I saw a few of these this summer during a road trip and now I can't remember what sate I was in when I saw them. I remember thinking, "I wish my husband would let me paint something like that on our barn".

No it is just something that got started. They are registered, someplace, Here they are at Chamber of Commeris. They are getting to be more and more all the time.
I am from Iowa if that helps

a childhood friend and i went to Kentucky to visit another childhood friend...
there were a lot on the barns down there too...we would have loved to take pictures of all the ones we saw...will have to be a project for next time...altho we did manage to get one or two pics without being run over...lol

They are getting quite popular here in WV. I have already purchased the wood and had it cut into squares and trying to decide what patterns to use. They are going to be gifts for my daughter and my niece who both love quilts.

You don't paint directly onto the barn or building. You paint it on squares of heavy plywood and then attach it to the barn or building. I guess you could paint it directly to the building, though.

I hope you bought treated wood. Plywood won't hold up more than a year or so. It would be a shame to put all the work into it, then have it rot so quickly. Our group here is painting them on metal for that reason.

Plywood WILL NOT hold up anytime at all. The art teacher here wouldn't listen when we told her they had to be done on metal or specially treated wood. Plus, they are tremendously heavy when painted on wood.

You either have to paint them directly on the barn/building or paint them on lightweight metal.

Yes, it is heavy plywood that has been treated and I was advised to put a sealer on it. However, I sure am glad you told me. I know it's going to be a lot of work and I sure don't want it to fall apart immediately. Thanks for the info.

There are a bunch in IL too. July, August, & September will be Quilt Fest in the 6 counties across Northern IL. See www.northernillinoisquiltfest.com for more info. I just finished drawing a "Corn and Beans" quilt block for Von Bergen's Country Market east of Hebron, IL.

I thought this is where the squares started with the hex signs in Amish country.