Quiltfolk - Issue 19: Northern Florida

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Even people who don’t live in the US know that Florida is one of the most unique states in the country — a melting pot, heated by sunshine, that blends wildly disparate climates and lifestyles. The excitement that Florida inspires is directly related to its astonishing geography, politics, and culture.

One of the starkest examples of Florida’s multitudes can be found by identifying the state’s southern and northern halves. In southern Florida, words like “tropical,” “humid,” and “Cuban coffee” will come in handy, but up north, you may hear more about “fall foliage,” “rolling hills,” and “pecan pie.”

Many locals, either natives or transplants, say northern Florida belongs more to the American South, whereas the population and culture of southern Florida has closer ties to its neighboring continent South America. Northern Floridians enjoy relatively cooler air, a bit more space, and a lifestyle that involves front porch swings rather than Miami nightclubs.

Roughly 1,000 people move to Florida every day, and you can bet some of them are quilters. In Northern Florida, Valerie Goodwin and Carolyn Friedlander make quilts that combine their love of art and architecture; Kathy Metelica Cray and Teddy Pruett keep the nation’s quilt traditions alive; and from her homestead, quilt superstar Vanessa Vargas Wilson has built a global empire with tomato plants, family ties, and a passion for quilts.

Watch for gators and grab a slice of Key lime pie; it’s time for some “Northern Florida” sweetness!