to vote for independence, and the Outer Banks became famous as a haven for pirates like Blackbeard. The state ratified the Constitution in 1789 and just four years later opened the University of North Carolina, the first state university. North Carolina was also the location of one of the first organized political protests led by women–the Edenton Tea Party. Bringing together 51 women to support the fight against “taxation without representation.”
North Carolina is proud of its affiliation with the Wright Bros and license plates bear the “First in Flight” motto. Orville and Wilbur Wright lived in Dayton, Ohio, but chose the Outer Banks’ Kill Devil Hills as the site for their historic first powered flight in 1903. Their achievement at this windswept beach changed travel more than they could have imagined and is still one of North Carolina’s proudest moments.
The state goes from ocean to Appalachians with the Outer Banks in the east, the Piedmont in the middle, and Blue Ridge Mountains in the west. In between you’ll find the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, and the Woolworth where the activists held sit-ins to fight segregation. In Asheville, you’ll find a small city tucked into the mountains, providing a safe haven for artists of all types and they’ve got the Asheville Art Museum to prove it. Check out their collection of textile art, including a piece by Luke Haynes.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit North Carolina several times and seriously considered moving to Asheville when our LQS tour wrapped up. The small city is full of art, music, history and restaurants–a perfect combination of the things I love. With friends that live in town and nearby, it’s a good excuse to get out there and a perfect excuse to try the vinegar-based BBQ sauce that western North Carolina is famous for.
When I visited Greensboro, I spent a day at the International Civil Rights Museum. It was a sobering experience for me. I’ve grown up on the West Coast in a time with racism hidden behind niceties, but the harsh reality of racism and the fight for civil rights was on full display at the museum. With exhibits about the Woolworth sit-ins, the segregation of everything from bus seats and bathrooms, and the continued efforts to achieve equality for all. It is still one of the most profound museum visits I’ve had and I really can’t recommend it enough.
Quilt Block
In recognition of the first flight by the Wright Brothers, I used an airplane block and tweaked it to fit the block size we needed. There are a variety of plane blocks available, but I like the silhouette of this one as an homage to them.
This block gets pieced in rows, so keep an eye on orientation as you sew those rows together. It’s easy to put the plane body on upside down–make sure the skinny side is toward the bottom and the wider part attaches to the wings.
Quilt Shops
- Five Little Monkeys Quilt & Sew in Weaverville, just outside of Asheville is a wonderful shop, run by my friends Angie & DJ. They have a great selection of bright modern fabrics, Cuddle fabrics and a notion wall that we all dream of. They also hosted a live show and we made a monkey!
- Cary Quilting Company in Cary is a destination shop filled with quilting cottons, patterns and classes available all the time. They’re in a strip mall, but it feels like home with inspiration everywhere.
I can’t wait to see your airplane block! If you’ve been to or live in North Carolina, tell me about your favorite quilt shops or places to visit there!
