My dad wore a lot of hats in life–refinery worker, car enthusiast, devoted friend, and loving father. After he passed in 2007 I wanted to find a way to honor him through using my hands, heart, and quilting abilities. This eclectic collection of hats is the result.

L: 60”

W: 68”

Year Completed: 2022

Click here to read more about the making of this quilt.

Nancy Ellen Demmer Tarvin passed away on August 13, 2017, in Naples, Florida. Nancy was an educational leader in the Leander School District for 25 years. As her obituary states, “Nancy was a gifted problem solver and knew just how to heal a broken spirit. Her brilliant mind was present in everything she touched. She knew exactly how to inspire, educate, and bring people together. Her legacy will continue in the many educators and students she impacted.”

In 2018, I acquired her Leander ISD shirts to one day make a quilt top and for Jeananne Cox to quilt it. In 2019, the LISD board announced the naming of Nancy Demmer Tarvin Elementary. In 2020, Christy Hilbun was announced as Tarvin Elementary principal. And on this day in 2021, we had the honor of displaying Nancy’s shirts in a beautiful case near the entryway of the school!

Every design element in the top was intentional and done out of respect. Every stitch Jeananne quilted was exceptional, heartfelt, and filled with love. Dana Nathanson was the best quilt handler and assistant in all of the Hill Country! And thank you, Joan Altobelli, for the absolutely puuurrrrfect label...it’s the cherry on top.

Quilts tell a story. I hope you’ll look at Nancy’s shirts and be reminded of your own stories of Nancy. Nancy’s legacy will continue to impact future generations through everyone she touched and it was my great honor to have a small part in preserving her love for Leander ISD students, staff, and community.

Click here for video.

On May 30, 2015 I began the journey of restoring Henry Roland’s quilt that was given to him by his late grandmother when he was a young boy. As Henry traveled traveled around the country and lived in different places, the quilt finally made it back to our home in 2015 after being in storage for nearly a decade. My goal for reconstruction was to honor the original integrity and history of the quilt but recreate this treasured piece into a newish treasured quilt that could be actually used once again and loved in a new way. Read more about this quilt and the process of making this quilt here.