A love of quilting has brought this Weatherford couple closer

Rex and Debbie Shrauner

For Rex and Debbie Shrauner, quilting is not only a labor of love but a hobby that brings the Weatherford couple even closer together. Rex, 64, comes from a family that includes six generations of quilters dating back to the year 1900 but was a bit of a late bloomer when he picked up the craft himself.

“I personally started quilting when my eldest daughter was in college,” Rex said. “She saw a quilt kit in the window of a store that was covered with Aggie symbols, and she wanted the kit for Christmas. We put that together over the holidays, and I’ve been at it since.”

Rex was then encouraged by a friend to enter the Dallas Quilt Show, where he claimed the second-place ribbon in the Master’s Division. Then he was hooked. Rex was recently invited to participate in this year’s International Quilt Festival in Houston, a major coup for anyone involved in the quilting world.

“The Houston show is a big deal to quilters–quilts from all over the world, in all styles and construction techniques,” said Rex. It’s also juried, which means you send in pictures with your entry form, which are then judged for acceptance into the show. The show is in October, and we’re planning on going down. It’s always nice to be recognized for your work, especially by those who also do the work.” He will be entering a quilt called “Echoes of Creation” into the Houston show.

A close-up portion of the Echoes of Eternity by Rex Shrauner shows the detail put into his prize-winning quilt.

Rex grew up in south central Kansas in the town of Protection, population 450. His family farmed wheat and alfalfa and worked with cattle and pigs.

He attended and graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor’s in computer science and spent his career working on F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft avionics.

Rex said that quilting appeals to his meticulous nature.

“I’m an engineer, so I appreciate the precision and creativity,” Rex said. “It is a challenge to do precise work with a material that doesn’t really want to be tied down.

Fabric really moves— it stretches, warps and can be difficult to tame. Color and pattern are also involved, so it’s a multidimensional undertaking.”

Though he did not take up quilting until later in life, Rex has fond memories from his childhood involving the craft.

“I vividly remember playing underneath my grandma’s quilting rack as her quilting bee was working on a quilt,” Rex said. “One particular quilt has quarter-sized circles quilted into it. Some of the ladies took black embroidery floss and quilted faces into some of those circles. I have the quilt, and the faces are a wonderful reminder of my grandma and her friends.” It was after their daughter started college that Debbie, 63, started quilting as well. Debbie said she was drawn to quilting because she enjoyed looking at all the fabrics while she and her husband were shopping.

“Rex told me I would really enjoy the hobby, but I commented that I usually go overboard when I start hobbies,” Debbie said. “But he kept encouraging me. The following year, I bought my first pattern, and he helped me get started.”

Debbie said quilting appeals to her for a number of reasons. “I love creating things with my hands,” Debbie said. “I even like the delayed gratification of a project taking time to complete. It is very relaxing for me. I enjoy giving away quilts to my family and friends to mark special occasions, and I absolutely love teaching kids the hobby.” Debbie added that quilting has actually brought her and Rex even closer to each other. “Sharing a hobby with your spouse is a joy,” Debbie said. “We really enjoy each other’s company, and we spend a lot of time out in our studio doing what we love together.”

Debbie grew up in Colorado and attended Metropolitan State University-Denver, where she did her undergraduate work. She went to graduate school at Texas A&M-Commerce for special education. Debbie met Rex at that time, while she was playing competitive college volleyball.

She offered some advice to anyone interested in quilting. “Even a baby-sized quilt takes time,” Debbie said. “You must have a pattern that inspires you, fabric in the specific colors, the cutting tools, iron and sewing machine, etc. It takes time to perfect the craft but is easy to learn.

“You really only need curiosity to learn, patience with yourself while you learn and to persevere to complete the project.”