The Bottom, 2005

My sweetheart owns a country bar. (The joke is that his hobby makes money and mine costs money!) The legal name is not the Bottom, but ask any local, and it’s the only name they know. The name comes from being located at the bottom of the hill as you leave the small town.

He told me about a conversation with the staff that went something like this:
“We’re going to start serving Cuban sandwiches.”
“What if they don’t like Cubans?”
“Then we’ll also have hotdogs on the menu.”
“What if they don’t like hotdogs?”
(Then he gets on a roll.) “If they don’t like hotdogs, then they’re not American. This is An American Bar. We serve American food to American people. If they don’t like hotdogs, they can go down the street...”

And the quilt idea was born. The subtle touch to this quilt - really, there is one! - is on the Statue of Liberty. Inspired by the original inscription, I’ve stitched in, “Give me your tired, your thirsty, your stressed, longing to drink free. I lift my golden brew.”