Cactus Quilt

Located at El Sombrero Restaurant

This pattern was created by Rafael Santoyo especially for El Sombrero Restaurant. It is a combination of the Southern Star and Cactus Square pattern, and represents a mixed heritage. Rafael, the artist who has been commissioned by the Miami County Visitors and Convention Bureau to paint all of the Miami County barn quilt squares, has been painting murals for 12 years. Ruben Pelayo, co-owner of El Sombrero Restaurant, asked Rafael to come to the United States to paint murals on his restaurant walls. When the Miami County Barn Quilt project was launched, the committee was looking for someone who could paint the squares on the barns.   Ruben suggested that Rafael would be the man for the job! He paints them free hand, with a picture of the pattern as his only guide.

Rafael, a native of Villa Modera, Mexico, has painted pictures all his life, nearly 50 years, but never had any formal training. He doesn’t recall what made him begin painting, but just knows that he wanted to make things more beautiful. And, he is sharing that gift with Miami County by making our barns more beautiful.

This property is approx. 1 mile north of the Miami County Fairgrounds on 25-A. Elm Street in Troy becomes 25-A north of town. From Main Street in Troy, turn north on Elm Street and continue past the Fairgrounds. If traveling on I-75, take exit #78, which is 25-A and turn right at the end of the exit ramp. El Sombrero is on the right (west) side of road.

Sponsor: El Sombrero