Welcome to North Carolina!

Welcome to the beautiful state of North Carolina!

I have been so excited to represent NC and share my license plate block.  NC has a beautiful coastline with miles and miles of sandy beaches and 7 lovely lighthouses.  These lighthouses are fabulous icons of North Carolina - Cape Hatteras is probably the most famous.

I made a second identical block and turned this one into a table runner!

It looks great on my hall table.   My applique pattern can be found here.

Now lets go on a tour - starting from the south and working my way north - or left to right across my block -

Oak Island lighthouse stands 158 feet tall and was built in 1958, the youngest of the NC lighthouses.  Unlike most lighthouses, it does not have a spiral staircase for the lightkeeper and has a series of ladders instead.  I've not yet had the opportunity to visit this lighthouse and found some good information - and this picture - here.

Bald Head island lighthouse is affectionately called 'Old Baldy' and this version was built in 1817 and is 110 feet tall.   I've always wanted to visit Bald Head island and climbing this lighthouse is on my to do list.  More information on Old Baldy - and this picture - can be found here.

Cape Lookout lighthouse is striking with its black and white diamonds and nearly identical to the Bodie Island lighthouse with its horizontal stripes.   It is situated on one of NC remote barrier islands and must be a magical place to visit.  (info)    The lighthouse stands at 163 feet and was built in 1812.  Another lighthouse on my must visit list!

The next four lightlhouses are ones that I have visited - several of them more than once.  

The Oracoke Island lighthouse is one of the oldest - built in 1823 - and one of the smallest - only 75 feet tall.   The lighthouse isn't open to the public to climb but you can peek inside and look at the spiral staircase.  As with all these lighthouses, there is really interesting history.





Cape Hatteras lighthouse is likely the most iconic of all of these beautiful lighthouse.    It is 187 feet tall and was built in 1802.  In 1999, NC moved the lighthouse from the beach where it was in danger of eroding into the ocean to a site 2900 feet inland.  A great summary of the move can be found here.





Although Bodie Island lighthouse only recently opened for public climbing, my family has always enjoyed making a stop to visit.  The lightkeepers cottage is open (part museum, part bookstore.)  This lighthouse stands 163 feet tall and each of those strips is 22 feet.  It was built in 1872.  More information on visiting the lighthouse can be found here.

The Currituck lighthouse is set back from the shoreline although visible from out at sea.  It is 162 feet tall and construction was completed in 1875.   Unlike all the others, this lighthouse was not painted and retains the red brick color.

This is the only lighthouse I have ever climbed.  I've a bit of a fear of heights so once I climbed the 214 steps to the top, I was so scared that I plastered myself on the wall and couldn't walk to the railing much less take in the view from all directions!

Two of my kids have no problems with enjoying the view.  They love to stay up there for a really long time.

I hope you enjoyed this tour through the beautiful North Carolina lighthouses.  

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to offer a giveaway sponsored by American Made Brand.  They have supplied a fun FQ bundle of 8 fabrics.  You will really enjoy the opportunity to sew with these fabrics.  They are soft and the color is vibrant.

The giveaway rules:

• First entry, leave me a comment and tell me the state you call home.
• Second entry (optional), follow my blog and leave me a comment telling me how you do so - Feedly, Bloglovin etc.
• Giveaway is open to US residents only.
• Giveaway closes Sunday, June 1 at 8pm est.
• Ms. Random Number generator will choose the winning comment.
• Winner will be contacted by email - entries without email address (i.e. no reply bloggers and anonymous) will be invalid

I hope you are enjoying the blog hop and have a chance to visit all the bloggers.  The full tour list can be found here.    It is cool to share today's with New York.  In my adult life, I've lived in two states - New York and North Carolina!

Happy Stitching!