Quilting a Legacy: A Visit with Jeriann
by Lauren Davis, Artisan Shop USA
Nestled in a cozy corner of Granbury, Texas, I sat at a well-loved kitchen table across from longtime quilter and Artisan Shop USA vendor Jeriann. With her warm smile, sparkling blue eyes, and decades of stitching wisdom, Jeriann invited me—and her husband, Tom—into a conversation that unraveled the story of not just a quilting hobby, but a creative life deeply connected to community, family, and art.
From Homemade Clothes to Hand-Stiched Quilts
“I started sewing when I was about 14,” Jeriann began. “I made my own clothes because we couldn't afford to buy much. My grandmother was a real seamstress—what you would call today a professional seamstress—and my mom sewed also.
I enjoyed following a pattern and then the resulting satisfaction from having made something myself.”
She chuckled, recalling how her grandmother would complement her creations, then peek inside the seams for a less polished view. “I’d say, ‘Don’t look at that part!’” Jeriann laughed.
Later, as a stay-at-home mother, she stitched outfits and pajamas for her children—clothes her grown kids now claim to remember all too vividly.
Founding the Granbury Quilters Guild
When Jeriann and her husband Tom moved to Granbury in 1993, quilting quickly became more than a solo pastime. After driving to another town for quilt guild meetings, she and three friends from church—Donna, Lee, and Liz—decided Granbury needed its own guild.
“We passed out flyers anywhere we could,” she recalled. “We started with just four of us. And some core group members are still meeting every Tuesday, all these years later.”
Excerpt from the Granbury Quilters Guild Directory (2007):
“We officially formed in March of 1997... Our emblem pin is in the shape of Hood County. Each year we commit to a service project... We have made lap quilts for nursing homes, baby quilts for hospitals, and much more. We’ve hosted quilt shows and welcomed nationally recognized speakers...”
A Stitch in Civic History
One of the guild’s most cherished contributions is the Historic Granbury Quilt, completed in 1999 and now displayed in the Hood County. Created by Granbury Quilt Guild members, the city-themed tapestry was lovingly designed, hand-appliquéd, and then offered to the county as a gift to the community.
Jeriann, who contributed a block featuring the Nutshell Eatery, recalled the care that went into each panel. “I think I remade mine three times before I was satisfied,” she said, smiling at the memory. “It depicts buildings, churches, the courthouse, the Brazos River... all in intricate applique.”
Quilting Retreats and Lifelong Bonds
Pleased Bees has stayed tightly knit, both in stitches and friendships. “There’s usually about 12 of us,” she said. “Some have passed on or moved, but we always seem to stay at 12.”
They’ve gone on quilting retreats—even as far as Angel Fire, New Mexico. “We packed the cars to the brim and just went!”And while Jeriann was busy with fabrics and stitches, Tom supported behind the scenes, crafting quilt racks and helping set up shows. “All the husbands pitched in,” she added with gratitude.
A Bee-Themed Favorite
Over the years Jeriann has entered many quilts in quilts shows, however this is her favorite; A 30s style pastel Aunt Gracie fabrics creations with prairie point edging.
“It’s called Something to do with Bees,” she said. “I even got a ribbon, just not first place. A famous quilter said the quilt should have done better than it did, which was quite a compliment to me.”
Why didn’t it perform better?
“Because the judge said she noticed pencil marks still visible on it. I guess I never quite got them all out,” she said with a grin. “But it’s still my favorite.”
New Quilts and the Joy of Color
“I just quilted these recently,” she said. “They’ll be for sale in the shop soon.”
Jeriann quilts on a short-arm machine with a speed controller—freestyle, without a stitch regulator. “I love picking the fabrics. That’s my favorite part,” she said. “Watching it come together.”
She showed me one of her prized quilts—one she’s not willing to part with. “It was a block-of-the-month kit. They can get expensive,” she admitted, “but this one held a special challenge. I had to make it.”
A Stitch of Legacy
Though only one of her daughters has shown interest in quilting so far, Jeriann’s influence reaches far beyond her own family. Her work has adorned shows, served communities, and now decorates public institutions.
“It’s not just fabric,” she said. “It’s history. It’s friendship. It’s art.”
And through Artisan Shop USA, customers can now bring home a piece of that legacy—hand-stitched, heartfelt, and wholly Texan.
You can shop Jeriann's handcrafted quilts on our website: Browse Her Collection Now » Jeriann's complete collection – Artisan Shop USA
About the Author:
Lauren Davis is the founder of Artisan Shop USA and a lover of stories—especially the ones you can wrap around your shoulders.