Have you heard about the nationwide popularity of Barn Quilt Trails? It was in 2003 that I spotted my first Barn Quilt while traveling through Tennessee on my way back to Virginia. . .A quilt block painted on the side of a barn. . .I thought what a unique idea some crafty lady came up with. . .Then I saw the second. . .and the third. . .and I was hooked. . .I wanted to see more. . .I wanted my own. . .but at the time all I had was a townhouse in Williamsburg. . .No barn, outbuilding, garage, or shed to place one on. . .So I tucked away the Barn Quilt photos in my desk. . .but they were never forgotten. . .In fact, it seemed Barn Quilts were springing up all over the country.
The credit for Barn Quilt Trails appears to be a result of Donna Sue Groves's desire to honor her mother's quilting expertise by painting an Ohio Star quilt block on their tobacco barn in Adams County, Ohio. There was so much interest that Donna realized what seemed to be a simple project had wide appeal and could benefit her community aesthetically and economically. In 2001, she worked with local people to create a 'clothesline of quilts' as many others joined in with their painted blocks. The first quilt trail was born. Now there are 43 states with quilt trails. It's become a movement that I think surprised many people, but then, who doesn't love the soft comfort of a handmade quilt and the memories they bring?
As in other parts of the United States, quilting has almost become a folk art of the past, but I did witness our Delta ladies piecing and quilting very early in my childhood. . .It began my lifelong love of quilts. In fact, I pieced my own first quilt when I was 3 years old.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner were a lovely couple who lived in a small, two bedroom shotgun house on my Grandmothers property. . .and only footsteps from our back door. . .I dearly loved them and visited almost everyday. . .She was an excellent quilter. . .Usually there was a quilt top in a frame above the kitchen table so she could work on it in odd times. . .Her husband also quilted. . .I had never seen that before. . .a man quilting. . .but I was young enough that I thought men were suppose help. . .and wondered why my own Dad didn't quilt, too. . .
Most days I found Mrs. Turner piecing the beautiful patterns found in newspapers or borrowed from other quilters. . .She was either cutting or hand-sewing the little pieces. . .One day I decided it was time that I tried my hand at piecing. . .I wanted to make my own quilt and I wanted fabric and scissors to do just that. . .She wouldn't allow me to use the scissors but she did pull out the Sears Roebuck catalog and showed me how to tear the pieces from that. . .Then she helped me paste them onto a sheet of paper. . .Unfortunately, I don't have that first quilt. . .and I wasn't as satisfied with it as much as I would had it been fabric. . .but at the same time, I knew I'd have quilts in my life from that day on. . .I have made my own quilts, but mostly I began collecting them. . .I've hung them on walls as art. . .I've displayed them on quilt racks. . .I've used them in an obvious place--the bed. . .I've given workshops on how to piece. . .I've given programs at various organizations. . .I've written a booklet about my Grandmother Duncan's quilts, of which I am now the proud owner. . .I have been published twice in quilt magazines with patterns of my own design. . .I participated in several national quilt shows. . .In other words, quilts have surrounded me. . .enveloped me. . .kept my interest. . .for most of my life. . .Barn Quilts were a natural next step. . .
By 2005, I no longer lived in a townhouse. . .I suddenly found myself to be the owner of two barns, three outbuildings (at that time--there are more now), a farm shop, an old country store building, and the manager's home. . .Although it took me three more years before I began painting Barn Quilts, I was gradually adding photos to my quilt stash as I traveled through many states. . .They seemed to be everywhere. . .and by 2008 I proudly displayed six Barn Quilts on our property. . . But time and weather took their toll within a couple of years. . .All but two were sent to the barn storage bins. The two remaining were displayed on our home, under the porch roof where they would be protected. In fact, one became our logo for the Widner-Magers Farm Historic District and Duncan Farmstead which has been photographed many times by people who happened upon it.
Our Cotton Boll Barn Quilt has been a hit with so many
and continues to be pinned on Pinterest.
It was while adding POPS OF WHIMSEY at our two shotgun houses, I decided we should use the barn quilts again this year. . .We needed to bring color to the drab gray buildings. . .Once we finished the LITTLE CHAPEL IN THE FIELD, I pulled out two of our badly weathered Barn Quilts from 2008 and gathered the paint buckets. . .This time I made sure I used exterior paint to guard against the weather.
The term Barn Quilt implies that an entire quilt is painted on wood. . .but that's not the case most times. . .Normally, only one quilt block is selected. . . The size of the block is also left up to the creator. I decided on 4' X 4' plywood squares for our outbuildings. . .A standard size for blocks displayed on a barn is 8' X 8'. . .The easiest quilt block patterns to paint are those comprised of simple geometric shapes, such as triangles, squares, and rectangles. Simple shapes and vibrant colors for these two updates assure that they are easily seen from far down the road.
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| AMISH CROSS |
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| NINE PATCH |
Once we displayed our quilts on the houses, I thought 'Wouldn't it be great if we had our own Barn Quilt Trail right here in Northeast Arkansas?' . .There are plenty opportunities. . .Barns, sheds, garages, outbuildings. . .Viewers would follow a map printed from the internet and read about each one as they drive through the countryside. . . It's happening throughout the United States with a wide variety of people creating the blocks. . .not only by individuals but quilt guilds, schools, churches, and 4-H clubs have participated across the country. . .Why not here? . .Quilts are a part of our heritage, too. . .
How do you join in? . .Simply by painting and displaying a Barn Quilt of your own. . .Then EMAIL us with a photo and where the Quilt is located if you would like to be placed on the Delta Quilt Trail map for all to see.
We would also appreciate you sharing information with us that could be added. . .about your family. . .your memories. . .why you chose that particular block. . .anything you would like to add. . .This isn't required but would mean so much to everyone. . .
This PDF will get you started. . .
There are many other ways for painting and displaying these quilts, but the above link will give you the basics. . .You can see more techniques at my PINTEREST BOARD. . .You'll also find numerous barn quilts from across the country for inspiration there. . .And. . .if you have any other questions. . .EMAIL US. . .We'll be glad to answer your questions. . .
Soon I'll repaint the other four quilts and display them. . .adding to the Delta Barn Quilt Trail beginnings. . .Hope they inspire you to paint your own. . .It would be a way to give back to our community, just as Donna Sue Groves did for Ohio years ago. . .
Let's put our beautiful land and barns on the map. . .
our own DELTA QUILT TRAIL map. . .
Check out more Posts of the Delta Quilt Series at the bottom of the page.
