Florence by Denise Bell * Florence Owens Thompson, the migrant mother from Dorothea Lange’s iconic dustbowl photograph, was just trying to get through the day and care for her children. In researching this project I discovered that, while specifics are impossible to pin down, Florence was likely born and raised just a few miles from our farm in northeastern Oklahoma. I’ve used a log cabin background that incorporates skin and dust toned blocks and overlayed with an appliqué cut from an image of Lange’s photograph. Hand quilting adds depth to the background, and brings forward the texture of the hardness of Florence’s young face.

Route 66 Mixed Media by Nantelle Kemp * Patchwork quilt of various Route 66 fabrics with the addition of a 3D printed Route 66 medallion. Machine pieced and quilted on Baby Lock Solaris. Quilting features cars and trucks.

Oklahoma Summer on 66 by Kathy Doss * Inspired by many summer drives on Route 66 with storms in the distance. Scrappy log cabin with flat and puffy applique pieces. Big stitch hand-quilting.

The Road to California by Noel Keith * Growing up outside Chicago, Route 66 had a magical meaningful me Route 66 was how my eighth grade class traveled to Springfield, how my family traveled to St Louis and how a car could travel all the way to from Chicago to Santa Monica, California.

Cruising the Mother Road by Holly Yeagle * Inspired by memories of my parents, the raw edge applique quilt depicts Tulsa natives, Ray and Jean McCollum, cruising Route 66 on a carefree Saturday night and the road's neon lights. The Mother Road (11th Street) was part of their daily lives and the conduit for exploring the nation.

Sunshine on Route 66 in Tulsa by Monica Macklin * This quilt combined a Route 66 t-shirt design, the colors from the NIT basketball logo/ high school announcement, and the design of a Route 66 sign.

Route 66 Icons by Robyn Brown * Looked up icons that represented Tulsa, but ones I could use improv quilting with.

Kim's Route 66 by Kim Rivas * I chose to make a quilt from my perspective as a biologist/botanist. My favorite parts of any roadway are the unmowed shoulders when they are in full bloom. RT66 has some great offerings across Oklahoma.

Always Looked Turquoise to Me! by Danny Cook * My quilt was inspired by childhood visits to the Blue Whale in Catoosa, which I always remembered as turquoise rather than blue. Using Moda Grunge blues and turquoise fabrics and Route 66 prints, I combined several patterns into one design. The quilt was pieced and quilted using vintage sewing machines, celebrating Route 66 nostalgia.

Route 66: The Road To Oklahoma: It's' All About Cars by Rene Norman * The Road To Oklahoma quilt blocks (top and left side of quilt) evoke driving Route 66 on a pleasant day. The "Square in a Square" blocks (red and gold) name all 8 of the states where Route 66 meanders. Can you find "Get Your Kicks" in the car themed fabric?

Hottest Brand Going by Ann Makela Schneider * In making this quilt I reproduced a photograph I took in Miami, Oklahoma during a car trip along Route 66. The quilt is made with 2” squares of fabric set in the diagonal. A gas station is a fitting tribute to the Mother Road.

Route 66: One Block at a Time by Carol Williams * The center of this quilt is a tea towel that shows a map of the “Mother Road” and the cities along the way. Each of the neighboring blocks was made using patterns from a vintage quilt book. Each block represents a state along the route, travelling from Illinois to California.

Neon Journey by Lisa Swinney * Neon Journey pays tribute to traveling Route 66, then and now, and how motion, darkness, and light can become a quilt. The challenge was creating movement while keeping it quilt-like. I used piecing, layered appliqué, thread painting, and metallic quilting to create motion. I hope it reminds viewers to keep looking for light along the journey.

Route 66 Sunset by Colleen Almeida Smith * This quilt is based on JuliusHandmade's Beach Sunset pattern. I changed it to reflect both the colors of the Oklahoma sunsets I love and the landscape. I added a border and backing in Route 66 fabric.

The Great Expanse by Briana Hefley-Shepard * Not every mile of Route 66 is neon lit, in the middle of a city, or accessible. Twenty years ago on a tour led by Route 66 expert and historian Michael Wallace, I encountered a stretch of the Mother Road that was impassable. Our bus was forced to maneuver a tricky u-turn and I was left with a memory of Route 66 that was a great reminder of its grand age, its expansive reach, and its bridge to the rest of the country. Plus, those priceless sunsets!

Whale of a Century! by Sarah Ross * I grew up hearing stories of my dad’s adventures swimming and playing at the Blue Whale, just down the road in Catoosa, OK. I wanted to capture and celebrate the magic of wonderfully weird roadside attractions found along Route 66, and how they, like the Mother Road, continue to connect us to one another. Techniques used: Foundation paper piecing, raw edge appliqué, & bead embroidery.

Route 66 Road to Oklahoma by Lori Fine Smith * This quilted landscape represents Route 66 with a bold, dark highway in the pattern of the block, Road to Oklahoma. A whimsical sunset fills the horizon, crafted from a warm patchwork of orange and yellow hues.

Sign of the Times by Susan Ennes Anderson * When I think of Rt. 66, I think of family vacation road trips. Driving along the highway late into the evening when neon signs light up the towns.

Tulsa Memories by Barbara Smith * With fond memories, Tulsa, Oklahoma is my childhood home. I was away for nearly 30 years, but moved back as soon as I could. One of the first stops home when visiting my family was always to say “hi” to the Golden Driller. It’s a privilege to create a Route 66 quilt honoring Oklahoma. The background colors are inspired by the Tulsa flag with all icons coming from the Tulsa area.

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